Old Gardens of Italy 7 9 



find nothing of interest, although the house, with 

 its charming loggia, where the philosophers met, 

 and its various other historic associations will 

 always remain one of Florence's most interesting 

 and important villas. 



VILLA POGGIO IMPERIALI, FLORENCE. 



FORMERLY Poggio dei Baroncelli. Now a girls' 

 school and not accessible. Built for Maria Madda- 

 lena of Austria in 1622. For many years the 

 favourite residence of the grand-ducal Medici. 

 The magnificent approach is now a public highway, 

 and descends to the left (going) not far from the 

 Porta Romana. The semi-circular court outside 

 the villa and the parterre with its central fountain 

 at the back, together with the bosco on a lower 

 (instead of, as usual, higher) level, are the only 

 remains of the once beautiful garden plan. The 

 parterre retains none of its bedding design. The 

 student, if he has a spare hour, may like to go as 

 far as the entrance, but it will not be worth his 

 while to obtain permission to go over the house 

 and grounds. 



VILLA PALMIERI, FLORENCE. 



FORMERLY Villa Schifanoja or Fonte de'Tre Visi. 

 Was said to be a favourite retreat of Boccaccio, 

 where his famous company betook themselves 

 when Florence was devastated by plague. The 

 villa belonged originally to Cione di Fine, of the 



