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# 69 •OCTOBER 5 , 2015
of fountains, grottos and
plays of water was a model often emulated in European Mannerism and
Baroque gardens.
The rooms on the palazzo’s noble floor are of particular interest, and were
decorated and painted
by a large group of artists
from the Late Roman Mannerism period.
The garden at Villa d’Este
is of particular splendour
and was designed by artist
and architect Pirro Ligorio.
Encompassing terraces,
stairways, paths and slo-
pes, the garden recalls of
the hanging gardens in
Babylon, while the water
system, which includes
an aqueduct and a tunnel
under the city, evokes the
skilful engineering knowledge of the Romans. The
100 fountains alongside
a pathway (100 metres
long) create quite an effect. The Fontana dell’Ovato (Oval Fountain) to the
left of the path is the most
Baroque fountain at the
villa considering the extraordinary effect produced
by the rocks, ornamental
boulders and water flows.
They are to represent the
Tiburtine Hills from which the 3 rivers Aniene,
Erculaneo and Albuneo
descend. Below the Viale
delle Cento Fontane path
is the spectacular Fontana dei Draghi (Fountain of
Dragons), whose central
position has made it the
heart of the park. According to legend, this fountain was built in a single
night in September 1572,
to pay homage to Gregory
XIII, who was a guest at
the villa. The Rotonda dei
Cipressi (Cypress Rotunda) is in the lower section
of the garden. It’s a large
square surrounded by
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