After fifty years of closure and two years of intensive work, the Grotta di Diana, one of the most evocative places at Villa d’Este in Tivoli, reopens to the public. The nymphaeum, commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este and designed between 1570 and 1572 by Paolo Calandrino, is considered a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001.
An emblem of the Italian garden, the grotto served as a model for the development of nymphaea in 16th- and 17th-century European gardens. It is dedicated to the huntress goddess Diana, a symbol of chastity and virtue, in line with the moral and religious values of its patron.
Designed on a floor plan shaped like a Christian cross and featuring scenes inspired by Renaissance symbolism, the cave welcomes visitors on a fascinating journey through a world of myth and spirits: there are scenes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, such as the transformation of Daphne into a laurel tree, Actaeon into a stag, Syrinx into a reed and Callisto into a bear, as well as the liberation of Andromeda by Perseus. Mythological figures such as Tritons, Nereids and Caryatids with fruit baskets complete the decorative display.
The walls are decorated with stucco, shells, glass casting, stone materials and majolica. The interior path is enriched by artificial reefs and fountains in a visually and symbolically impressive play.
The conservative restoration, carried out thanks to the collaboration between the Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este Institute and the Fendi fashion house, has given new life to the site and improved accessibility, with particular attention paid to people with visual, hearing and cognitive disabilities. It is scheduled to reopen to the public on May 6.
