of a terrace some 200 yards in length. The staircases are balustraded and 

 decorated with fluted balls and vases ; the latter, though now used for 

 aloes, doubtless at one time were fountains. The spaces between the 

 various flights are filled with roses of all sorts and other flowers, the 

 effect of which, in conjunction with the warm grey stone, is pleasing in 

 the extreme. 



This villa served as a retreat to Pope Gregory XV., of the family ot 

 Ludovisi, who bought it from the Due d'Altemps shortly before he was 

 elected to the Papacy. After remaining in his family but a few years, it 

 passed successively to the Conti, the Sforza, and finally to the 

 Torlonia family. 



But a short distance beyond the Villa Conti, or Torlonia as it is now 

 called, are two other villas, less known but full of interest, both of which 

 at one time belonged to the Muti family. 



The nearer of these, formerly known as Belpoggio, but now as the 

 Villa Palavicini, stands on a spit of land, and is terraced on all sides. 

 Specially interesting is the complex system of grottoes with which the 

 upper terrace was honeycombed, and which extended the whole length 

 of the terrace on bpth sides. The villa, which is not extensive, is 

 divided into two main levels, the lower being reached by a double ramp. 

 This terrace was formerly laid out with an elaborate arrangement of 

 cabinets connected by arbours or pleached alleys, with openings like 

 windows at intervals, through which glimpses of the garden might' be 

 obtained. In the more open parterre and interspersed among the foun- 

 tains, several of which still remain, both Greuter (1620) and Blaeu show 

 a number of box-trees clipped into quaint shapes of ships, or birds, 

 or animals, such as lions, peacocks, or spread-eagles, with other topiary 

 work on the upper terrace, all of which have long since perished. 



Another delightful villa, though unhappily much modernised in parts, 

 is the Villa Muti. The casino is surrounded by terraces on different 

 levels, which follow the trend of the ground and have been most 

 ingeniously treated by the architect. It is not a large place, the whole 

 garden being barely 150 yards square, but its great charm lies in its 

 simplicity and homeliness. 



The lower terrace, partly enclosed by walls of bay or ilex, is laid out 



70 



