In the hilltop centre, the steeply terraced grounds of Villa d'Este are an excellent illustration of a Renaissance garden, total with fabulous fountains, tree-array avenues and landscaped grottoes. The villa, originally a Benedictine cloister, was converted into an extravagance retreat by Lucrezia Borgia's son, Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, in the late sixteenth century and later provided inspiration for composer Franz Liszt, who composed The Fountains of the Villa d'Este subsequent to spending time here somewhere in the range of 1865 and 1886. Prior to heading out to the gardens, set aside effort to admire the villa's rich mannerist frescoes.