The Villa d'Este, at Tivoli 
STAIRWAY OK THE COR DONATO 
FOUNTAIN BASINS 
no longer exist, its 
fountains choked 
by ferns and wild 
bowers, it is to-day, 
perhaps, the best 
villa in Italy for the 
study of garden 
craft. By its grand 
conception it is at 
the height of that 
art. 
Its location first 
demands one’s at¬ 
tention. Built on 
the upper slope of 
a spur of the Sabine 
Hills , it has as won¬ 
derful an outlook 
as can be found in 
all the region about 
Rome. Below are 
vineyards and 
olive-clothed 
slopes, through 
which, wending its 
way Tiberward, 
flows the river 
Anio. Beyond to 
the west is the vast 
Campagna, while 
northward hill be¬ 
hind hill fades into 
the distance. A 
glance at the plan 
will show that it is 
composed of a 
level, occupying 
From a IVater-color Drawing hy George JValter Dawson 
THE MAIN PATH VILLA D’ESTE 
nearly one-half the 
entire depth of the 
villa ; a steep hill 
echoing the lower 
plains, wood-cov¬ 
ered and a little 
larger in extent 
than the lower 
level; and an upper 
terrace on which 
against the crown 
of the hill of Tivoli 
the palace is built. 
These three main 
divisions are each 
divided and subdi¬ 
vided. The broad 
palace terrace is the 
simplest of the 
three divisions and 
extends the full 
width of the villa 
grounds, com¬ 
manding a f a r - 
reaching view and 
a prospect of the 
slope and gardens 
below. Its chief 
ornaments are the 
stairway leading to 
the entrance of the 
building, and a 
belvedere at its 
western end. Op¬ 
posite the palace 
entrance, double 
Stairways lead 
2 
