News From Italy Blog Dedication

The best part of the last ten years has been spent with my husband  David living a dream life in Northern Lazio, Italy. Sadly his recent death has meant the end of this adventure. We were a close couple and I do not want to live full time alone in Italy. It is too early yet to say how much time I will spend in Italy every year but sadly I feel it will not be enough to warrant continuing with my blog 'News From Italy'

Thankyou for all the wonderful support I have had from all around the world.

I am dedicating 'News From Italy' to this wonderful man, who was a very special husband, father, brother, son, uncle and friend to all who knew him.

David Stewart McFall July 27th 1950 - May 24th 2013

Villa Lante, Bagnaia, Viterbo

The Villa Lante is somewhere we always enjoy visiting so when friends from the UK were here recently and expressed an interest, we were delighted to oblige. Of course it also meant I was able to take lots of photos in anticipation of this blog post.  

The Villa Lante consists of two nearly identical houses, Gambara and Montalto plus gardens that impress with water displays of fountains, cascades and sculptures. It is one of Italy's most famous mannerist style gardens, perfect in design with lots of detail.  Recently featured in a BBC programme with Monty Don - Italian Gardens, The Villa Lante impressed him with its geometry and symmetry dating back to the 16th century.  Owned by the Cardinal Gambara in the late 16th century the garden was so stunning it had a dramatic effect on visitors. In fact Pope Gregory XIII was so amazed that he stopped the Cardinal Gambara's allowance because his garden was so lavish!
The two houses, gardens and the surrounding wooded parkland cover an area of twenty two hectares.

I will let my photos do the rest and the websites I have listed below are well worth visiting if you would like to learn more about the history of the Villa Lante

This is a photo I took in 2006 as when writing the post I discovered I did not have a recent photo of the two villas.

Interior Decoration of a ceiling

   

Remember clicking on the individual photos will enlarge them.

If you have enjoyed these photos I offer you the opportunity to view my entire album of photos in addition to the ones shared here in a slideshow format or as I know some of you prefer to do visit the album on Flickr.com  Villa Lante, Bagnaia, Viterbo.

Villa Lante - Slideshow

Location Map

How to Reach Villa Lante Bagnaia (4 Km from Viterbo):  Leave by car from Viterbo, Porta Fiorentia and take the road to Bagnaia. From the Piazza XX Settembre it is a short walk uphill along Via Jacopo Barozzi to the entrance of Villa Lante.  To park your car you should use the car park located under the bridge just after the railway, not far from the centre.

Information about opening hours and visits to Villa Lante:  The park entrance is free but there is a small admission charge to the gardens and fountains. Open every day except Monday. However, for confirmation and information tel.0761-288008 (ticket Villa Lante).

With thanks to the following websites 
Villa Lante - Wikipedia
Villa Lante
Villa Lante - Servizio Turismo
Villa Lante - Viterbo Info
Monty Don - Italian Gardens