Old Gardens of Italy 



PALAZZO RECALCATI, VARESE. 



Now the Excelsior Hotel. This beautiful build- 

 ing, with its charming courtyard and grounds, was 

 erected at the end of the eighteenth century, but 

 followed the style of older villas. The outlines of 

 the old garden exist, in spite of the sad boast in 

 the hotel prospectus that " nothing of artificial 

 gardening marring nature is to be seen." How- 

 ever, one may hope that the proprietors of so 

 excellent a hotel may use their great opportunities 

 and make this garden an example of what a stately 

 old Italian garden should be and has been, now 

 that there is a revival of the taste for such gardens. 



The race of the Recalcati died out and the pro- 

 perty was purchased by a Swiss family, the 

 Morosoni. Verdi was an intimate friend of theirs, 

 and composed part of his opera " Lombardi " at 

 the villa. 



The parterre, with its central fountain and 

 clipped box hedges, might be once again as charm- 

 ing as of old. Excavated under its further end is 

 a grotto with a flowing stream through it, and 

 stepping-stones. It is a pretty and original 

 feature. 



The Excelsior is about a mile from Varese, and 

 can be reached by electric tram. It is on a hillside 

 overlooking the lake of Varese. 



