Worth a second visit

     I recently visited Italy and the Balkans, so I just had to return to the most fantastic water garden I ever saw--Villa d'Este, about an hour east of Rome in the town of Tivoli.  I was amazed by it during my first visit in 2009, so I had to return.  Just as stunning the second time.
     It was built in the 14th century to accompany a large villa on a hill overlooking a huge plain towards Rome.  Cardinal Ippolitolli, the governor of Tivoli, had it designed by Pirro Ligorio.  The water was piped in from over 900 feet away (280 meters).  As the villa sits on top of a steep hill, all the many water features were originally "gravity-powered."