VILLA CAMPI, NEAR FLORENCE 



PLATES 53, 54 



OT far from the little town of Signa is the Villa Campi, an extensive villa 

 planned upon the summit of a small hill, laid out by one of the Pucci 

 family ; it is an interesting study of a late sixteenth-century villa. Following 

 a steep and somewhat rough roadway, we reach the entrance to the villa. 



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same time 



From here the method of approach is simple, and at the 

 most ingenious. The principal roadway leads to the north of the villa, 

 . whence three drives branch off, the central and steeper one being used for 

 visitors on foot or horseback, whilst those to right and left, having an easier gradient, are 

 intended for carriage traffic. The summit of the hill is occupied by the casino, which, principally 

 for the sake of symmetry, is divided into two parts, and the service portion of the house is 

 divided from the casino proper, which in many respects is a distinct gain. Between the 

 two buildings there is the flower garden, laid out in simple compartments, with a charming 

 display of old-world flowers, making a gay picture from the windows of the house. This little 

 parterre is surrounded upon three sides by a terrace raised some few feet ; below is another grass 

 terrace, with a stairway and path, ending finally with an octagonal pool, in the midst of which a 

 satyr, lustily blowing a horn, sends upwards a sparkling jet of water; here is a balcony and 

 stairway marking the termination of the garden proper, and giving a charming vista over gently 

 undulating slopes, rich in olive woods and vineyards, with the main axial line of the design 

 continued by a fine avenue of impressive cypresses stretching up their silvery limbs 

 dominating feature of the whole place. 



The plan on Plate 42, which has been made from notes kindly lent by Professor Castelucci, 

 of Florence, shows the clever management of the approach drives, and when studied in conjunction 

 with the section, it will be seen how well the designer has succeeded in sheltering the casino by 

 means of ilex woods towards the north and east, leaving the south and west, where there 

 are beautiful views, more or less open. At the extreme south-east is an open circular space 

 whence a fine view of the valley of the Arno is obtained towards Florence, some ten miles 

 distant. Statues are to be seen everywhere— an emerald pool guarded by a moss-covered figure of 

 Pan, solemn figures of gods and goddesses, nymphs and satyrs, calm and passionless, watching 

 only the seasons change. The whole place seems much neglected, and few now pace the terraced 

 walks or sit in the shade of the ilex woods, which we can fancy was once peopled by a gay and 



quite a 



fashionable world. 



( 87 ) 



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