VILLAS NEAR SIENA 



PLATES 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 







VICOBELLO. VILLA GORI. VILLA SERGARDI. VILLA BELCARO. VILLA BARGAGLI 



HERE are few more typically Tuscan villas than that of Vicobello, the 

 Marchese Chigi's seat some three miles outside Siena. It is conspicuously 

 situated upon a hill, in open country, with prosperous-looking farmsteads 

 surrounding it on all sides, and, seen from the city, has quite a fortress-like 



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appearance. The roadway approach leads to the entrance at the north side 

 of the casino, running past the long line of outbuildings and 'stanzoni' that 

 form the boundary to the lemon garden. Upon the opposite side the steep 

 hillside is laid out in a series of parallel terraces, planted with long rows of square-cut ilexes, 

 descending to a meadow or 'ragnaia' at the foot of the hill, where formerly the young gallants 

 resorted for the snaring of birds. Returning from here to the principal entrance, w^e pass under 

 an archway to the gravelled courtyard in front of the casino, which is said to have been erected 

 from the designs of Baldassare Peruzzi. Here an old well is picturesquely set against the stable 

 wall ; opposite are the chapel, coach-house and other buildings, and to the left we have a peep into 

 the orange garden through a delicately wrought, iron gateway. This garden is oblong in form 

 and quite simply laid out, bounded upon one side by a long, low stanzone, and upon the other 

 sides by thick-set hedges of cypress and laurel. The flower-beds, set within thick edgings of 

 box, fill the garden with masses of colour, admirably set off by the more sombre tones of c^^press 

 and ilex. The main walk terminates in the summer-house, shown on Plate 56, its mellow stone- 

 work touched with the vivid green of mosses. In the midst of the beds are fruit-trees, their 

 irregular shapes contrasting with the trim, formal lines of the design, and with the regular 

 disposition of the rows of orange-trees in their earthenware pots. A flight of steps leads to the 

 fruit garden, upon a lower level, with oval pools of water, and, passing through, we descend to an 

 oblong terrace with summer-house. From the front of the casino a double stairway leads to 

 the first terrace, laid out with grass plots, and a further stairway leads to the principal terrace 

 and belvedere, with a charming view of the city of Siena, its walls and towers perched upon the 

 opposite hill. A kitchen and small parklike enclosure occupy the west side of the villa. 



There are but few remains of the garden at the Villa Gori, if indeed it ever 

 possessed very much that might be considered as such. It nevertheless possesses several 

 curiosities that are not very frequently to be met with. Two long and dense ilex tunnels 



(89) 



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