THE GARDENS OF PAPAL ROME 



Loggia as more beautiful than any work of modern 

 times, adds the following words : " Raphael is also 

 building a villa for the Reverendissimo Medici, which 

 will be a most excellent thing. The Pope goes there 

 very often. It is just under the Cross on Monte 

 Mario." 1 



No site could have been finer or more appropriate 

 than this which Raphael chose for Cardinal Giulio's 

 villa on the eastern slopes of Monte Mario, about two 

 miles north of the Borgo. " Here," in Vasari's words, 

 " besides the beautiful view of the Campagna," with 

 the Sabine hills and far peaks of Soracte in the distance, 

 " were running water, woods, and a wide plain stretch- 

 ing along the Tiber as far as Ponte Molle, while on the 

 other side the meadows reached to the gates of St. 

 Peter's." 2 At the back the house was well protected 

 from cold winds, while its position in front of the dark 

 masses of woods made it a conspicuous object from the 

 great Flaminian Way, the road by which most travellers 

 entered Rome. Here, in the immediate neighbourhood 

 of the Vatican, the Cardinal could enjoy cool shades 

 and fresh breezes in the summer months, and would 

 be able at the same time to entertain any distinguished 

 guests who might visit the Eternal City. 



A letter which Raphael addressed to Castiglione a few 



1 Archivio Gonzaga, Mantova. Corrispondensa di Roma, 1519. 

 " Vite ddpiit eccellenti Pittori, x. 285. 



85 



