40 
rriE GARDEXS OF ITALY. 
CHAPTER IV, 
VILLA MADAMA, PONTE MOLLE, ROME. 
THE FARNESIAN GARDENS, FORMERLY ON THE PALATINE 
HILL, ROME. 
THE VILLA PAPA GIULIO. 
C NG outside Rome, beyond the well known Porta del Popolo, this villa is approached rw 
Ponte Molle, a fine old brick bridge of six arches thrown across a bend of the Tiber. 
There is a heavy solid bridge end, which gives a good vertical mass to finish the level 
lines of the roadway. This was added in 1805 by Valadier. The four central arches of the 
bridge are old Roman work. 
The Villa Madama stands well 
upon a bank or ledge in the 
hillside, with a background of 
trees. The position is a fine 
one, with Monte Alario rising 
up behind. The villa is now 
in the hands of builders for 
additions and alterations, and 
it is not open to be visited. 
It was never completed, and 
the scheme shown is an 
imaginary restoration with some 
basis derived from an old plan 
by Sangallo. Raphael’s sup- 
posed connection with the 
49. — viLL.v MADAMA, PONTE MOLLE, ROME. scheme makes it one of great 
Restored view oi pari aclaally built. interest, while Giulio RomanO 
and Giovanni da Undine were 
both certainly employed there 
in 1523. The epoch was one 
of such importance to the 
future development of Renais- 
sance gardens that too much 
attention can hardlv be given 
to such works as the Farnesian 
and the Villa iMadama, which 
were so close together in point 
of time. The Villa Madama 
was undertaken by Cardinal 
Giulio de iMedici, afterwards 
Clement VII, whose brother, 
Giovanni, was then Pope as 
Leo X, having arrived at the 
papacy at the early age of 
50. — THE LOGGIA ACTUALLY BUILT. thirty-scven. Both the brothers 
