THE GARDEXS OF ITALY. 
176 
CHAPTER XVI. 
THE VILLA MON DRAGONE AND VILLA BORGHESE, FRASCATI. 
T he Villa Mon Dragone, situated between Frascati and Monte Porzio, occupies a remarkable 
position on the slope of a hill. The front towards the open country is effective in sharp 
perspective, distinct with twin tower masses enclosing a framework of pilasters treated as 
flat surfaces, with features that are not too prominent, in true Vignola style. There are 
bastion extensions very reminiscent of Caprarola. 1 he view from this front is indescribably 
beautiful. The hill ranges on the right extend round and die down into the great level of the 
boundless plains which reach to the Mediterranean Sea on the left. Beyond the two tall columns 
(Fig. 187) known as the Pope’s chimneys lies a hill city, lending a peculiar interest to the landscape. 
The tall chimneys belong to the huge kitchens and offices constructed below this artificial terrace. 
They are in balanced pairs, 
one of which is a dummy. 
Between the columns on 
the great terrace is placed 
the fountain “My 
Dragon,” well illustrated 
in our view (Fig. i86). 
The architecture of 
the villa is somewhat 
rough and careless on the 
fa9ades. There is a 
Michael Angelo element 
in the Ionic caps of the 
entrance doorway. The 
work was begun about 
1567 from the designs of 
Martino Lunghi the 
Elder, and as Vignola 
died in 1573 it is 
questionable if he can 
have had much share in 
the work, in spite of the 
character of some of the 
detail and of his great 
reputation for this villa 
architecture. The fine 
open loggia towards the 
small garden was begun 
bv Flaminio Ponzio, who 
lived about 1570 — 1615, 
and it was continued 
by G i o V a s a n z i o . 
The great fountain, 
182. — THE GATEWAY OF THE VILLA MON DRAGONE. amphitheatre, tcrraccs 
