90 
THE ART OF GARDEN DESIGN IN ITALY 
VILLA GORI , SIENA c f&m of CARDEN THEATRE 
is laid out in an elaborate pattern of turf and gravel, 
easily be laid out in some modern garden, and would 
radiate at right angles from the 
casino; one of these leads to the 
garden theatre, which is shown on 
Plate 61, and of which we give a plan. 
The theatre is of oval shape, 
and the centre is marked by a single 
cypress, whilst others stand like sen¬ 
tinels upon either side. The wings 
are formed of cypress, set within 
staves to keep them trim, and each 
advanced a few feet beyond the one 
before it. The stage is raised a 
couple of feet, and comes forward, 
with a shapely curve. The parterre 
Such a quaint little theatre as this might 
be a feature well repaying its construction. 
The other ilex tunnel leads to a circular ‘decoy’ such as Montaigne describes at the country 
house of M. Buonvisi, a little way out of Lucca; ‘ here ’ he says ‘ I observed several artificial 
