Italian New Year: Day 14 Tivoli

 

On our last full day in Italy, we took a day trip to the hillside town of Tivoli. We visited the Villa D'Este, a 16th century palace known for its Renaissance architecture and expansive gardens.  The palace and villa were the home of Cardinal Ippolito II d'Estere of Ferrara, who was named governor of Tivoli in 1550 and aspired (unsuccessfully) to be Pope. The views from the palace are stunning and overlook the Lazio region of Italy:

Villa d'Este's interior is a masterpiece of Renaissance design, with ornate frescos, sculptures, and tapestries:

Each Hall is decorated with a specific theme, all connected to nature and mythology.

Detailed ceiling in the Cardinal's apartment

Best way to view the artwork above them.

The Villa and its gardens were named a UNESCO World Heritage site and much of their fame was established by an extraordinary system of fountains.  The gardens contain 51 fountains with almost 400 spouts and water jets, dozens of waterfalls, and over 200 basins, which all work entirely by the force of gravity (without pumps). The Vialone (terrace) lies between the Villa and gardens and provides a panoramic view of the countryside below.  Enjoy our photos of this wonderous site:

Fountain of Neptune below the Fountain of Organ

Fontana dell' Ovato 

I'm enamored with the fleur de lis mosaic!

Fontana di Nettuno across the fish ponds

The Fontana di Rometta is a miniature of ancient Rome

Mask spouting water in the Grotto of Pomona

View from Upper Terrace

Fountain of Pegasus

Cento Fontane (The Hundred Fountains)...

... contain 300 jets and spouts line up along three overlapping canals

Fountain of Dragons

New Year's Day Parade

 We rang in 2025 with a New Year's Eve party like no other.  Our Viking band group was treated to a 5-course dinner in our hotel ballroom followed by an evening of music and dancing.  There was a countdown to the ball drop at midnight, a champagne toast (for the adults), and we could see the Rome fireworks from our hotel. The kids and adults had a blast, and I remember thinking what a gift it was to be able to share New Year's Eve with my teenagers and so many friends:

Watching the fireworks from the pool area of our hotel

The following day was the entire reason for our trip.  Our band marched in the 2025 Rome New Year's Day Parade.  They marched from Castel' Sant' Angelo in Rome into

Vatican City, watched/listened to mass streamed in St. Peter’s square, and played for the Pope, who acknowledged and thanked our school for its music in his New Year's Day address to millions.

This band. This moment. The travel, the memories, the magnitude of this experience.

It's almost too much for words and is one of those core memories that we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

Here are photos of our day:

Gathering in Piazza Pia before the parade:

Warming up:

Band Moms

Marching down Via della Conciliazione into Vatican City:

St. Peter's Square:

The Pope appeared in the open window

Listening to the Pope speak

Performing for the Pope:

Marching out of Vatican City:

A truly remarkable way to kick off 2025!