The Villa d'Este is located in the Piazza Trento, in the Italian region of Lazio, near the town of Tivoli . A Renaissance gem, the villa is perhaps the finest example of mannerist residences in Europe. The Villa's gardens are a place one doesn't visit for the plantings, but rather one goes to be surprised by the clever application of Renaissance plumbing in the fountains and waterworks, and to marvel at how they are integrated with the landscape. There are something like 500 fountains here.