15 June-30 Oct. The magnificent Villa d’Este in Tivoli is the setting for an exhibition dedicated to the impact on the visual arts of the romance epic Orlando Furioso by Italian poet Ludovico Ariosto (1474-1533).

The exhibition takes place on the 500th anniversary of the first edition of the poem whose central themes include war, love and chivalry, written in a mix of realism and fantasy.

The poem is set amid the war between Charlemagne's knights and the invading Saracens, and features soldiers, sorcerers, sea monsters and mythological flying creatures, all of which have provided artists with ample creative opportunities over the last five centuries.

The exhibition comprises paintings, sculpture, tapestries, ceramics, drawings, engravings, medals and illustrated books, and there is also a parallel programme of related events such a concerts, film screenings, theatre performances, lectures and readings of Ariosto's celebrated work.

For details of opening times see website.