Paesaggio italiano/

ITALIAN LANDSCAPING
 TYPES OF ITALIAN GARDEN( TIME)
EARLY RENAISSANCE ( 1450-1530 )
• The principles of ancient gardens and classical principles were
rediscovered and were brought into the planning of this
garden
• The gardens were built for leisure and to impress others It
became a symbol of high class and power.
• The order, symmetry was heavily shown through softscape and
hardscape.
• E.g. : Medici Villa at Flessole
 TYPES OF ITALIAN GARDEN( TIME)
HIGH RENAISSANCE ( 1520-1580 )
• The principles were similar with the addition of the central axis
as the governing factor.
• These period witnessed the technical advancements in the
hydro engineering as different sizes of spouts and pipes
varying in water pressure were used to throw water at heights
and also to have laminar flow of water in fountains Sculptures
were also extensively used during this period.
• E.g. : Villa De Castello, Tuscany
 TYPES OF ITALIAN GARDEN( TIME)
LATE RENAISSANCE ( 1560-1600 )
• Mannerism was a style developed during late Renaissance and
it defies traditional rules of Renaissance painting. The style was
stylist, polished and complex, composition was bizarre and
asymmetric.
• It was more clean but order was missing and the subject
matter were fantastic. The end of Mannerism was with the
introduction of Baroque .
• E.g. : Sacro Bosco at Bomarzo, Lazio
TIMELINE

Gardens of early italian

High renaissance Late renaissance
renaissance
(1520-1580) (1550-1600)
(1450-1530)
Concept at the time of project
initialization.
•Axial planning
•Extension of its boundaries
• Outward focused, expansive, more worldly
garden
• Gardens dignified man

Italian renaissance gardens originate from

the 15th century in Italy.
•Told the tale of a life centered on leisure
and prosperity.
•magnificent villas.
•Innovation of the art of gardening as well
as the architecture of waterways.
•The owners of the villas used to
commission architects to build special pipes
that would create fountains with
continuously flowing water.
•Relation between garden and house.
HISTORY
1.The Italian garden was influenced by Roman gardens and
Italian Renaissance gardens.

2.Roman gardens were greatly inspired by Greek gardens and

were usually in the peristyles.

- Roman Gardens were indoor. Ornamental horticulture became

highly developed during the development of Roman civilization.
- The administrators of the Roman Empire (c.100 BC – AD 500)
actively exchanged information on agriculture, horticulture,
animal husbandry, hydraulics, and botany. Seeds and plants
were widely shared.

3.The Gardens of Lucullus on the Pincian Hill at the edge of

Rome introduced the Persian garden to Europe, around 60 BC.
The garden was a place of peace and tranquility, a refuge from
urban life, and a place filled with religious and symbolic meanings.
HISTORY
1.Initial roman gardens had features like shaded paths bordered with
hedges, ornamental parterres, fountains, and trees and bushes
trimmed to geometric or fantastic shapes;

all features which would become part of the future Renaissance garden.

2.Italian Medieval gardens were enclosed by walls, and were devoted

to growing vegetables, fruits and medicinal herbs, or, in the case
of monastic gardens,
for silent meditation and prayer.
Generally, monastic garden types consisted of kitchen gardens, infirmary
gardens, cemetery orchards, cloister garths, and vineyards.

3.The Italian Renaissance garden emerged in the late fifteenth

century at villas in Rome and Florence,
inspired by classical ideals of order and beauty,
and intended for the pleasure of the view of the garden and the landscape
beyond, for contemplation, and for the enjoyment of the sights, sounds and
smells of the garden itself.
HISTORIC gardens
Power and magnificence – the political symbolism of the
Renaissance garden
While the early Italian Renaissance gardens were designed for
contemplation and pleasure with tunnels of greenery, trees for
shade, an enclosed giardino segreto (secret garden) and fields
for games and amusements,

the Medici, the ruling dynasty of Florence, used gardens to

demonstrate their own power and magnificence. "During the first
half of the sixteenth century, magnificence came to be perceived as
a princely virtue, and all over the Italian peninsula architects,
sculptors, painters, poets, historians and humanist scholars were
commissioned to concoct a magnificent image for their powerful
patrons.“
The central fountain at Villa di Castello featured a statue
of Hercules defeating Antaeus, alluding to the triumph of the
garden's builder, Cosimo de' Medici.
over a faction of Florentine nobles who had tried to overthrow
him.The garden was a form of political theater, presenting the
power, wisdom, order, beauty and glory that the Medici had brought
to Florence.
Elements of an Italian garden
● Symmetry,order,balance.

● vista.
● promenade.

● topiary.

● Basic shapes-triangle
,square, etc.

● Levels\terraces.
Elements of an Italian garden
Secret garden and grotto-
● A hideaway in the garden that might
contain a vine-draped pergola or just a
tucked-away bench provides an intimate
getaway space.
● a grotto is an artificial cave filled with
sculpture and furnishings where one can
sip wine in a refreshingly cool space.
Water-
● For sound and cooling effect
● Water features- fountains, pools, or
cascades
Elements of an Italian garden
Statuary & Stoneware
● Sculptures of gods, goddess, & heroes
● Lemon trees, potted in stone urns, are a
favorite decoration for the patio or
seating areas.

Plants
● Few flowers
● Evergreens
● Hedges
● Vines or climbing roses

Decorative fixtures
● Benches & seatings
● Vases & pitchers
● Light fixtures (additional)
VEGETATION
Simple form
● Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)

● Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis)

Colour
● Bush clover (Lespedeza bicolor)

● coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

VEGETATION
Fragrance
● Winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima)

● Giant hyssop (Agastache)

Taste of Italy
● fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

● Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

● rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

The main funton of the
water was irrigation but
it was utilize to enhance
the beauty of the garden
in various ways
,Fountains streans and
ponds were introduced to
create interest and to
provide relaxation

• The ideal classical garden

were grown on sloping hills
sides and involved
different levels and
terrace
• Various potted plants were
also introduced in
landscaping
• Different colored flowers
were introduced in the form
of bunches scattered in
different areas
ONE OF THE MAIN DESIGN PRINCIPLE IS THE STRONG
CENTRAL AXIS WHICH START AT THE ENTRENCE BY THE
FOUNTAINS OF THE MOORS AND RUNS TO THE TOP OF
THE THIRD ENDING AT THR FOUNTAIN
ANOTHEAIN DESIGN PRINCIPLE IS USING BILATERAL
SYMMETRY WITH THE PALLADIAN CIRCLE AND SQUARE AND
ALSO THE USE OF WATER FLOWNG FROM THE FOUNTAIN OF
THE FLOOD THROUGH THE ENTIRE GARDEN TO ENHANCE
THE STRONG CENTRAL AXIS
A FEATURE OF ITALIAN GARDEN IS THE FLOWER AND
DOMINANT CHIROSARO (THE ARRANGEMENT OF LIGHT AND
DARK ELEMENTS IN A PICTORIAL WORK OF ART)AN THE
EFFECTS CREATED BY SCULPTED TREES AND SHUBBERY
THE TOWN OF BAGNAIA SIT RIGHT AT THE EDGES
OF THE VILLA SO THIS MAKES THE VILLA QUITE
UNIQUE
THE GARDEN REPRESENT THE TALES OF HUMANITY
DECENT FROM THE GOLDEN AGES AND EACH
FOUNTAIN TELLS A STORY
VILLA LANTE

The Villa Lante is a late

16th century classic Italian
terraced garden, which is
more like a retreat than
the usual Bella figura
space, built for a worldly
cardinal.
VILLA LANTE
-symmetrical gardens
with pattern USAGE.

-landscape design simply

as a choreographed series
of cascades, dripping
fountains, and a water
parterre flanked by a pair
of small palaces whose
interiors are adorned with
beautiful frescoes.
VILLA D’ ESTE, trivoli

The gardens of the Villa d’Este had

a profound influence on the
development of garden design
throughout Europe.

They are also symbolic of the

beginning of the Renaissance
culture in Italy.

In the garden, you will find the

Fontana dell’Ovato, credited as
being the world’s first water
theatre.
The splendid mix of nature and
lights creates the perfect
ambience that is enough to leave
anyone mesmerized.
VILLA D’ ESTE, trivoli