Set high on a steep Hillside, commanding spectacular views across the valley to Rome, the magnificent Villa d'Este at Tivoli is one of the most visited and well-known monuments in Italy. Built over four hundred jears ago as a great "occasional"house for Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, the villa has remained an enigma to those attempting to analyse its complex iconography. Some doubt still remains over the identity of the architect and no original description or drawing of the garden exist: an engraving by Du Perac, publiched in Rome in 1573, is thought to represent the intended design. Dernie's vivid journey through the garden and villa is beautifully illustrated with the photographs of Alastiar Carew-Cox, and orientation is further facilitated by the insertion of careful drawings and iconographic plants. In addition, recently discovered art work and enigmatic writings relating to two of the garden's key symbols are published here for the first time.