European and Japanese Gardens 
Isola Bella 
“STRETCHES ALONG THE LAKESIDE” 
Lake Maggiore 
while at Castel Gondolfo is the beautiful Villa Barberini, which 
reproduces the arrangements and aspect of the ancient villa of 
Domitian. All these villas among the Alban hills differ radi¬ 
cally from those at Rome in two respects. The house is not a 
mere “casino,” but a permanent residence or palazzo, and the 
abrupt slopes of the hillsides give opportunities which are 
skilfully availed of, for striking vistas and monumental effects. 
Owing to the abundant mountain streams, the water works in 
these gardens are unusually elaborate and effective. 
Further away from Rome is the hill on which stands 
Caprarola, with the imposing pentagonal palace and the beau¬ 
tiful gardens of the Farnesi, built from Vignola’s designs ; and 
a few miles further yet, the Villa Lante at Bagnaia, near Viterbo, 
one of the most perfect and typical of Italian villas. 
Florence is naturally the center of another group of villas, 
erected either by the Medici or by grandees of the Medi- 
cean court. Foremost is the Boboli garden belonging to the 
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