POGGIO CAJANO, GASTELLO AND PETRAJA, FLORENCE. 
285 
297. — VILLA MEDICEA DI CAREGGI, FLORENCE. 
is an enclosed garden court 
(Figs. 290 and 292), with a 
magnificent fountain by 
Tribolo and Giovanni da 
Bologna in the centre 
(Figs. 291 and 296), com- 
paring with one to be seen 
at Petraja. The levels are 
rising up-hill, and at the 
top is an embankment 
wall with a grotto in the 
centre under the terrace 
above. The sculpture 
groups in the arched re- 
cesses are well known for 
their quaint grouping of 
animals (Fig. 293) ; camels, 
goats, boars, cows and 
horses are all assembled. 
These are the work of 
Fontanelli, of the time of 
the Medici. A stairway 
at the top corner of the 
garden court leads to the upper terrace, from which the view over the enclosure, the house 
and the plains, up to the “ Collini di Firenze,” is full ot interest (Fig. 292). On the axis line of 
the garden court is a pond of shellwork rocks, from which a bronze figure is emerging. The 
slopes are all heavily planted with ilex, and the way up to Petraja on the right passes through 
an avenue of elms. That villa is seen on a ledge, with a mass of cypresses behind and olive 
clad slopes in front (Fig. 294 ). The Corsini villa lies much lower, and, from above, its appearance 
is that ot a mass of evergreen, like a solid Roman square set about with tall cypress 
sentinels. The avenue winds and ends at the bank behind Petraja, the hill being scooped 
out opposite the entrance in a segmental recess. This back road is overhung by the great 
cypresses planted on the 
hill slope above. The 
frontage of the villa is 
about sixty yards. There 
is an internal cortile 
frescoed by Volterrano 
in 1636, with very inter- 
esting scenes in the life 
of the Medici (Fig. 295). 
At one time whitewashed, 
these frescoes have 
been restored, and are 
now protected by a light 
glass roof, converting 
this cortile into a saloon. 
Catherine and Mary de 
Medici face each other, 
depicting on either side 
of the apartment above 
doorways adorned 
with painted caryatid 
figures. Francis, Lorenzo 
298. — LOGGIA OF THE VILLA MEDICEA DI CAREGGI. 
