GARDENS OF FLORENTINE HUMANISTS 
ments of its inhabitants. It was in the age of the 
Medici, when Pandolfini lived and Alberti wrote, that 
garden-design became a fine art and individual culture 
and character found expression in the creation of the 
countless pleasure-houses that are scattered over the 
Tuscan hills. In 1417 Cosimo de’ Medici bought the 
estate of Careggi, two miles north-west of the city, and 
employed Michelozzo to design the house and grounds 
—“a thing,” says Vasari, “ truly rich and magnificent,” 
as well as to bring water for the fountain that may still 
be seen in the garden. This villa, with the covered 
galleries under the roof and the frescoed loggia, 
looking over the ilex-woods towards the sunset, re¬ 
mained the favourite home of the Medici during three 
generations, and was enlarged and beautified by each 
successive owner. Here Cosimo Pater Patriae dined 
on the memorable day when he returned to Florence 
in triumph, bringing with him the faithful architect 
who had shared his exile. In this villa, which he 
called the place on earth nearest to heaven, he spent 
the happiest hours of his life, studying Plato and 
discussing philosophy with Marsilio Ficino, for whom 
he built the villa of “ La Fontanella,” close by. 
“ Yesterday! arrived at Careggi,” he wrote to Ficino, 
“ not so much with the object of improving my gardens 
as myself. Let me see you, Marsilio, as soon as 
possible, and do not forget to bring with you the book 
II 
