ENVIRONS OF FLORENCE. 
338 
Three are Saracens in fine chain armour, carrying round shields, 
and with the horsetail for a banner ; the other three cavaliers 
are European. 
The room beyond contains many valuable and curious 
examples of Japanese and Oriental armour, and has likewise 
two figures on horseback, the horses being decorated with gilt 
horns. 
A second magnificent hall, lighted from above, contains 
the Picture Gallery, and a richly-decorated boudoir is painted 
and adorned with flowers in relief, after the taste of the Louis 
Quinze period. 
After leaving the Villa Stibbert and returning to the high 
road, a steep and narrow lane to the right leads to the Monastery 
and Church of the Capuchins, once celebrated for its art¬ 
treasures. These are hard times for the monks, and their 
pictures are sold and dispersed, or have been removed to enrich 
the museums of the city. This lane communicates with the 
old Bolognese Road, passing the Convent of Santa Marta. 
The tabernacle at the entrance, below the Capuchin Monastery, 
was painted by the Siennese Francesco Vanni (1563-1610). 
A row of fine old cypresses within high walls encloses the 
garden, beyond whose precincts the botanist or lover of wild 
flowers may find attractive walks amidst the hills and woods. 
Farther on the Via Vittorio Emanuele, is the Villa Ambron, 
and still farther, that of the Marchese Stufa, which, having been 
partly destroyed by fire; is better known as the Palazzo 
Brucciato. Here three roads meet. The centre leads to the 
Royal Villas of Petraia and Castello ; the narrow lane to the 
left, to the Villa Lemmi, which, until recently, contained very 
interesting frescoes by Botticelli, now sold to Paris. The road 
to the right leads to Careggi or Campus Regis, a name given 
to the whole district of well-cultivated land lying between the 
stream of Terzolle on the west, the heights of Mont’ Ughi to 
the east, and the southern spur of Monte Morello to the 
north.