32 
THE GARDES S OF ITALY. 
beyond- Puis IX used to ride here on his white mule, and the present Pope walks here nearly 
every day. 
Past a rough grotto fountain on the slope of the bill, the road leads downward to the lower 
and more formal part of the garden, past a fine wall fountain, where the water spouts in jets and 
stars over the brown lip of a basin fringed with maidenhair fern. As we look at the water 
gushing from the rocks we may recall that it was brought here in its plenty by Trajan after a 
terrible inundation had led him to restrain and divert the Tiber. This mitlet, according to 
Falda’s old book of gardens of 1640, went by the name of Fontana delli Torri, and from it the 
path winds to the entrance to a little palm garden, which of old was the garden of the simples. 
Immediately below is the entrance to the most beautiful spot in the garden, the Casino of 
Pius IV, the Villa Pia. the chef Tceiivre of the famous architect. Pirro Ligorio. Built 155^ — 1560. 
42. — ST.VIHWAY UP TO THE LEVEL OF THE OVAL COURT OF THE VILLA PIA. 
materials taken from the stadium of Domitian in Piazza Navona are said to have been 
used in the buildings.* 
A stone-paved courtyard is set round with low walls and seats, above which are ranged stone 
vases, in which grow stiff yet graceful aloes ; at either end is a beautiful porch-like recess, the 
arch of which is filled by graceful shell ornaments, while the sides have busts set in niches. 
The whole is decorated in the rich and fanciful style of the Renaissance with delicate painting and 
stucco-work. On one side is a large garden-house, airy, yet with a certain stateliness, its 
facade rich and dainty with arabesque stucco-work and bas-reliefs. The walls within are painted 
with gay medallions by Zuccaro, Baroccio and Santi di Tito. Here are two ancient mosaics, one 
representing a hunt, the other a bacchanalian dance. Some old terra-cotta pictures, which 
• Sc-i: La I'ilhi Pill, par Jules Boucliet, Paris, 18.^7, a monograph whidi contains a full account of this splendid casino, 
with complete drawings and details. Hegun by Paul IV, who, like Pirro Ligorio, was a Neapolitan, in 1555, it was compietcul 
in 15O1 by Pins IN', from whom it has taken its name. I.igorio was ajipointcd architect of St. Peter’s first with Michael 
.\ngclo and then with Vignola. Failing to agree with Michael .\ngelo and wishing to alter his model, he was dismi.sscd. In 
I5(>8 he went to Ferrara lor the d’Este family, and we lose sight of him. He died in 1580. Be.sidcs the Villa d'Este 
at Tivoli, the only other work besides this casino was the Palazzo l.anceIlotti at Rome. 'I'he authority of Iiis many writing.s on 
anlii-iuity has been disputed, but his zeal and knowledge were very great, and his taste must have been exquisite. — .-N., 'f. IJ. 
