The Villa d’Este is a sumptuous villa built on the site of a former Benedictine monastery in 1550 for Cardinal Ippolito d’Este, the son of Lucrezia Borgia. Inside there are frescoes and works of art by Correggio, da Volterra and Perrin del Vaga. But its star attraction is the huge gardens, with elaborate and clever fountains. Compressed water was used for the Fontana dell’Organo Idraulico to produce air for the tunes that it plays; the Owl fountain imitates the sound of owl song. This garden is a must see for its sheer beauty and elegance.
