VILLA PIATTI 



It is only necessary to glance at Giambattista Nolli's great Plan of Rome, 

 published in 1748, to see, that dovetailed in between the villas of the 

 great Lords and Cardinals were innumerable smaller villas and vigne. 

 Those which have escaped the net of the speculative builder are now 

 chiefly to be found in the more open ground beyond the Colosseum, and 

 are of more than passing interest, for they form a valuable link in the 

 development of the art of gardening. 



One that is fairly accessible is the little garden of the " Priorato " or 

 Knights of Malta on the Aventine. It is but a few yards square, with 

 a little terrace overhanging the Tiber and looking across to the Ripa 

 Grande, with the coasting-vessels lying at their moorings, and beyond the 

 Trastevere to the dome of St. Peter's and the blue hills behind. 



Set back from the river, and enclosed by high walls of greenery, lies 

 the tiny garden laid out with, tall box-edging, and adorned with many 

 pots of oleander, azalea, and lemon. Here and there are simple fountain ^ 

 basins, and busts and broken statues fill niches in the wall ; making a 

 very complete little town garden, much better worth looking at than the 

 absurd keyhole vista that has such an absorbing interest for the average 

 visitor. 



The piazza, from which the garden is entered, is surrounded by an 

 ornamental wall embellished with tall obelisks, ball finials, and ornate 

 vases ; stone benches are set back against the wall at intervals, and about 

 the gate is a pedimented erection decorated with pilasters and trophies 

 of arms which are a little out of character with the modest garden 

 within. This has evidently formed a kind of forecourt to the small 



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