82 Old Gardens of Italy 



Fine family, then passed to Solosmei, who pos- 

 sessed it in 1427, and from Matteo it was bought 

 in 1457 by Marco Palmieri. It was this family 

 which beautified and added to the villa and its 

 charming garden. Afterwards the villa belonged 

 to the Grand-duchess Maria Antonia of Tuscany, 

 then to the Earl of Crawford, and on Lady Craw- 

 ford's death in 1907 it was purchased by an 

 American, Mr. Ellsworth. Queen Victoria of 

 England twice stayed at Villa Palmieri. 



The great beauty of its grounds is the magnifi- 

 cent balustraded terrace, which is reached from the 

 picturesque lemon garden below by a double ramp. 

 Formerly the entrance was on this side, and the 

 fine gates and approach, with the house standing 

 out boldly above, is poorly compensated for by 

 the convenient carriage way which lands visitors 

 at the level of the great court. 



Agiardino sccreto, in a sheltered and sunny spot, 

 is of not very pleasing design. The same may be 

 said of its fountain. This bit of sunk ground 

 would lend itself to a pretty scheme, and the writer 

 has been told that Mr. Ellsworth has greatly 

 improved the gardens, retaining their design, since 

 she was there. 



A little loggia overhangs a pool, and it was in 

 this summer-house that Queen Victoria usually 

 had tea. 



VILLA BONDI, FLORENCE. 



FORMERLY Villa Dante. There is nothing left of 

 the formal plan of the grounds, which now owe 



