VILLAS NEAR SIENA 
PLATES 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 
VICOBELLO. VILLA GORI. VILLA SERGARDI. VILLA BELCARO. VILLA BARGAGLI 
HERE are few more typically Tuscan villas than that of Vicobello, the 
Marchese Chigi’s seat some three miles outside Siena. It is conspicuously 
situated upon a hill, in open country, with prosperous-looking farmsteads 
surrounding it on all sides, and, seen from the city, has quite a fortress-like 
appearance. The roadway approach leads to the entrance at the north side 
of the casino, running past the long line of outbuildings and * stanzoni ’ that 
form the boundary to the lemon garden. Upon the opposite side the steep 
hillside is laid out in a series of parallel terraces, planted with long rows of square-cut ilexes, 
descending to a meadow or ‘ragnaia’ at the foot of the hill, where formerly the young gallants 
resorted for the snaring of birds. Returning from here to the principal entrance, we pass under 
an archway to the gravelled courtyard in front of the casino, which is said to have been erected 
from the designs of Baldassare Peruzzi. Here an old well is picturesquely set against the stable 
wall; opposite are the chapel, coach-house and other buildings, and to the left we have a peep into 
the orange garden through a delicately wrought iron gateway. This garden is oblong in form 
and quite simply laid out, bounded upon one side by a long, low stanzone, and upon the other 
sides by thick-set hedges of cypress and laurel. The flower-beds, set within thick edgings of 
box, fill the garden with masses of colour, admirably set off by the more sombre tones of cypress 
and ilex. The main walk terminates in the summer-house, shown on Plate 56, its mellow stone¬ 
work touched with the vivid green of mosses. In the midst of the beds are fruit-trees, their 
irregular shapes contrasting with the trim, formal lines of the design, and with the regular 
disposition of the rows of orange-trees in their earthenware pots. A flight of steps leads to the 
fruit garden, upon a lower level, with oval pools of water, and, passing through, we descend to an 
oblong terrace with summer-house. From the front of the casino a double stairway leads to 
the first terrace, laid out with grass plots, and a further stairway leads to the principal terrace 
and belvedere, with a charming view of the city of Siena, its walls and towers perched upon the 
opposite hill. A kitchen and small parklike enclosure occupy the west side of the villa. 
There are but few remains of the garden at the Villa Gori, if indeed it ever 
possessed very much that might be considered as such. It nevertheless possesses several 
curiosities that are not very frequently to be met with. Two long and dense ilex tunnels 
( 8 9 ) z 
