old Gardens of Italy 5 1 



Palazzo Controni (now Pfanner), a beautifUl 

 building, from the stairway of which the garden 

 is visible. The latter belongs to a maker of soda 

 water, and it has a pretty formal design with a 

 central fountain. The palace is close to the ram- 

 parts, near San Frediano, and seems always open. 

 Of the country villas, that of Marlia is the most 

 important. It first belonged to Count Orsetti, and 

 in 1806 was bought for the Crown. It was embel- 

 lished by the Princes Baciocchi, and is now the 

 property of Prince Bourbone di Capua. It is shown 

 to visitors on application. 



Marlia can be reached by steam tram from the 

 Porta Santa Maria in about a quarter of an hour. 

 It is a walk of ten minutes from the point on the 

 high road where visitors leave the tram. This is 

 the same tram that runs to Saltocchio (for the Villa 

 Bernardini) a little further on. 



Of the once formal plan of the grounds only 

 three features remain. Of these the little theatre 

 is particularly charming, with its close-clipped 

 wings, its stand in topiary work for the conductor 

 of the orchestra, its tiers of grass-covered seats, and 

 its enchanting glimpse through the entrance of the 

 fountain without, placed just on the axis of the 

 stage. This secluded, circular little theatre is one 

 of the best of its kind in Italy. 



Very simple and attractive is the lemon garden, 

 or, as one might perhaps call it, the water garden. 

 A large tank, into which two urns held by huge re- 

 cumbent figures below a grotto empty themselves, 

 fills one end of the enclosure, and on its balustrade 



