. Italian gardens. Villa Taverna and approaches the Villa Mondra-gone through a long avenue of ilex-trees which stretches across the fieldsand olive yards. The palazzo is of great size, approached only by that of the VilladEste. It was commenced by Martino Lunghi the elder for CardinalMarco Sitico de Conte Altemps, nephew of Pope Pius IV., whose inten-tion it was to erect a villa more sumptuous than any then existing, butwho did not live to see the completion of his darling project. After his death it was taken in hand by Gregory XIII., who, with hiscourt, frequently made this his summer retre
. Italian gardens. Villa Taverna and approaches the Villa Mondra-gone through a long avenue of ilex-trees which stretches across the fieldsand olive yards. The palazzo is of great size, approached only by that of the VilladEste. It was commenced by Martino Lunghi the elder for CardinalMarco Sitico de Conte Altemps, nephew of Pope Pius IV., whose inten-tion it was to erect a villa more sumptuous than any then existing, butwho did not live to see the completion of his darling project. After his death it was taken in hand by Gregory XIII., who, with hiscourt, frequently made this his summer retreat. Still later, that inde-fatigable builder Cardinal Scipio Borghese added largely to the palazzo^and did much to beautify the gardens. Among the many architects who had a hand in the building scheme,it is a little difficult to assign to each his special share. Martino Lunghi,Flaminio Ponzio, Giovanni Vasanzio, Giov. Fontana, Carlo Rainaldi,and even the great Vignola himself are mentioned in connection with it 56. by the old writers. The great terrace, with the Dragon fountain whichoverlooks the campagna, and that other fountain or teatro cPacqua in theprivate gardens, are undoubtedly the work of Giovanni Fontana, whosehand is recognised in more than one of the neighbouring villas ; whilethe laying out and planting of the villa can with equal certainty beassigned to Carlo Rainaldi. The great cortile, which is entered by an archway beneath thebuilding, measures some hundred paces each way. Round three sides ofthis the palazzo is built, the fourth side being formed by the high wallof the garden. The gtardino segreto was formerly laid out with a number of simplebut interesting box-bordered plats of a not too intricate pattern. Amongthese were placed fountains large and small. The lower part of theenclosing wall was masked by hedges of sweet bay or possibly byespaliers of lemon, the upper section containing a number of ovalniches for busts, and the coping above having ornaments at
Size: 1304px × 1916px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidcu3192, booksubjectgardens
