ITALIAN VILLA GARDENS 



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a final appearance in the central fountain which feeds 

 the miniature lake in the middle of the flower-garden 

 below the house. The river-gods on each side of the 

 cascade were added in the seventeenth century. In the 

 older fountains like the one at Castello, an absence of 

 water would have detracted but little from their beauty, 

 as was fitting at Florence where pure drinking water 

 was supplied only on Sundays, and at Bologna which 

 furnished none at all in public places. At Rome, how- 

 ever, the water-supply was abundant, and in the foun- 

 tains originated by Bernini and his school water was 

 the dominant and 

 sculpture the sub- 

 ordinate feature. 



The Boboli Gar- 

 dens of Florence, 

 surrounding the Pitti 

 Palace, were designed 

 by Tribolo about 

 1550. The greater 

 part of the grounds bears more resemblance to a park 

 than to a garden, but there are several enclosures 

 intended for flowers. One of these is connected with 

 a charming spot ornamented by Parigi, known as the 

 Isola Bella. This artificial island is in the centre of a 

 geometrically designed lake resembling the one at the 

 Villa Lante. 



