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Built during the XVI century, this villa is attributed to Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola. It lays south of the medieval village of Bagnaia, at the foot of the Cimini Mountain Range. Three main roads actually connect it to the main square of the village. Despite being designed as Villa Farnese and Caprarola, by Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola, and sitting so close to another similar abode of the same period, there are no visible similarities between the two structures.

THE VILLA

As a matter of fact, Villa Lante is made of two almost identical structures, even if they were built by different owners in alternate periods. The two square buildings have a ground floor with loggias, which support the “noble’s floor” above. Each façade on this floor has three windows, with curved or pointed pediments. An upper floor is barely hinted at by small rectangular mezzanine-type windows that sit right above those of the main floor. Each structure is surmounted by a turret or lantern, which stands on top of the pitched roof.

THE GARDEN

Originally, the 45-acre garden – nowadays partially annexed to the villa – was intended for hunting and relaxation. There are many fountains, statues of Peperino tuff, and benches along the garden path.
The formal garden is enclosed within boundary walls that run alongside the Roman road and, towards the park, by terracing walls.

It features the “Grotta del Diluvio” (“Deluge Cave”) surrounded by tall box hedges (Buxus sempervirens), and the “Fontana dei Delfini” (“Dolphins Fountain”) made of gently sloping pools connected by sculptural elements, masks, vases and reliefs.
The Villa is longitudinally traversed by a stream that slopes down, thanks to different heights. It flows to terraces and fountains, all the way to the square “Fontana dei Mori” (“Moors Fountain”). This fountain is delimited by balustrades, with four pools featuring a spurting putto and floating boats. In the centre of the fountain, there’s a triple circle of pools with four Moors holding the coat of arms of Pope Sixtus V.

“Fontana della Catena”, on the other hand, features water that flows among the claws of a prawn. The water then resumes its course towards “Fontana dei Lumini”, creating silver candle sparkles.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)