decorations. The rectangular box parterre was enclosed by a raised 

 bank or terrace a few yards wide, which overhung the moat. At each 

 corner was an octagonal pavilion, encrusted with mosaic, its high- 

 pitched roof hung with liny bells which jangled with every puff of 

 wind. Opposite the main paths, curving stairways led upwards to this 

 terrace, and each of these and the adjacent walls were fringed with 

 rococo vases and statues, both singly and in groups. Within and around 

 the parterre were fountains, in which tritons and amorint, dolphins and 

 sea-monsters, spouted the livelong day. Unhappily some four or five 

 years since the gardens were ruthlessly dismantled, and fountains and 

 statues were sold and carried away piecemeal. Many of these were sent 

 to America, to be set up in so-called Italian gardens. One can only 

 regret that beautiful villas (for this is by no rtieans a solitary example) 

 ^should be thus despoiled in order to provide " ornaments " for prosaic 

 modern gardens ; among their raw new surroundings they can at best 

 but look hopelessly out of place. 



Far up one of the many lovely valleys that stretch away northwards 

 from the great Lombard plain into the grey hills lies the Villa Cicogna. 

 To reach it you traverse many miles of rich undulating country, studded 

 with farmsteads, and villas which are often more farm than villa, but still 

 betray their more refined origin by their handsome gateways ornamented 

 with shields and rampant lions, broken pediments, or flower-laden vases. 

 Corn and vine, fruit orchard and meadowland, fill the valley with their 

 luxuriant growth, while terraced poderi invade the lower slopes of the 

 surrounding hills. 



The villa stands back only a short distance from the highway that 

 passes through the little feudal village, with its pink and white campanile, 

 and runs onwards up the fertile valley. A short incline, overshadowed 

 by trees, leads to the forecourt ; the grand portal lying directly in front, 

 with the steward's house and the farm buildings ranged around it. The 

 casinoy from this aspect, is very like a hundred other plain and unsophis- 

 ticated buildings of its class, and holds out no promise of special interest 

 either for itself or its garden. 



Up the little flight of steps at the side of the house, and through 

 an iron wicket, or dog-gate, you reach an arcaded loggia^ open to 



