What?
A Renaissance villa in Northern Lazio that features a garden full of fountains and waterworks.
Why visit?
Many people are familiar with the famous Villa d'Este in Tivoli, near Rome. The Villa Lante is smaller, more intimate and, being about 1 1/2 hours north of Rome, mostly overlooked. Nevertheless you will find some stunning stonework and statuary here- and the almost 500 year old fountains, many of them still working, makes this a refreshing place to visit on a warm day.
Where? Villa Lante is in the small medieval town of Bagnaia, just outside the provincial capital of Viterbo. Viterbo can be reached by train from Rome, or by driving along the ancient Via Cassia.
Construction of Villa Lante was begun in 1511 during the Mannerist period and is seen as one of the fines examples of Mannerist art, architecture and particularly garden design. Mannerism can be seen as a transition phase between Renaissance and Baroque and the gardens of this period (there is another great example at nearby Bomarzo) aim to surprise the visitor with surprising sculptures, statues, and, in this case, water.
More information:
Official Website of the Italian Ministry of Culture
A Renaissance villa in Northern Lazio that features a garden full of fountains and waterworks.
Why visit?
Many people are familiar with the famous Villa d'Este in Tivoli, near Rome. The Villa Lante is smaller, more intimate and, being about 1 1/2 hours north of Rome, mostly overlooked. Nevertheless you will find some stunning stonework and statuary here- and the almost 500 year old fountains, many of them still working, makes this a refreshing place to visit on a warm day.
Where? Villa Lante is in the small medieval town of Bagnaia, just outside the provincial capital of Viterbo. Viterbo can be reached by train from Rome, or by driving along the ancient Via Cassia.
Construction of Villa Lante was begun in 1511 during the Mannerist period and is seen as one of the fines examples of Mannerist art, architecture and particularly garden design. Mannerism can be seen as a transition phase between Renaissance and Baroque and the gardens of this period (there is another great example at nearby Bomarzo) aim to surprise the visitor with surprising sculptures, statues, and, in this case, water.
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| A large staircase with statues of river gods is one of the center pieces of the garden. |
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| There is water everywhere. This is a view down the central staircase. |
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| Detail of the finely carved water channel |
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| The combination of lichen-covered stones with greenery and water is often stunning |
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| The terracotta roofs of town of Bagnaia can be seen in the distance |
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| One of the many other fountains. |
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| Streams of water are incorporated in balustrades and staircases. |
More information:
Official Website of the Italian Ministry of Culture
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