I02 Old Gardens of Italy 



the writer has met with in an Italian garden (except 

 the sun-dials affixed to the walls of buildings, 

 which are common) stands near the palace, and a 

 beautiful vase on a pedestal not far from it. Here, 

 too, is the Fountain of Venus. There are several 

 balustrade terraces, affording delightful views, and 

 a small sunk giardino segreto that 'recalls the earlier 

 design. The gardens are never open to the public, 

 and permission to visit them, obtainable through 

 an Ambassador, would only be given under very 

 special circumstances. 



VATICAN GARDENS, ROME. 



These gardens were probably first laid out under 

 Sixtus IV. (1471-1484). They were extensively 

 improved by Raphael and afterwards by Sangallo 

 the younger. The beautiful little garden house 

 was built for Pius IV. in 1560 by Piero Ligorio. 

 For permission to enter the gardens apply some 

 weeks in advance at the office in the Vatican. 



Although much of the old design has been 

 altered, and the grounds are now by no means well 

 kept,* there still remains the great sunk •parterre 

 with the ilex-hung terraces above it and the exqui- 

 site little oval court with its two vaulted porticos 

 and its garden-house and arcaded pavilion placed 



* At no time do these gardens seem to have been well kept up. Dr. 

 G. Burnet wrote of them in 1686, " the gardens are ill maintained," and 

 it must strike all present-day visitors also that *' There are none that lay 

 out so much iLcaltk all at once as the Italians on their Pahcei and Gardens 

 and that afterwards bestow so little on the preserving of them." 



