176 



THE GARDENS OF ITALY. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

 THE VILLA MON DRAGONE AND VILLA BORGHESE, FRASGATI. 



THE Villa Mon Dragone, situated between Frascati and Monte Porzio, occupies a remarkable 

 position on the slope of a hill. The front towards the open country is effective in sharp 

 perspective, distinct with twin tower masses enclosing a framework of pilasters treated as 

 flat surfaces, with features that are not too prominent, in true Vignola style. There are 

 bastion extensions very reminiscent of Caprarola. The view from this front is indescribably 

 beautiful. The hill ranges on the right extend round and die down into the great level of the 

 boundless plains which reach to the Mediterranean Sea on the left. Beyond the two tall columns 

 (Fig. 187) known as the Pope's chimneys lies a hill city, lending a peculiar interest to the landscape. 

 The tall chimneys belong to the huge kitchens and offices constructed below this artificial terrace. 



They are in balanced pairs , 

 one of which is a dummy. 

 Between the columns on 

 the great terrace is placed 

 the fountain " My 

 Dragon," well illustrated 

 in our view (Fig. 186). 



The architecture of 

 the villa is somewhat 

 rough and careless on the 

 fa9ades. There is a 

 Michael Angelo element 

 in the Ionic caps of the 

 entrance doorway. The 

 work was begun about 

 1567 from the designs of 

 Martino Lunghi the 

 Elder, and as Vignola 

 died in 1573 it is 

 questionable if he can 

 have had much share in 

 the work, in spite of the 

 character of some of the 

 detail and of his great 

 reputation for this villa 

 architecture. The fine 

 open loggia towards the 

 small garden was begun 

 by Flaminio Ponzio, who 

 lived about 1570 1615, 

 and it was continued 

 by G io Vasanzio . 

 The] great fountain. 

 182. THE GATEWAY OF THE VILLA MON DRAGONE. amphitheatre, terraces 



