Italian villas and their gardens . iral stairway in a pier of the arcade, leads from thefirst floor to what was once the old fish-pond and herb-garden. This garden, an oblong piece of ground, afew years ago had in its centre a round fish-pond, sur-rounded by symmetrical plots planted with roses andvegetables, and in general design had probably beenlittle changed since the construction of the villa. It hasnow been remodelled on an elaborate plan, which has thedisadvantage of being unrelated in style to its surround-ings ; but fortunately no other change has been made inthe plan and planting of
Italian villas and their gardens . iral stairway in a pier of the arcade, leads from thefirst floor to what was once the old fish-pond and herb-garden. This garden, an oblong piece of ground, afew years ago had in its centre a round fish-pond, sur-rounded by symmetrical plots planted with roses andvegetables, and in general design had probably beenlittle changed since the construction of the villa. It hasnow been remodelled on an elaborate plan, which has thedisadvantage of being unrelated in style to its surround-ings ; but fortunately no other change has been made inthe plan and planting of the grounds. Before the fa9adc of the house a grassy terracebounded by a low wall, set alternately with stone vasesand solemn-looking stone dogs, overhangs the vine-yards and fields, which, as in all unaltered Tuscancountry places, come up close to the house. Behindthe villa, and running parallel with it, is a long grassalley or bowling-green, flanked for part of its length bya lofty retaining-wall set with statues, and for the 42. FLORENTINE VILLAS remainder by high hedges which divide it on one sidefrom the fish-pond garden and on the other fi-om thefarm. The green is closed at one end by a grotto ofcoloured pebbles and shells, with nymphs and shepherdsin niches about a fountain. This grotto is overhung bythe grove of ancient cypresses for which the Gamberaiais noted. At its opposite end the bowling-green termi-nates in a balustrade whence one looks down on theArno and across to the hills on the southern side of thevalley. The retaining-wall which runs parallel with the backof the house sustains a terrace planted with cypress andilex. This terraced wood above the house is verytypical of Italian gardens: good examples may be seenat Castello and at the Villa Medici in Rome. Thesepatches of shade, however small, are planted irregularly,like a wild wood, with stone seats under the dense ilexboughs, and a statue placed here and there in a deepniche of foliage. Just opposite the ce
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