Villa Lante

Villa Lante in Bagnaia (Viterbo, Italy) is a renowned Mannerist garden, attributed to architect Vignola. Built in the late 16th century, it features two nearly identical casini commissioned by different owners—Cardinal Gambara and Cardinal Alessandro Montalto—30 years apart. Their interiors differ in decorative style, but both follow a strict Mannerist architectural design.

The gardens are famous for their choreographed water features, grottoes, cascades, and fountains, made possible by engineer Tommaso Ghinucci. Highlights include the square parterre with Giambologna’s “Fontana dei Mori,” the “Fountain of the Lamps,” the long stone dining table with a central water channel, the catena d'acqua (water chain), and the upper “theatre of waters.”

After passing through several noble families, the villa suffered damage in World War II and was restored in the 20th century. Since 2014 it has been managed by the Polo Museale del Lazio and is now part of the Grandi Giardini Italiani.

Address
Via Zuccari 53a, Viterbo, Italy

Established
16th century