Tivoli

Today Marcia and I went to the Villa d'Esate at Tivoli, yes the Tivoli gardens of Italy and they were more that I could have imagined. Fountains, fountains everywhere from the glorious to the strange. The gardens and their fountains were the personal projects of various Cardinals d'Esate in the days when being a Cardinal had virtually nothing to do with religion. This estate was the cultural retiring place for these Cardinals and their artistic friends. The place now belongs to the State of Italy and is open to the public and is a glorious legacy. I jst cannot imagine anyone today having the vision, imagination and the money to produce a place like this.

There were place of quiet and rest.

Huge gradious fountains that delighted - and also played music. Above this fountain was the organ fountain.
Views across to Rome and the Lazio plain.

And of course the famous 100 fountain in which I think there is more than a 100 fountains,

EAch of them with a differently carved head.

If ever you get to Italy, this place is one of the top five to visit.