THE GARDENS OF PAPAL ROME 



the valley. The walks along the hillside are over- 

 grown with weeds; the very path leading up to the 

 door is choked with nettles. And yet, in spite of 

 all this neglect and decay, there is a strange fascination 

 about the place. As we pace the wide terrace under 

 the carved peristyle, and look up at the simple, majestic 

 forms of the house, we feel the grandeur of Raphael's 

 conception. There is a wealth of verdure and maiden- 

 hair in the grottoes under the massive arches. The 

 streams still gush from the marble head of the elephant 

 fountain, and below, the clear green waters sleep in 

 their oval basin. Rome and the dome of St. Peter's 

 lie at our feet, and beyond are the vast plains and 

 far hills of the Campagna. Within, there is the great 

 Loggia with the miracles of Giovanni da Udine's 

 decoration and Giulio's lovely frieze of cherub-heads 

 on their pale blue ground. Here, art and nature still 

 go hand in hand. The magic of Raphael's genius 

 clings to these forlorn places and lends them an 

 immortal charm. 



1 01 



