Hello all,

Today we met up as a group at the UW Rome Center, loaded up on a bus, and headed for Tivoli, Italy for a day trip. We first went to Hadrians Villa (See Emm’s Post for more on that!) and then headed into Tivoli for some pizza. I got a spicy salami slice seen below at a place called Alice Pizza, it was fantastic:

 

After lunch we then entered the Villa d’Este. This was a renaissance villa that is known for its massive terraced hillside garden. The villa was commissioned by a Cardinal who was in the same family as Pope Alexander VI. After Checking in, we entered on the upper level of the villa, which has since been converted into an art gallery museum that was filled with modern art and renaissance frescos on the walls and ceilings. Our tour guide pointed out that these frescos were popular in an age where windows were uncommon and were a way to make a room feel bigger while also giving a “view of the outside.”

The real reason to see it though was the garden down below the main level of the villa. When we exited the villa into one of the higher level terraces, the view down below was enough to take your breath away.But we first had to hastily head down to a water powered organ that only plays every 2 hours. It was beautiful and made the view all the better. From above the main level shown on the right. In the distance you can also see the edge of the terrace overlooking the valley down below.

There were so many incredible fountains to look at in the garden. The water system used to support so many fountians is truly an achievement of engineering. My favorite was a fountain dedicated to Neptune that was originally designed by Bernini, but has since been remade (shown below on the left). On the right is the wall of the hundred fountains. This three tiered fountain represents the rivers Albuneo, Aniene, and Arcolaneo and meet at the fountain of the Rometta. Each of the hundred fountains takes on a unique shape of its own.

 

The fountains, the Garden, and the elevated view of the valley down below the terrace combined to quickly turn this destination into my favorite part of the trip! Truly a day to remember

I’ll leave you with one more picture of the oval fountain, named for its oval shaped pool. If you look very closely I’m hidden in the picture below!

Ciao!

-Alex