Villa d'Este

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001.

Villa d'Este grounds include a masterpiece of Italian garden design with an amazing concentration of fountains, nymphaea, grottoes, water themes and a organ which produces audible effects created by water.

Opening times
from 27 March to 17 September 2023

Monday 2.00pm – 7.45pm (last entry at 6.45.00pm)
In the case of Monday holidays, the afternoon opening moves to Tuesday and on Monday the long opening hours are observed.

Tuesday to Sunday 8.45am – 7.45pm (last admission 6.45pm)
The closure of the ticket office corresponds to the closure of the entrance: it is not possible to access the site after 6.45 pm even if in possession of pre-purchased tickets

from 18 September to 1 October 2023
8.45am – 7.15pm (last admission 6.15pm, garden closes at 7.00pm)

from 2 to 28 October 2023
8.45am – 6.45pm (last admission 5.45pm, garden closes at 6.30pm)

from 29 October 2023 to 28 January 2024
8.45am – 5.15pm (last admission 4.15pm, garden closes at 4.45pm)

from 31 October to 5 November 2023
8.15am – 5.15pm (last entry 4.15pm, garden closing 4.45pm)

from 29 January to 25 February 2024
8.45am – 5.45pm (last admission 4.45pm, garden closes at 5.15pm)

from 26 February to 30 March 2024
8.45am – 6.45pm (last admission 5.45pm, garden closes at 6.30pm)

from 31 March to 15 September 2024
8.45am – 7.45pm (last admission 6.45pm, garden closes at 7.30pm)

In the case of holiday Mondays, the opening is from 8.45 am and the following Tuesday from 2.00 pm.
Closing
1 January and 25 December, with the exception of special occasions
Web Villa d'Este
Feature List

Info line
Accessibility

The site is partially accessible. It is possible to visit the garden from the Palazzo using a lift dedicated to those with mobility problems.

BACKGROUND

This is the place where, disillusioned at not having been elected as Pope, Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este revived the splendour of the courts of Ferrara, Rome and Fointanebleau, and brought the magnificence of Villa Adriana back to life. Governor of Tivoli from the year 1550, he soon toyed with the idea of creating a garden on the slope of the Valle gaudente, but it was only after 1560 that the architectural and iconological aspects of the Villa, designed by painter-archaeologist-architect Pirro Ligorio and built by court architect Alberto Galvani, became clear.
The palace was decorated by the protagonists of late Roman Mannerism.

The Villa had almost been completed by the time Ippolito d’Este died in 1572.
Further work in the 17th century was followed by a period of decline, until Cardinal Gustav Adolf von Hohenlohe refurbished the old grandeur and even hosted musician Ferenc Liszt (1811-1886).
Purchased by the Italian government between the Twenties and Thirties of the last century, the Villa was renovated and opened to the public.

Services

Visits
for individuals by reservation
- Saturday, Sunday, public holidays from March
  10.30, 12.15 and 15.00
- first Sundays of the month.
  visits can only be purchased at the ticket office subject to availability
available in Italian
Visits
for groups by reservation
[email protected]
available in Italian, English, French
Audioguide
€ 5.00
available in Italian, English, French, Spanish
Bookshop
Wardrobe

Additional Info

SCHOOLS

School Pass required from 1 March to 31 October

Online booking (here), via the call center or at the ticket office subject to availability

Where

Piazza Trento, 5 - Tivoli (RM)

Load the map

Transportation

Piazza Trento entrance and exit.
Compulsory exit from Piazza Campitelli on the first Sunday of the month

BY CAR
From Rome: Take the A24 motorway, exit at the Tivoli toll booth, then proceed along the Maremmana Inferiore road until you reach the junction with Via Tiburtina. Now head towards the centre of Tivoli. Alternatively, you can take via Tiburtina directly.
From L’Aquila: Take the A24 motorway and exit at the Castel Madama toll booth. Proceed along via Empolitana, then via Acquaregna and follow the directions for the town centre. Pay attention to the restricted traffic areas.
Parking facilities: There is a multi-storey car park the near Rocca Pia a few hundred meters from Villa d’Este and another parking lot in Piazza Garibaldi (both subject to a parking fee).

BY BUS
from Rome: Take the subway, Metro B, and get off at the station of Ponte Mammolo, then take the Co.Tra.L. bus via Prenestina or via Tiburtina or via motorway (preferable) to Tivoli. Get off at the Largo delle Nazioni Unite stop (near Piazza Garibaldi) and proceed on foot for a short distance.
from Villa Adriana: local bus CAT 4, bus Co. Tra.L. via Tiburtina about one kilometer from the site of Villa Adriana

BY RAIL
from Stazione Termini or from Stazione Tiburtina until reaching the railway station of Tivoli. Now proceed on foot following the directions for Villa d’Este

VILLE DI TIVOLI LINK
from the square in front of the Bagni di Tivoli railway station direct bus connection to Villa d'Este. More information on the Trenitalia - CAT Tivoli combined service.