. Italian gardens. cordingly, we find some six or eight flights of stairs, one abovethe other, zig-zagging up the steep ascent, the stairs passing rightand left alternately, and so making a symmetrical elevation. At the principal landing there is a great niche, with pilastersand cornice, in which stands a heroic statue of Diana. Seen from alittle distance, this statue has the unfortunate defect of all theseovergrown statues, which dwarf everything else in their immediateneighbourhood. This stairway bears some slight resemblance to the one, on amore grandiose scale, at the old Sommariva Villa n
. Italian gardens. cordingly, we find some six or eight flights of stairs, one abovethe other, zig-zagging up the steep ascent, the stairs passing rightand left alternately, and so making a symmetrical elevation. At the principal landing there is a great niche, with pilastersand cornice, in which stands a heroic statue of Diana. Seen from alittle distance, this statue has the unfortunate defect of all theseovergrown statues, which dwarf everything else in their immediateneighbourhood. This stairway bears some slight resemblance to the one, on amore grandiose scale, at the old Sommariva Villa near Cadenabbia,but this is built entirely of brick, even to the steps themselves. Asurface of stucco has been added, and the whole is tinted a paleyellow, though not much of this surface is now visible. Festoons ofBanksia roses, yellow and white, hang from cornice and balustrade,even invading the sanctuary of Diana herself To right and left,bushes of oleander hang over from the flanking terraces ; not miserable 128. bushes these, but great trees twenty feet high or more, which havestems some eight inches in diameter. In April they are still in theirsober spring livery, a delicate grey-green. By-and-by a stray pinkflower will appear, and then, by insensible degrees, the whole treewill be flooded with the sweet pink bloom, until at length all greenwill be hidden from view. At the head of the great stair we find ourselves in a small squaregarden, a kind of forecourt. Immediately opposite, a last broad flightof curving steps leads to the topmost level and to the casino. To rightand left are gateways, giving access to the gardens. A long stone seatforms part of the terrace wall, and on every side, wall and balustrade,gate-pier and iron fence, are swathed with greenery and rambling architectural features are almost hidden from view, though, hereand there, a marble urn, or picturesque but nondescript finial, managesto assert itself. It is on the outer wall of this court that
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidcu3192, booksubjectgardens
