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THE ART OF GARDEN DESIGN IN ITALY 





says : ' The Pope has always inhabited this palace since the commencement of his reign, and the 



Vatican has been deserted. It is certainly better as regards situation and comfort than the latter ; 

 the mass of buildings serve to house his dependents, and although not so large as the Vatican, 

 it is very spacious. The gardens are large and handsome. There are numerous fountains and a 

 summer-house containing a Mount Parnassus, where Apollo and the Muses give, if you wish to 

 hear them, a concert by the aid of water-pipes. Before the palace the level of the ground falls 

 very abruptly, which, combined with a large tower, gives a fortified look to the place.' In the 

 present day the gardens have been somewhat modernised. 



The principal entrance to the palace is from the Piazza di Monte Cavallo, and from here 

 the gardens are entered at the south-east corner, whence a long drive leads their entire length to 

 the Royal apartments. The Palm Walk, illustrated in Plate 63, now occupies the central part of 



the garden, and on either side are shady 

 tunnels of ilex, by one of which we 

 reach the grass parterre in front of the 

 principal terrace, passing on^ our way 

 the secret fountains shown on Plate 65, 

 Avhere numerous jets of water suddenly 

 spurt up from the earth, in a way that 

 may be most unpleasant. At one end of 

 the grass parterre is the fountain of 

 Venus — a marble group of Venus and 

 her attendants bathing at a pool, with 

 groups of lilies and other water-flowers. 

 A magnificent sundial— which in Italy is a rare feature — and marble vase occupy prominent 

 positions upon richly decorated circular pedestals; near by is the raised terrace in front of the 

 palace shown upon Falda's print as the Piazza dclla Cisterna, with a handsome marble balustrade,, 

 which is shown on Plate 6^, and of which we give a measured drawing. 



From the little terrace garden adjoining one looks over a panorama of all Rome, with the 

 dome of St. Peter's and the Vatican in the middle distance rising from above a multitude of 

 houses and palaces. 



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