Introduction 



fall was masked by a clump of trees, and fountains 

 were banished because they were " artificial." 



If we must always be surrounded by copies of 

 nature, why did not architects go a step further, 

 and let the dwelling represent a cave? A build- 

 ing of any sort, frankly obvious as such, is totally 

 " unnatural." 



The whole aim of the landscape gardener was to 

 " improve nature," rather than to design a garden 

 which should be a garden and nothing else. 



The writer has included no gardens that she has 

 not herself visited. She has very briefly described 

 a few that no longer bear any but the faintest 

 traces of their original design. During her garden 

 pilgrimages she has sometimes been doubtful 

 whether a certain villa was worth a visit or not. 

 She would have been saved much time had a 

 reliable authority told her positively that it was 

 too much " landscaped " to be of interest. She 

 thinks it may be of use to the traveller to know 

 not only what to see but also what to avoid. 



Doubtless there are other gardens in Italy 

 which should be included in this guide but which 

 are unknown to the writer. She would therefore 

 be extremely grateful if her readers would tell her 

 of any they have seen that she has missed. An 

 address that will always find her is 8, Nevill Park, 

 Tunbridge Wells. 



She desires to convey her heartiest thanks 

 for much help in compiling this book to Miss 

 Helen Zimmern, Miss March Phillips, Sir George 

 Sitwell, Count Cicogna, Professor Spinazzola, of 



