into the summer. A retaining wall, adorned with an architectural screen 

 of pilasters and entablature, with statues in niches at frequent intervals, 

 and other touches of ornament in lighter vein, runs the whole length of 

 the garden. The central niche is emphasised by a quaint pedimental 

 arrangement carried above the coping, with a small obelisk in the middle, 

 and heraldic birds and beasts placed on either side, and a coat of arms 

 below. The whole of this is reflected in the most delightful manner in a 

 wide stone channel, raised well above the garden level. At one end, this 

 channel disappears in the depths of a grotto, beneath a balustraded stair. 

 This stairway, which is decorated with charming puttini^ in the style of 

 Verrocchio, leads to the farm above, passing a fountain-niche mid-way. 

 An extensive view over the parapet, that bounds the garden on the other 

 side, gives excuse for a belvedere with seats and displaying some little 

 architectural fancy. Crowning the low wall are many pots of carnations, 

 grown as only Italians know how to grow them ; not tied up stiffly, but 

 allowed to hang their heads freely and naturally. 



The garden ends with a curving wall, half hidden behind festoons of 

 climbing roses, above which some vases and curious beasts manage to rear 

 their heads. Through a wicket-gate, a few steps lead to the boschetto of ilex 

 and cypress, with here and there stone seats and weather-worn statues. " ' 



It must not, however, be imagined that the villa is confined to the 

 neighbourhoods of Florence, Pistoja, or Siena. The maison de plaisance 

 is naturally found in greater numbers in the vicinity of the larger cities, 

 but scattered all over Tuscany are many country houses, which occupy 

 a place equivalent to the old English manor house, and were intended to 

 be lived in all the year round. 



To the latter class belongs the Villa di Caniparola, which lies at 

 the foot of the Apennines, at some considerable distance from Florence. 

 Its situation is similar to that of Pliny's Tuscan villa, for it occupies 

 ground only slightly raised above the meadow-land, and has the 

 mountains set back some little distance at its rear. The casino stands 

 about a hundred paces from the high road, the flower garden only 

 intervening, and is approached by a shady drive that follows the garden 

 wall to a rectangular forecourt, in the centre of which the well-head 

 stands between stone columns. 



113 P 



