Villa d'Este: The Interiors

The 16th century Villa d'Este is right in town, overlooking the lands to the west below. It was created for Cardinal d'Este, one of the papal families. Apparently, even then, there were some loop-holes in the vow of poverty.

Courtyard of the Villa

Nice frescoes throughout

The whole thing built over a Roman villa, of course

Illusional ceiling with stubby columns

Other illusionist effects; effective too

And a nod to classical Roman art

It's a big place, three floors of rooms

Staircase, mostly for servants, and tourists, I guess

Lizst lived here in 1884, so his rooms are a nice museum; and

there are concerts in the summer