Paolo V. from the designs of Gio. Antonio Vansantio and Flaminio 

 Pontico in the early years of the seventeenth century. 



Like the Villa Papa Giulio, this palazzo does not appear to have 

 been built as a dwelling, so much as a place in which to entertain 

 friends and the numerous strangers who flocked to the Court of Rome 

 from all parts of the civilised world. The principal facade was enriched 

 with statues and busts, bas-reliefs and other antiques ; many of which 

 were discovered on the Borghese estates, though only a portion now 

 remains. A feature of the palace is the loggia or portico of five arches, 

 raised above the forecourt and reached by a flight of steps. Above the 

 grey tiled roof with its projecting eaves, rise two turrets or belvederi 

 which give a pleasing variety to its outline. 



Adjoining the Palazzo, on either side of it, lay the giardini segreti. 

 The larger of these gardens contains the Aviary, to which Evelyn 

 refers as " a volary full of curious birds," one of those quaint 

 erections in which the architect's fancy seems to have run riot. 

 Broken pediments, swags and vases of flowers, crowned eagles, ball 

 finials, gaping masks, and pilasters with dragon capitals, are put together 

 with that delightful disregard for law and order which characterises 

 the rococo artist. 



These long strips of garden must have been delightful in the old 

 days, with their high walls screened by box or bay, with here and 

 there a little wall fountain, and beds filled with old-fashioned 

 flowers and pot-herbs. At intervals, around and among the beds, 

 were lemon-trees planted in terra-cotta vases, and, \w the centre, a dragon 

 with expanded wings gave point to a charming fountain. 



After long years of neglect, during which all semblance of garden 

 had been obliterated, the giardini segreti have lately been put in order. 

 The walls have been thrown down, the rubbish cleared from the 

 fountains and some rather uninteresting grass plots and walks have been 

 laid out ; it is much to be regretted that some attempt was not made 

 to lay them out once more, according to the original scheme as shown 

 in old plans of the gardens. 



Even in its restored and mutilated state the forecourt of the palazzo 

 is still one of the most notable features of the villa. The court is 



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