Lazio

Villa Lante » In the eyes of many, this is the consummate example of the best period in the history of garden design: the Mannerist phase of the Italian renaissance. It was designed for Cardinal Gambara, who had a modern taste for outdoor living and eating al fresco. The buildings are treated as garden ornaments, illustrating a good principle, and the overall design is attributed to Vignola. It uses the Palladian circle and square. Every aspect of the garden is perfectly proportioned and richly detailed: a square terrace subdivided into smaller squares, a water parterre, a wonderful fountain in a central position. Design ideas are drawn from earlier projects. The geometry was inspired by the Belvedere at t..... Read more on Villa Lante

Sacro Bosco/Villa Orsini » As pure fantasy, this garden is without equal. It was made in a wood and many of its giant sculptures were carved from living rock. Stylistically, Bomarzo represents a step towards the drama of the Baroque. Poking gentle fun at the egotistical iconography of the Este and the Medici families, it is also a pre-cursor of the English landscape garden. With the elegant taste of a renaissance duke, Vincino Orsini created features with some resemblence to those in a modern theme park. But his aims were altogether serious. Orsini was a military captain with literary tastes. He conceived the garden as a Sacred Wood (Sacro Bosso), inspired by the description of Arcadia in Virgil's Aeneid. There is an e..... Read more on Sacro Bosco/Villa Orsini

Palazzo Farnese » A great pentagonal villa-fortress with two quadrilateral parterres on it flanks and a casino in the woods. The layout of the parterres has changed but they remain impressive, if somewhat blank. The garden retreat in the woods, designed by Vignola, is a place of wonder. It lies in a glade at the end of a long path and is known as the Casino del Piacere (House of Pleasure). There is a water staircase, fountains, terraces, a casino and logia. It was used as a private retreat by Cardinal Odorado Farnese. Read more on Palazzo Farnese