.and the sound of running water - fountains , waterfalls , streams, rivulets ; sunshine, gardens , Italian gardens ......... A quick mention for Monty Don's series of programmes on Italian Gardens , currently running on BBC2 here in the UK .
Having some while ago now done a degree course majoring in the Italian Renaissence , I was familiar with most of the gardens figuring in the first programme of the series. Villa d'Este , Villa Farnese and the Villa Orsini all featured , but rather than just a travelogue , eye-candy for gardeners , the programme was much more - a clear exposition of how over a short period of time these gardens , taking as a starting point the classical tradition of ancient Rome , became symbols of power play between competing Cardinals vying for that most important postiton of all - that of Pope.
Gardens as politics, gardens as status symbols - the players may have moved on long ago , but their legacy is some of the most sublime gardens ever created . Enjoy.
