God's will. This latter attitude is
one that some contemporary
religious leaders would do well
to learn from. The presence
of these elements, to be sure,
surrounds the Farnese family
narrative with an aura of the
august. Julia's reminiscences
seemed a part of that aura:
when she described arriving at
Caprarola, it seemed you were
reaching a heavenly spot.
As you ascend the long via
Dritta (Straight Street) up the
hill towards the palace, there
is an unusual perspective that
emerges. Julia wrote "The
effect begins to build up as one
approaches. It is cumulative." At first you
are looking up at only a small segment
of the palace's façade, the rest blocked
by the dense buildings on either side of
the road. Only at the last moment are you
confronted with two sets of spectacular
stairs interrupted by a large terrace leading
to the fortified lower stories, with the Palace
atop, the entire effect evoking a progress to
a high altar or at the very least the brilliantly
contrived approach to a temple. Even then,
the viewer is intrigued by the prospect
of the ends of the palace, extending at
an odd angle, one made evident by the
structure's pentagonal shape. The entire
whole seems to be the base of something
HYLAND
