Villa Lante
A 16th-century Renaissance terraced garden, renowned for its successive water stairs, fountains and geometric flowerbeds, and one of Italy's most beautiful gardens.
Villa Lante is in the village of Bagnaia, about 5 km east of Viterbo. Commissioned in the 16th century by Cardinal Gambara and attributed in design to Vignola, the garden climbs the hillside in several terraces. Starting from the Fountain of the Flood at the top, water flows past the Fountain of the Dolphins, the cascading water stairs, the Fountain of the Giants and the Cardinal's Table, where a water channel cools wine glasses. It finally reaches the square flowerbed pool on the lowest level, with two symmetrical pavilions on either side. The villa belongs to the national museum system. Closed Mondays; admission is about €5, and it's about 15 minutes by bus from Viterbo.
Opening hours
Closed Mondays; 08:30 until 1 hour before sunset
Nearby sights
- Basilica di Santa Maria della Quercia
- Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Rocca Albornoz
- San Pellegrino Quarter
- Piazza del Plebiscito
- Palazzo dei Papi
- Viterbo Cathedral (San Lorenzo)
- Ferento
- Piscine Carletti