ITALIAN VILLAS 
of this order about Florence that the student who should 
attempt to give an account of them would have before 
him a long and laborious undertaking ; but where the 
villa is to be considered in relation to its garden, the 
task is reduced to narrow limits. There is perhaps no 
region of Italy so rich in old villas and so lacking in old 
VILLA GAMBERAIA, AT SETTIGNANO, NEAR FLORENCE 
gardens as the neighbourhood of Florence. Various 
causes have brought about this result. The environs 
of Florence have always been frequented by the wealthy 
classes, not only Italian but foreign. The Tuscan 
nobility have usually been rich enough to alter their 
gardens in accordance with the varying horticultural 
20 
