DOI issue:
No. 109 (April, 1902)
DOI article:Pantini, Romualdo: Italy's private gardens
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19875#0200
Italy s Private Gardens
Wotton, in June 1600, and John Evelyn in 1645,
stopped there and noted " The House," a square
of four pavilions, with a fair platform about it,
balustered with stone, situate in a large meadow,
ascending like an amphitheatre, having at the
bottom a huge rock, with water running in a small
channel, like a cascade. . . . The gardens are
delicious and full of fountains. ... In a grotto is
Vulcan and his family, the walls richly composed
of corals, shells, copper and marble figures, with
the hunting of several beasts moving by the force of
water. . . . We went down a large walk, at the sides'
whereof several slender streams of water gush out
of pipes concealed underneath, that interchangeably
fall into each other's channels, making a lofty and
perfect arch, so that a man on horseback may ride
under it, and not receive one drop of wet. This
canopy or arch of water I thought one of the most
surprising magnificences I had ever seen, and very
refreshing in the heat of the summer.
In 1872 Prince Paul Demidoff bought Pratolino,
but his death in 1885 put a stop to the exquisite
work of restoration.
Oaks and cypresses are the principal elements in
the surroundings of the Tuscan villas ; but in this
' background there is nothing gloomy or monotonous,
as may be seen not only*by visiting the chief'spots
in the neighbourhood whence the villas are visible,
but also by regarding them even from less favour1
able points of view, such as the fresh and luminous
Villa Orvieto at Marignolle.
The Giardino Torrigiani is perhaps one of the
finest and most characteristic among the private
gardens in Florence. And certainly its special
note is that it lies distinct and remote from the
palace of the family. There can be no mistake
about its antiquity. Beyond the balustrade is a
broad and solemn avenue of no great length, in
which there are plane-trees, the tallest of which
have a circumference of eight yards at their base.
Then suddenly on one's right hand one comes upon
a graceful fluted column standing beneath the deep
shade of a magnolia. This memorial testifies that
the garden was laid out in 1817 by the Marchese
Pietro. It is precisely a century since in this
piccolo campo of the Boffiano garden there was
founded a botanical society. The monument is
silent as to the fact that it was the establishment of
this society by his sons " to stimulate the study ot
botany," which induced the excellent Marquis to
Wotton, in June 1600, and John Evelyn in 1645,
stopped there and noted " The House," a square
of four pavilions, with a fair platform about it,
balustered with stone, situate in a large meadow,
ascending like an amphitheatre, having at the
bottom a huge rock, with water running in a small
channel, like a cascade. . . . The gardens are
delicious and full of fountains. ... In a grotto is
Vulcan and his family, the walls richly composed
of corals, shells, copper and marble figures, with
the hunting of several beasts moving by the force of
water. . . . We went down a large walk, at the sides'
whereof several slender streams of water gush out
of pipes concealed underneath, that interchangeably
fall into each other's channels, making a lofty and
perfect arch, so that a man on horseback may ride
under it, and not receive one drop of wet. This
canopy or arch of water I thought one of the most
surprising magnificences I had ever seen, and very
refreshing in the heat of the summer.
In 1872 Prince Paul Demidoff bought Pratolino,
but his death in 1885 put a stop to the exquisite
work of restoration.
Oaks and cypresses are the principal elements in
the surroundings of the Tuscan villas ; but in this
' background there is nothing gloomy or monotonous,
as may be seen not only*by visiting the chief'spots
in the neighbourhood whence the villas are visible,
but also by regarding them even from less favour1
able points of view, such as the fresh and luminous
Villa Orvieto at Marignolle.
The Giardino Torrigiani is perhaps one of the
finest and most characteristic among the private
gardens in Florence. And certainly its special
note is that it lies distinct and remote from the
palace of the family. There can be no mistake
about its antiquity. Beyond the balustrade is a
broad and solemn avenue of no great length, in
which there are plane-trees, the tallest of which
have a circumference of eight yards at their base.
Then suddenly on one's right hand one comes upon
a graceful fluted column standing beneath the deep
shade of a magnolia. This memorial testifies that
the garden was laid out in 1817 by the Marchese
Pietro. It is precisely a century since in this
piccolo campo of the Boffiano garden there was
founded a botanical society. The monument is
silent as to the fact that it was the establishment of
this society by his sons " to stimulate the study ot
botany," which induced the excellent Marquis to