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Tivoli
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Inventor
and builder of Villa of Este was Ippolito II of Este, Cardinal of Ferrara, son
of the famous Lucrezia Borgia and of Alfonso of Este. Ippolito of Este, born in
1509, had a rapid and splendid ecclesiastical and diplomatic career, reaching
the maximum fastigiums when he was named Protecting of France to the Court of
Francis I. In the Conclave of Giulio III was named Governor of Tivoli, and he
accepted that place, although the independent and rebellious nature of the
Tiburtini made it a great deal few desirable, because he intended to have a
spring board of throwing for the future walk. Another important motive that
induced Ippolito II to accept that position was the existence of the ruins of
numerous Roman Villas, like the one of the emperor Adriano, the one of
Maecenate, of Quintilio Varo, etc., that allowed him to make interesting
excavations. Taken possession of his Office in the 9th of September 1550,
welcomed by the usual popular enthusiasm and by the deference of the most
important citizens. Man gotten used to the pomp, to the luxury, could not suit
to live in a building of Government drawn from an austere Convent of monks;
neither this arranged with his plans. Then it wanted to build a villa in the
country, the twin of the grandiose build ng that was building in Rome, in
Giordano Mountain. The Roman palace had to serve to give receptions to arouse
and to consolidate the precious urban friendships, the Tiburtina villa had to
offer a pleasant rural kindergarten that allowed longer and more meditated
agreements in a set apart place. Ippolito II slowly reflected but it decided
quickly according to the use of the best diplomats: this way Villa of Este was
born in a place that had a happy name: Pleasure-loving "valley". It
was a brief valley that went down among the sweet slopes of vineyards and of
olive-groves, crossed from rural little roads, populated of white hovels by the
red roofs, of gilded ruins, of some tabernacle and of a small church. Ippolito
II of Este had a great architect, Pirro Ligorio and an enormous number of
artists and artisans; the quickness of the work was so much that the buildings,
the factories, the avenues sprouted and grew with a modern speed. In few years
Ippolito II succeeded in completing almost entirely the Villa; and it was a
great fortune for him, because he could take comfort of the intrigues against
him and of the disgust and of the tiredness of the political business, that were
going in a badly way for him, with the beauty of that he created, with the
salubriousness of the climate, with the charm of the splendid garden. After a
brief illness however in 1572, assisted only by few servants he died. It had
burial in the Church of Saint Maria Greater of Tivoli, bordering with the Villa
so much beloved. The stories of Villa of Este, however, don't finish with the
death of his founder. He decided that the Villa became ownership of all the
Cardinals of House of Este. The Cardinal Luigi was the first successor, from the
1572 to 1586, and subsequently, the Cardinal Alexander of Este, up to 1624. Both
they enriched the Villa of new fountains with the contest of the best artists of
their time. Particularly notable was the contribute of Gian Lorenzo Bernini,
under the cardinal Alexander. Then the Villa definitely passed in possession of
House of Este, and subsequently to the Asburgo, which had it up to 1918, when it
passed to the Italian State, that integrally restored it. With the Este and the
Asburgos, in fact, Villa of Este known long periods of bleak abandonment, being
a great deal expensive its maintenance.The Villa is famous for its artistic
wonder and in special way for the numerous games of water that transport the
visitor in a palace of others times. The numerous fountains are fed by the water
of the river Aniene and, absorbed in wonderful Italian gardens, among the famous
cypresses that offered the inspiration to Giacomo Leopardi, they give unique
moments to the visitor that will believe to return back in the time...
Bed and
Breakfast Libea
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