themselves with the classic ideal so deeply that they could reproduce it 

 in such a manner as to show that they were no mere copyists. 



In line with the entrance to the casino is a loggia or portico open on 

 both sides and raised upon some half-dozen steps ; beyond it is situated 

 what can only be described as a sunk court, for the loggia is placed on a 

 level with the third story of the court. This court is semicircular in 

 plan, and curving stairs lead down from the loggia to the second floor, 

 which is decorated with river gods and niches for statues. In the centre 

 is an opening surrounded by a marble balustrade. Leaning upon this, 

 you look down into what is perhaps the most fantastic dining-hall ever 

 conceived by man. The pavement beneath your feet is honeycombed 

 with grottoes and subterranean passages, and fountain niches festooned 

 with maidenhair occupy the intervals between the broad pilasters. On 

 one side a large semicircular recess is hollowed out, the panelled roof of 

 which is supported on the heads of caryatides. A wide channel is carried 

 along the side of the court and passes round the recess into which the 

 various fountains play. An old print shows these fountains decorated 

 with amorini and youthful satyrs, and upon the balustrade above other 

 amorini riding sea-monsters. The whole of this lower section of the 

 court, including the pavement, of which only a portion now remains, is 

 constructed of marble. 



Facing the loggia, on the opposite side of the court, is a second 

 pavilion of the most dainty and fanciful description. It is smaller than 

 the first, and looks into the court on the one side and into the little 

 giardino segreto on the other. Raised upon a balustrade, slender columns 

 of delicate veined marble support an entablature, the central opening only 

 being spanned by an arch, on each side of which are busts in circular 

 niches. The old print already mentioned depicts statues standing out 

 against the sky above each corner, and in the place of the present tiled 

 roof a geometrical trellised dome overhung with vines. To what extent 

 the exterior of the villa was decorated in colour it is not easy to tell ; in 

 all probability the whole of it was painted. Several of the grottoes and 

 underground chambers still retain their frescoes, and the semicircular 

 colonnade at the rear of the casino is adorned with frescoes by the 

 celebrated Taddeo Zucchero, who has here given rein to his fancy 



37 



