140 Old Gardens of Italy 



Then, passing out from these through a glade, one 

 reaches the upper garden, on which the architect 

 concentrated his highest efforts. This part of the 

 grounds, to anyone unacquainted with the plan, 

 comes as a surprise. It is so unusual to find such 

 a scheme at a considerable distance from the house 

 and not on its axis. The upper garden, with its 

 charming little casino, is treated as a totally distinct 

 part of the property. 



It is approached by an avenue, and the casino 

 stands just at the head of a water scheme, with 

 fountain representing river deities on the upper 

 terrace and a stone-built arcade with stucco work 

 on either side. A fountain at the bottom sends up 

 a tall, thin jet, which effectively completes the 

 composition. 



The casino is two storeys high on its lower side, 

 but being built against a great retaining wall, it 

 has only one storey on the elevation facing upwards. 

 It stands amidst a delightful little garden laid out 

 with box-edged beds. Three fountains are placed 

 at equal distances from each other, and the enclosing 

 wall is ornamented with caryatides looking inwards 

 and bearing vases on their heads. Though not in 

 themselves beautiful, these great stone figures are 

 extraordinarily in keeping with their position, and 

 the general design would seem to the writer 

 unthinkable without them. 



On the upper side of the Villa Farnese, above 

 the fountain, stretch parterres en pente, the scheme 

 finally ending at a gate giving access to the high 

 road. This part of the garden is so neglected that 



