The inside of Villa D’Este is one of the most beautiful residences of the Renaissance built by the cardinal Ippolito D’Este in the 1550s, but it is no match for the exquisite gardens that surround it. With their concentration of unique and beautiful water features including fountains, grottoes, plays of water, nymphs, and music, guests of the Cardinal were duly impressed and amazed. The main focal point of the garden, the giant ‘Water Organ Fountain’, flows down a huge drop into lovely, shady pools of cool water. Entry Tickets are € 10 and can be purchased on site.

Hadrian’s Villa (Villa Adriana), an elegant country retreat comprising of some 30 buildings of both sacred and secular nature constructed by Emperor Hadrian (Adriano) in the 2nd-century A.C. This imperial retreat is a stunning formation showcasing the remains of a once glorious imperial palace, baths, gardens, pools, theaters and libraries that take you back to the height of the Roman Empire. The Villa Adriana complex is enormous with several underground passages and tunnels. There are lakes, libraries, baths, temples, theaters, apartments and gardens. With such a colossal area, it’s easy to imagine that even Hadrian himself may have needed a guide. Entry Tickets are € 10 and can be purchased on site.