Now an Italian state museum, Cardinal Ippolito Il d'Este commissioned architect Pirro Ligoriothe to create a new villa and garden to exceed anything the Romans had built. Many water features flourish throughout the terrace, framed by two foliage-rich slopes. The Organ Fountain is an early feat of engineering, while the Tivoli villa and gardens are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

According to UNESCO, Villa d'Este is one of the "most remarkable and comprehensive illustrations of Renaissance culture at its most refined", and it's this combination of incredible sculptures, horticulture and history that has helped it grab the top spot.

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