The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14

Cr Roman Duchy. The district ia divided
into two distinct parts: viz, the CamnaRna
proper, which comprises the inland portion,
and the Cam agna marittima, extending
along the sea coast to Terracina.
The Latium, a name which has recently
been revived and adopted for the province
e Rome which il called Iazio. has from
time imme mortal been celebrated as the
and of villas. Lucullus and Cicero were
ueighbors AZ the Tusculum near Frascati.
later the Flavian Emperors, Vespa sian
md, perhaps. flavius Clemens. ssed
The same site M built marble villas ri
,alling those in other4'arts of Italy. Still
later. during the Middle Ages. warlike barons
built their towers and their fortif ca tions.
Hence the name of Castelli Romani which
still clings TO the small hill tow ms and villages
near Rome.
With the development Of civilization the
castle walls were thrown down. the moat
was turned into an artificial lake. the space
around was converted into "A garden and
Tho castle became a villa. Cardinals and
mobiles covered the hillsides with country
houses until to-day they are villa clad.
Rome unlike other towns has s~arcelv
any suburbs. On nearly every side Of it
one enters the country almost AZ once.
Hence, the suburban villas of the old Ro-
n like the modern ones Of the sixteenth
century, are real country houses where one
cannot bring himself to realize that they
are quite near 10 the city.
Almost every building IN the Campagna
- medieval. More often than not il is
huilt upon a classic foundation. Dead
generations lie buried under ones feet
and the land has known several civilizations
earlier than that OF Rome.
Traces of the past are everywhere. Aaue-
ducts p the plain, broker arches OF
antique bridges lie mothered in green
and hidden under ivy. and fragments OF
rich marbles hat perhaps once adorned
the walls Of luxurious villas are turned
up by the farmers plough.
Here one sees the round huts. cop1nne
built OF reeds such as Virgil describes and
the Etruecan tombs now used as houses
by the modern shepherds. From the nature
81 the Campagna and the paucity Of its
inhabitants the ancient landmarks are often
more easily traced here than in other parts
~ Italy.
Cultivation born OF modern Italian pros
rerity, which is no friend to old sites and
remains, is moving apace. Every year
something disappears, an old arch falls
down and is never replaced, an inscription
Is Obliterated, ancient trees are felled Thu
land Is being gradually reclaimed In
soma parts il no longer bursts into vegeta-
ton without the help OF man and laughs
into flowers"
But on the other hand, agriculture is
progressing. Should the present prov
gressive state of things continue much
of the beauty Of Rome itself will disappear.
AZ it is now, the poet turns for inspiration
and the artist for his pictures TO the Cam
pagna, but "a the celebrating hand ad-
vsnces they must wander further away.
Frascati, the most important OF the
Castelli Romani, probably owes it's origin
tothe villa of Luculius, and up to the present
cay IL is mainly celebrated On account of
lis many villas. Its origin as a town can
Re traced 10 the sixth century, when the
Benedictine monks came into possession
Of the place through the Anicii Tertulli,
10 which family 1t. Benedict belonged.
Most Of the existing villas date only
from the seventeenth century. They are
situated amid groves Of old trees, beside
fountains and waterfalls which. though
artificial, have long since been adopted
~ nature AZ her own. From the terraces
n the villas the vast extent Of the Cam
pagna stretches out in its ever varying
beauty.
In" owners. descendants OF the first
mmlIles Of the Roman nobility, the rela-
tv"s Of Popes and great Cardinals who in
,ine gone by built these beautiful country
wNases, prefer az u rulet 10 spend the summer
season ~ m French watering places instead OF
70 inolr historical residences on the Alban
hN's Many Of these villas are rented, and
gn7" books accordingly mention the
tA'ar. good lodgings to be had in old noble
villas which can be hired for a small rent,
WIN gardens going 10 ruin but beautifully
prrlros rue.
IN many instances the owners sell their
property 10 the first conner who offers
money enough TO satisfy their greed. 1T 4,
~trAe.' Prof. Lanciani says. that the sale
hnd the obstruction Of the historic m
was has brought back luck to none; sellers
~ wei AZ purchasers are equally bankrupt;
''' ms vel earned retribution does not
give W back hat we nave lost"
QAi@ recently the Villa Falconieri. one
% ne m"s' beautiful residences at Frascati.
"aH sod 70 the Emperor Of Germany. II
" Femature 70 say whether the sale will
,HnR !l"A and whether the statement Of
-" Lanciani will again come true. but in
~ Case this villa with It's historical asso-