THE ITALIAN GARDEN 



33 



it is in. Above, and still further back, is yet another terrace, more than 

 thirty cubits from the ground, and the view thence is so beautiful that the 

 soul is rejoiced ; wherever a man turns he enjoys the sweet air, full of the 

 perfume of fruit and of flowers which are ever abundant according to their 

 season. Water is lifted by ingenious devices from below up to the garden 

 on the third terrace so that when dried up by the heat the moisture may be 

 quickly restored." 



THE ISOLOTTO, BOBOLI GARDEN, FLORENCE. 



The most important Medicean villas remaining outside Florence are 

 those of Castello and Petraja, now the property of the Royal Family ; they 

 lie side by side, resting against the hillside amid beautiful surrounding woods 

 of ilex. The great parterre at Castello lies behind the low facade of the 

 Casino that Buontalenti built for Pier Francesco de Medici, and is backed 

 by a noble terrace, its brilliant whiteness admirably contrasting with the 

 rich tones of the dark ilex woods behind. In the centre of the parterre 

 is the fountain of Hercules, a work of consummate art and one of the finest 



D 



