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Villa d’Este is a 16th century Italian Renaissance-style garden just south-east of Rome, built on the ruins of an old Roman villa. It is most famous for its intricately designed system of fountains. In fact, there are fifty-one fountains, 398 spouts, 364 water jets, 64 waterfalls, and 220 basins. Even more impressive is the fact that these 875 meters of canals, channels and cascades of water flow simply by the force of gravity. February in Italy may still be chilly, but the sky sure is blue. Spring is right around the corner, so, while there are no flowers in bloom, the grass is green and the temperatures are just beginning to rise. If you are in Rome and looking to take a super easy, fast, day trip from the city, this is the perfect place to go! The air is clean and fresh, the and views are incredible. The villa was commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este. This piece of land was acquired, and construction began at the end of 1550. Being at a high altitude, it became a popular summer destination, even during ancient Roman times, because of its cooler temperatures. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, meaning it is recognized and protected by the United Nations for its historical significance. That being said, it hasn’t always been so treasured. In the 18th century, after, lack of maintenance led to decay. The collection of ancient statues was disassembled and scattered. As you can imagine, the roses and sculptures of foliage need to be preened frequently. Luckily, halfway through the 19th century, Gustav von Hohelohe, saw the importance of restoring the villa to its original state and launched a few restoration projects. Between 1867 and 1882 the villa again became the center of culture. It frequently hosted the Hungarian musician, Franz Liszt (1811 - 1886). He composed "Giochi d'acqua a Villa d'Este" on the piano here, and gave one of his final concerts at Villa D'Este in 1879. At the outbreak of the first world war the villa became a property of the Italian State, and during the 1920's it was restored and opened to the public. Another restoration was carried out immediately after the Second World War to repair the damage caused by the bombing of 1944. My favorite fountain was this one because it looks like a little boat with an obelisk mast inside! This fountain is called the "La Fontana della Rometta" and is a symbol for the island in the middle of the Tiber river, in Rome. Rometta, in fact, means "little Rome" in Italian. It was designed by Napolitan architect, Pirro Ligorio, and built by Renaissance architect, Curzio Maccarone, between 1567 and 1570 AD. How to get there: Take the train from Rome’s Tiburtina station directly to the small town of Tivoli. The train ticket costs about 2 euros. In just a little less than an hour, the train meanders through the Rome countryside, through the mountains, and ends in the small town of Tivoli. From here, you can follow the signs over a bridge and across a few intersections until you reach Piazza (square) Trento with a church. The entrance to Villa D’Este is on the right side of the Church of Santa-Maria Maggiore. Entrance fee is 8 euros. HoursTuesday - Thursday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Friday: 8:30 am - 6:30 pm Saturday and Sunday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
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I have found that people have a few misconceptions about Tuscany, and I am here to sort out the confusion! Believe it or not, there is more to do than drink wine on set of "Under the Tuscan Sun." Tuscany is actually a region of Italy - not a city - which consists mainly of small towns, villages, and farms, with the exception of Florence. The region makes up a decent amount of Italy's coastline. Sure, Tuscany does have vineyards - lots and lots of vineyards and red wine and white wine and - where was I going with this? Oh, yes! It also has some of the finest beaches in all of Italy! Toscana is located in central Italy, just north of Lazio (Rome is in this area). There is a nature park called Maremma. The locals here are notoriously considered "buttero," which can be compared to country folk and cowboys in the United States. Traditions are passed down generation to generation, via word of mouth. These people truly live off the land and make every effort to preserve its beauty. The town of Grosseto is actually located inside of this nature park, surrounded by millions of sunflowers (girasole) and a hexagonal shaped wall built in the 16th century. Today, this wall is simply used as a public park and walking track. Grosseto doesn’t have much. There is one main cathedral (the Grosseto Cathedral) and a few restaurants. It's not a popular tourist destination, though it is very deserving of a visit, especially if you want to experience a quiet and authentic Italian town. Grosseto does, though, have quick and easy access to many magnificent beaches! For just two euros, you can catch a bus (bus station located in the parking lot of the train station) which takes you 14 kilometers straight to the coast. Here, you can spend your day lounging around on a characteristically Italian beach. The 14 kilometer drive was over a flat plane, not the typically rolling Tuscan hills. Instead of seeing the occasional Cyprus tree or even the approaching sea, my view was destructed by thick forests of pine trees. As we arrived at the bus stop, the crystal clear waters finally became visible, almost like a little oasis. It seemed as if every single Italian had taken the day off work just to lounge around and tan their sun kissed skin. I made a beeline straight for an open area of scorching hot sand and splayed out my towel on the beach known as Castiglione della Pescaia. Note: the yellow umbrellas and lounge chairs are only available to the people who rent them out for the entire summer. If adventure is more up your alley, the Maremma coastline also offers excellent places to cliff jump, scuba dive, and sail. It is possible to hike to the top of Rocca Aragonese, pictured above. This medieval lookout was once used as a safe place to spot people with the plague. It's location makes an excellent spot for sunsets! As I mentioned earlier, the people here live off of the land. Therefore, traditional cuisine is very simple. The most well known dish is schiaccia alla pala (dialect for oven baked bread with oil). Nevertheless, I found the food to be rich in flavor. Castiglione della Pescaia had no shortage of restaurants, lounges, and bars. In fact, I treated myself to some rose wine and macedonia (fresh fruit salad) at a nearby . If you're still looking for the Tuscan vineyards, have no fear! Montalcino is a short 45 minute drive from Grosseto. Here, you can book that wine tasting! Ready to visit the, "corner of Tuscany the British haven't found yet," ? — Andrew Purvis, The Telegraph
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ABOUT MEHi, I'm Cassidy and this is my travel journal, aimed to inspire you to go and see our beautiful world! Featured Post: |