VILLA MONDRAGONE 



The Villa Borghese in Mondragone, or as it is commonly called the 

 Villa Mondragone, lies back some little distance from the town of 

 Frascati, above the road to Monte Porzio. It occupies a commanding 

 position on one of the numerous spurs which descend from Tusculum 

 and lose themselves in the woody slopes below. 



The villa was formerly approached direct from the main road by way 

 of the beautiful old cypress avenue that climbed the steep hill to the 

 palace from below the great overhanging terrace. This road has, how- 

 ever, long been discarded in favour of a more gentle ascent, which 

 passes in front of the Villa Taverna and approaches the Villa Mondra- 

 gone through a long avenue of ilex-trees which stretches across the fields 

 and olive yards. 



The palazzo is of great size, approached only by that of the Villa 

 d'Este. It was commenced by Martino Lunghi the elder for Cardinal 

 Marco Sitico de' Conte Altemps, nephew of Pope Pius IV., whose inten- 

 tion it was to erect a villa more sumptuous than any then existing, but 

 who did not live to see the completion of his darling project. 



After his death it was taken in hand by Gregory XIII., who, with his 

 court, frequently made this his summer retreat. Still later, that inde- 

 fatigable builder Cardinal Scipio Borghese added largely to the palazzo^ 

 and did much to beautify the gardens. 



Among the many architects who had a hand in the building scheme, 

 it is a little difficult to assign to each his special share. Martino Lunghi, 

 Flaminio Ponzio, Giovanni Vasanzio, Giov. Fontana, Carlo Rainaldi, 

 and even the great Vignola himself are mentioned in connection with it 



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