Sketchbook Art - Villa d'Este

One of the most fabulous hotels in Italy is the Villa d'Este on Lake Como.  Around 1500 it was built by a Cardinal for his private residence. It was owned in succession by a ballerina, a Napoleonic General, an English Queen, without a crown, who renamed it Villa d'Este.  In 1873 it was transformed into a Hotel.  One of the coolest things are the gardens that were built in the 1600.  What's unique are these giant mosaic buildings.  The mosaics aren't out of tile, but made with sea shells.  Lately, the hotel's claim to fame is being a neighbor of George Clooney.