THE GARDENS OF PAPAL ROME 
Loggia as more beautiful than any work of modern 
times, adds the following words: “ Raphael is also 
building a villa for the Reverendissimo Medici, which 
will be a most excellent thing. The Pope goes there 
very often. It is just under the Cross on Monte 
Mario.” 1 
No site could have been finer or more appropriate 
than this which Raphael chose for Cardinal Giulio’s 
villa on the eastern slopes of Monte Mario, about two 
miles north of the Borgo. “ Here,” in Vasari’s words, 
“ besides the beautiful view of the Campagna,” with 
the Sabine hills and far peaks of Soracte in the distance, 
“ were running water, woods, and a wide plain stretch¬ 
ing along the Tiber as far as Ponte Molle, while on the 
other side the meadows reached to the gates of St. 
Peter’s.” 2 At the back the house was well protected 
from cold winds, while its position in front of the dark 
masses of woods made it a conspicuous object from the 
great Flaminian Way, the road by which most travellers 
entered Rome. Here, in the immediate neighbourhood 
of the Vatican, the Cardinal could enjoy cool shades 
and fresh breezes in the summer months, and would 
be able at the same time to entertain any distinguished 
guests who might visit the Eternal City. 
A letter which Raphael addressed to Castiglione a few 
1 Archivio Gonzaga, Mantova. Corrispondenza di Roma, 1519. 
2 Vite deipiii eccellenti Pittori, x. 283. 
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