5 2 Old Gardens of Italy 



stand the great pots which are so decorative a 

 feature of an Italian garden. 



In front of the house there is a pretty water 

 scheme backed by a small cascade. 



VILLA BERNARDINI, SALTOCCHIO, 

 LUCCA. 



REACHED by the same steam tram taken for Marlia. 

 Get out at Ponte Rosso, half-an-hour's run. Go 

 under narrow railway arch, keep straight on, and in 

 five minutes the great viale, a mile long, will be 

 seen. This is of ash, each tree exactly matching its 

 neighbour. The villa is visible at the end. 



On reaching its central gate turn to the left, 

 follow the wall, and ringing at a side entrance ask 

 permission to enter the grounds. 



The design of the garden is a fine one, and the 

 writer regrets that she does not know where a plan 

 of it may be seen. There is a secluded water garden 

 close to the house. A series of small terraces with 

 fountains and mosaics descend to a semi-circular, 

 balustraded pool, and the whole is enclosed in a 

 high clipped ilex hedge. Near the tiny chapel is 

 the site of what was once a little lemon garden, a 

 veritable giardino secreto. The general scheme of 

 the grounds may be traced in the many clipped 

 walks which terminate in fountains. As is the case 

 in all these gardens in the neighbourhood of Lucca, 

 there is an abundant water supply. A pretty little 



