VILLA CAVAGNARO 



On a steep hill-side, high above the little town of Rapallo, stands the 

 Villa Cavagnaro, betraying itself at a distance by a line of dark 

 cypress trees and some suggestions of architectural interest. It is on 

 a modest scale, and, as is so often the case with the lesser villas, is 

 quite surrounded by its own podere, or farm, in which it is almost 

 lost ; the olives, vines, and orchard trees closing it in on every side, 

 seem almost to dispute its right to exist. 



The casino, of quite moderate dimensions, is a dwelling-place much 

 to be desired, away from the rush and dust and hurry of life. No 

 carriage road comes near it, and the infrequent visitor must needs 

 mount its terraces on foot. A more delightful place in which to 

 spend the villegiafura it would be difficult to imagine, for here, even 

 on the warmest day, a delicious breeze comes up from the sea, or down 

 from the mountains. 



To reach the entrance gate of the villa, it is necessary to climb 

 by one of those most uncomfortable of pathways, steep, and paved 

 with the roughest of cobble-stones. These same pathways are a 

 characteristic feature of the Riviera: di Levante. At length an iron 

 gate, with high stone piers surmounted by urns, comes into view, 

 perched at the top of wide steep steps, and standing in the cool 

 green shadow of some tall trees. From the gateway a broad steep 

 path leads upwards, between the terraces of the podere, until it reaches 

 a horse-shoe stairway, with wall fountain below and seats, placed in 

 the shade, above. 



From here the path continues to ascend, bordered on either hand 



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