58 
THE ART OF GARDEN DESIGN IN ITALY 
of purple, mauve, and brown in autumn, are never shown to better advantage than when arranged 
upon a pergola. 
The Palazzo Scaglietto, which also belonged to the Durazzo family, near to Genoa, exists 
no more. Its garden was a charming composition, with terraces, a cascade, and long ilex alleys 
rising upon the steep hillside. The Villa dell’ Albero d’ Oro had two double stairways leading 
from the casino to the lower garden, and at the foot of each stairway a long pergola extended the 
entire width of the garden. 
Of all these Genoese suburban villas the best preserved is the Villa Imperiali or Scassi at 
Sanpierdarena, built from Alessi’s designs. By a fortunate chance this villa has been preserved 
from further decay by the municipality, who have turned the casino into a girls’ school, and the 
grounds into a public garden. The casino stands back a little from the high road to Genoa, 
with an oblong forecourt and stable buildings on either side; at the rear the garden rises up the 
slightly inclining hillside, on the north of the casino, in a series of three principal levels. Here the 
usual rule of Genoese gardens was departed from, and the casino is placed at the foot of the gardens, 
instead of commanding them. The lower of these levels consisted of a double parterre slightly 
inclining; the main walk terminates in the grotto and pool shown on Plate 21, with central alcove 
and niches on either side, divided by white marble Atlantides supporting the cornice and balustrade 
on either side. A double ramp leads to the higher level, which has been somewhat changed 
since M. Gautier’s survey, the central pool having been filled in. Further stairways lead to the 
upper terrace, shown on Plate 20, from whence a magnificent view is obtained. From here an 
inclined path, lined with statues in niches and figures supporting fluted basins, leads to a small 
temple with the reservoir behind, which supplied all the extensive waterworks. Again continuing 
to ascend, the path terminates in a double semicircular flight of stairs with a belvedere, and ilex 
woods behind. The whole scheme shows great skill in the management of the various levels, and 
the clever way in which the transition between the more strictly formal portions and the 
surrounding landscape is effected. The architectural detail throughout is refined in taste, and 
especially the small screens and niches terminating the terraces. 
