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Of all the villas, monuments, castles and various historical residences in the Viterbo area, Villa Lante best represents the contemporary ideal regarding the relationship between architecture and landscape, or between construction and nature. Conceived as the summer residence of the Bishops of Viterbo, it was built between the 16th and 17th centuries on the wishes of Cardinal Raffaele Riario, nephew of Pope Sixtus IV, of the Della Rovere family. It is situated on the lower slopes of the Cimini mountains, just south of the mediaeval village of Bagnaia, to which it is connected by three roads that converge on the main square. Only a small part of the park is currently annexed to the Villa, whereas originally it was destined for hunting purposes and relaxation. In 1566 Cardinal Gian Francesco De Gambara, fascinated by the place, commissioned a new project from the famous architect Jacopo Barozzi, known as Il Vignola, with the aim of carrying out his vision and giving it greater originality.
Villa Lante’s park and its formal garden are connected on a thematic level, thanks to the numerous fountains scattered through the parkland with sculpted elements in peperino stone and the benches distributed throughout the 18 hectares for resting on while out walking. The formal garden is bordered by a perimeter wall that runs beside the Roman road and, toward the park, by terracing walls. At the summit of the Grotto of the Flood (Grotta del Diluvio), above the terracing, is the Fountain of the Dolphins, surrounded by tall box hedges and ornate seating in peperino. The flowerbeds are dominated by a central square-shaped fountain surrounded by box hedging in complex geometric forms and sculpted into a bath shape. The fountain, known as the Fontana dei Mori, or Moors’ Fountain, is divided into four segments of water, with a boat containing a warrior in the centre.
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Address
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Via Jacopo Barozzi 71
01100 Viterbo
Tel. 0761/288008
fax 0761/288008
Sito
Web
E-mail
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Informations
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Open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8.30 to 18.30. Closed Mondays, plus 1st January, 1st May and 25th December. |
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Tickets
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| Entrance: Standard €2, reduced €1 |
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