t is said that Villa d’Este is the transition between the Renaissance and Baroque periods in terms of horticultural ideas and architectural design. Built in 1550 by Pirro Ligorio, Villa d’Este stands out with its rich diversity of park elements, picturesque shapes and impressive water effects. 

The structure of the park can be presented in two ways: by terraces and by axes. 

The gardens of Villa d’Este are actually built on five terraces. The main entrance to the villa starts from the lowest terrace which affords a grand view of the overall garden composition. The uppermost (let’s call it fifth) terrace is linked with the building and is formed by high retaining stone walls and stairs. Right in between the two staircases can be seen three grottos, decorated with stalactites, stalagmites and statues. Then follows the fourth terrace. The third terrace forms the magnificent Alley of the Hundred Fountains, on the ends of which are found the Fountain of Arethusa and the ancient platform containing the Rome Fountain. Next to these architectural elements is the Fountain of the Four Dragons, flanked on both sides by half-round flights of stairs. Because of the steep slope of the Tivoli hill, the second terrace is constructed with ramps and stairs. The centerpiece of this section is the Lily Fountain. The second terrace is connected with the lowest garden by means of an oblong canal with three bridges. 

According to the second perspective, the park composition of Villa d’Este develops along a main axis and two cross axes to balance the main one. One of the cross axes is outlined by the Alley of the Hundred Fountains with its two water-based structures, mentioned above. The other one ends with the Water Organ, one of most dynamic creations in Villa d’Este.

The Water Organ and the reflecting pools in the foreground

Image and caption copyright © Matt Preuss

The water falls down with an extraordinary force and creates airwaves which set the organ in motion. In this way, the incredible sight of the fountain is enhanced by the musical accompaniment of the Water Organ. However, the weak spot of this presentation method is that the main axis does not contain all park installations. 

In the beginning, the horticultural design of Villa d’Este consisted only of trimmed shrubs. The abundance of greenery and the tall cypresses, we see today, appeared later and changed entirely the look of the villa but certainly did not disrupt its harmony. The roar of cascades, the ripple from the fountains and the quietness of the water pools, reflecting the images of cypresses and stone-pines, create an overall atmosphere of peace and serenity.