DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62267#0078
4)8
CLASSICAL TOUR
Ch. III.
form the state apartments; the other rooms are
not worth notice. The garden occupies nearly
the whole island. It consists of a pyramid form-
ed of ten terraces rising above each other, and
terminating in a square platform. The terraces
have gravel walks their whole length; they are
bordered with flowers, and their walls are cover-
ed with fruit trees. Rows of orange and citron
shade the walks ; and gigantic statues, which
when near appear grotesque, crowd the corners
and front the palace. The parterres are watered
by fountains that rise in different parts of the
edifice, and fall in sheets from marble vases.
The area of the pyramid covers a space of four
hundred feet square; the platform on its summit
is fifty feet square ; and its whole elevation about
one hundred and fifty. The terraces are sup-
ported by arcades, which form so many grand
galleries or green-houses, where the more tender
plants and flowers are ranged during the winter.
The form and arrangement of this garden have
been the subject of great admiration during part
of the last century, and the Isola Bella has been
represented by many as a terrestrial paradise, an
enchanted island, the abode of Calypso, the
garden of Armida*.
* Burnet, who is enthusiastic in abuse only, when describ-
ing this island for once rises into panegyric, pronounces it to
be the finest summer residence in the world, and rapturously
givesit the epithet enchanted.
CLASSICAL TOUR
Ch. III.
form the state apartments; the other rooms are
not worth notice. The garden occupies nearly
the whole island. It consists of a pyramid form-
ed of ten terraces rising above each other, and
terminating in a square platform. The terraces
have gravel walks their whole length; they are
bordered with flowers, and their walls are cover-
ed with fruit trees. Rows of orange and citron
shade the walks ; and gigantic statues, which
when near appear grotesque, crowd the corners
and front the palace. The parterres are watered
by fountains that rise in different parts of the
edifice, and fall in sheets from marble vases.
The area of the pyramid covers a space of four
hundred feet square; the platform on its summit
is fifty feet square ; and its whole elevation about
one hundred and fifty. The terraces are sup-
ported by arcades, which form so many grand
galleries or green-houses, where the more tender
plants and flowers are ranged during the winter.
The form and arrangement of this garden have
been the subject of great admiration during part
of the last century, and the Isola Bella has been
represented by many as a terrestrial paradise, an
enchanted island, the abode of Calypso, the
garden of Armida*.
* Burnet, who is enthusiastic in abuse only, when describ-
ing this island for once rises into panegyric, pronounces it to
be the finest summer residence in the world, and rapturously
givesit the epithet enchanted.