The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-04-19
Entered at the Post-O Office at Richmond, Va, as
second-class matter.
ESPoN ENCE.
Letter on Italy.

MesSrs. Editors, The villas of the
Italians have served as a model for all
Europe Celebrated by poets and ad-
mired by travellers, they well deserve
faithful description, and yet to this day
there is scarcely single work which
gives a tolerable idea of these edifces.
Disposed in the best manner for effect,
the builders have taken advantage, with
admirable address, of the nature of the
situation which they have chosen to
adorn. Their gardens, above all, have a
fairy-ike appearance, which is rarely
found elsewhere, and which results less
from the wildness with which they affect
to initiate nature, than from sort of reg
ularity which harmonizes with the decor
ations and the architectural effect. Sal
lust, Horace, and Seneca complain with
reason of the ruinous magnifcence of the
villas of their time. Adrian, however,
surpassed all his predecessors, and put
the world under contribution for the en-
bellishments of his
Tiburtine Villa.
The proud retreat of Adrian, situated
about three miles from the Thur, toward
the southwest, occupied in a line of near
ly three miles, chain of hills in the
midst of winding valley bounded by
rocks. 1t was protected towards the
east by high mountains crowned with
thick forests, and on the opposite side lay
the numerous monuments strewed along
the plain of Rome A nearer view dis
covered the edifces of the villa built on
the SUBMITS of the hills, on their sides or
at their base, some built on level ground,
some raised on terraces, and some con-
structed under ground, there were porti-
Goes, gymnasiums, theatres, circuses sta
diums, temples, and houses, mingled with
gardens, bowers, and pieces of water.
This vast territory contained such guam
tity of monuments, that they have bid
defiance alike to the outrages of time and
man, and astonish at this day the be-
holder with their immensity. Adrian is
said to have had desire of constructing
in this place limitations of all the most
celebrated edifces which he had admired
In his travels, as the Lyceum, the Acad-
emy, and the Prytaneum of Athens.
Nay, it is even said that representation
of the Internal kingdom and the Elysian
fields was to be seen here. One cannot
doubt the truth of history, when one be-
holds these monuments.
The principal entrance into the villa
looked toward the bridge of Luciano and
the Tiburtine road-a way, the remains
of which are still seen, led to it, and two
piles of masonry, distant from each other
at least rs feet, marked the entrance pro-
per. On entering, the most remarkable
object which presents itself is very high
wall which overlooks
The Paecile,
a double portico of 700 feet in height,
once ornamented in all probability with
paintings like that at Athens, and sup
ported on each side by the wall men
toned. This building is 80 high that it
casts shade at almost every period of
the day. This wall was situated between
two squares equally surrounded with por-
ticoes; that on the south still preserves
the form Of parallelogram, terminated
at its extremites by fattened arches. In
the centre of this vast court there rose
some low walls which formerly support
ed fountain, if we may credit those who
Ievelled the place in order to plant it
with vines. 1t was in the Paecile, and
In a hall which yet exists, that Adrian
used to assemble his literary friends, and
"here he used to amuse himself in listen
ing 70 them or disputing with them ac-
C1orIu1i.ng to the Athenian custom. The
1'to'g0theca q or Library was not far from
the Paecile- but nothing remains of it
save the wall in which there are twenty
five inches. On neighboring hill rises
a magnificent theatre--fragments Of fforfv-
eight statues have been discovered here
and the rising seats are still distinguish.
able. Tla proscenium, with some other
parts, are in good preservation, though
not SO graphically complete as those Of