106 Old Gardens of Italy 



parterre is laid out with various elaborate devices 

 in box, such as the Papal Arms. It is too fantastic 

 to be in good taste. In the centre is a large 

 fountain. There is a charming entrance from the 

 Vatican to the parterre through a wrought iron 

 gate. 



VILLA PAPA JULIO, ROME. 



BUILT for Pope Julius III. (1550-1555), who 

 himself assisted his architects in designing it. It is 

 in great part the work of Vignola, but Michael 

 Angelo, Vasari, and Ammanati all appear to have 

 given suggestions for it. The villa is now a 

 museum of antiquities found in the province of 

 Rome. It is open daily, and is not far outside the 

 Porta del Popolo. 



Although nothing remains of the actual garden, 

 yet the garden architecture is so beautiful that no 

 one should fail to see it. The vaulted arcade, with 

 Zucchero's famous frescoes, runs round the semi- 

 circular garden side of the house. It is faced by a 

 wonderfully airy-looking loggia beyond which is 

 the sunk grotto or bath, reached by a double stair- 

 way. This is the most delightful feature of the 

 grounds, and must have been cool even in summer. 

 Another loggia beyond gives access to what was 

 once a parterre of flower beds, with five fountains 

 placed amongst them. As Mrs. Wharton says, 

 nowhere else do we find so perfect an interpretation 

 of the old Roman villa style of architecture. 



