74 Old Gardens of Italy 



in the writer's opinion, gives a rather untidy, neg- 

 lected appearance. In the centre is a fine, though 

 simple, fountain on a little mound reached by 

 charmingly planned steps. On the upper terrace 

 stands II Tribolo's masterpiece, a fountain brought 

 here from Castello by the Grand Duke Pietro 

 Leopoldo. Carocci refers to the beautiful bronze 

 female figure surmounting it as Venus, but others 

 believe it represented the city of Florence. Some 

 think that the bronze is by Gian Bologna. Great 

 tanks below the terrace contain carp, said to be of 

 fabulous age. From Petraja it is easy to descend 

 straight to Villa Corsini. 



POGGIO A CAIANO, FLORENCE. 



A FORMER Medici viUa and now belonging to the 

 Crown. Permesso at the Pitti Palace. Reached by 

 steam tram (from opposite the railway station) in 

 about two hours. 



Nothing of the once formal plan of the grounds 

 remains except the entrance to the lower garden and 

 the magnificent stanzone. It is most certainly not 

 worth a visit when gardens are the only objective. 



VILLA CARREGGI, FLORENCE. 



The famous villa of the Medici, where Lorenzo died. 

 Now the property of the Segre family, of Rome. 

 It is never shown without a private introduction. 



There was once a formal garden, but only the 

 parterre remains. A student of old gardens would 



