Vignette 9


It represents one of those villas with which doubtless the whole coast of Italy, and more particularly the shores of Formiae, Baiae, and the gulf of Naples, were decorated. These villas may be traced by their submarine foundations on the rocks of Pausilipo, and at Molo di Gaeta, where the remains of buildings, absolutely in the water like the portico on the left, are considered by travellers as indications of encroachments of the sea. Nothing could have been more delightful than these marine villas during the heats of summer. The nearer building is evidently a temple, to which the circular tower is attached, alld on which votive or decorative festoons or draperies are hung.