24 Old Gardens of Italy 



situation is beautiful beyond the power of words to 

 describe, and the steep hill-side lends itself to a 

 scheme such as we find here so charmingly carried 

 out. The house is built into the slope, and as one 

 ascends from the ground level to the lower terrace 

 a delightfully characteristic and picturesque stable- 

 yard with an old well will be noticed, bounded by 

 the retaining wall of the garden. The lower terrace 

 is laid out with flower beds and has a central foun- 

 tain, while its inner side has a gallery or long grotto 

 clothed in maidenhair fern running along the whole 

 length. Above this is the upper terrace, and from 

 the end near the house one suddenly obtains a view 

 into the depths of the most enchanting little sunk 

 giardino secreto I have ever seen. The larger por- 

 tion is laid out in symmetrical box-edged beds, and 

 the rest in water spaces. The forecourt and loggia 

 which connect it with the house, break up the 

 scheme very attractively. 



There is a pretty chateau d'eau with steps at 

 each side down the hill-side at the back, and in the 

 deep shade of the woods innumerable smooth paths 

 give cool walks at varying levels. 



From the front of the villa the old idea of a 

 straight avenue to the entrance gates has been re- 

 vived, and in the centre it divides and circles round 

 a pool. 



With regard to the history of the villa, I am in- 

 debted to Count Cicogna for valuable information, 

 and he kindly sent me a copy of Ars et Labour 

 for August, 1909, in which a beautifully illustrated 

 article about the place appears. 



