WARNING: the tour is quite long and mainly pedestrian, suitable for those who like long walks.
The villa was founded in 1835 thanks to Pope Gregory the 16th, after whom it was later named. The story goes like this. There was a small town on the banks of the Anio River. The river was quite full, and annual floods caused the town a lot of trouble. After another flood in 1826, which destroyed not only many buildings, but also took many lives, Pope Gregory 16 issued an order.
According to it, from 1832 to 1835 the riverbed was divided into three separate branches, each of which was enclosed in a tunnel. The water coming out of the tunnels entered the gorge and its streams formed many waterfalls. The work was carried out under the direction of architect Clemente Folca.
The Villa of Cardinal D’Este is known for its unique park ensemble, which is located in terraces on the slope of the Tiburtino mountains and is famous for a large number of magnificent fountains. The extraordinary personality of Cardinal D’Este himself deserves special attention.
This tour is with or without lunch (restaurant NOT included).
All days except Monday, 25 December, 1 May, 1 January
