Old Gardens of Italy 5 7 



VILLA TORRIGIANI, CAMIGLIANO, 

 LUCCA. 



This villa seems to have been built for and 

 long belonged to the Santini family. It is now 

 the property of the Marchese Torrigiani. In the 

 Pinacoteca of Lucca is a portrait of a member of 

 the Santini family when a boy, with a background 

 showing a garden laid out in formal style. Post- 

 cards of this are obtainable in the shops. The 

 garden is shown on application to the gardener. It 

 may be reached by electric tram (starting in front 

 of Hotel Universo) in about half-an-hour to a 

 cross roads (which the conductor wiU indicate). 

 From there the road is absolutely straight for about 

 two miles. Then the beginning of a magnificent 

 vide of cypress trees will be reached, about 130 on 

 either side. The villa is visible behind handsome 

 iron gates at the end. The only part of the grounds 

 now formal is the so-called " Garden of Flora." 

 This is a sunk garden with grotto and garden house 

 and innumerable secret fountains. The design is 

 more curious than beautiful, and the charm of the 

 place lies in its cypress avenue and its attractive 

 and finely placed casino rather than in its gardens. 

 It is possible for the enthusiast to visit all the Lucca 

 villas — Marlia, Bernardini, and the three at Camig- 

 liano — in one day by motor or even by carriage. 

 It is a round of about twenty-five miles. 



