8 8 Old Gardens of Italy 



marvellously varied and absolutely retired. A 

 clipped drive leads to the house, and beyond, a 

 trifle sunk, lies the oblong water garden, a sunny 

 parterre laid out with pools instead of flower beds, 

 and terminating in a semi-circular pond backed by 

 a clipped screen. On the inner side (for the grounds 

 lie on a shelf broken up into terraces) and a little 

 above is a long grass terrace running nearly the 

 entire length of the garden and dividing it into two 

 portions. This is one of the most delightful 

 features of the place and is very rare in Italian 



fardens. The turf is kept as green as if it were in 

 England. This long alley terminates at one end 

 in a balustrade over which a glorious view of 

 Florence is disclosed, and at the other by a grotto 

 and a group of great cypresses. Facing the house, 

 and reached through gates from the grass terrace, 

 is an enclosed rock garden with a double stairway, 

 one on either side, leading respectively to a hosco 

 on one side and to the lemon garden on the other. 

 The latter is gay and sunny, with a fountain and 

 huge red pots, and backed by a picturesque stan- 

 zone. Another bosco is reached from this level, and 

 through it winding paths lead down again to the 

 grass alley. 



On the outer side of the house runs a terrace 

 with sculptured balustrade giving beautiful views. 

 Close below are the fields and vineyards, which in 

 nearly all cases in Italy border the grounds. 



The Capponi family, early in the eighteenth 

 century, embellished the grounds with fountains 

 and statuary. 



