n the five angles of the pentagon
Vignuola has made a circular court, into which all the apartments of the
edifice open with their doors; which doors, I mean, all open into the
circular loggia surrounding the court, which is eighteen palms in
breadth, while the diameter of the remaining space in the court is
ninety-five palms and five inches. The pilasters of the loggia (which is
divided up by niches), supporting the arches and the vaulting, are in
couples, with a niche in the centre, and twenty in number; and each
couple covers a breadth of fifteen palms, which is also the breadth of
the space of the arches. Around the loggia, at the angles that form the
shape of the round, are four spiral staircases, which lead from the
basement of the palace up to the top, for the convenience of the edifice
and of the rooms. And there are reservoirs that collect the rain-water,
which feed a very large and beautiful cistern in the centre; to say
nothing of the windows and innumerable other conveniences, which make
this building appear to be, as indeed it is, a rare and most beautiful
fabric. And, besides having the site and form of a fortress, it is
furnished on the outer side with an oval flight of steps, with ditches
all around, and with drawbridges made with beautiful invention and in a
novel manner, which lead into gardens full of rich and well-varied
fountains, graceful parterres of verdure, and, in short, all that is
required for a truly regal villa.

Now, ascending by the great spiral staircase from the level of the court
to the other apartment above, one finds already finished, over the part
of which we have spoken, an equal number of rooms, and also the chapel,
which is opposite to the principal round staircase on this floor. In the
hall that is exactly above that of Jove, and of equal size, there are
painted by the hands of Taddeo and his young men, with very rich and
beautiful ornaments of stucco, the actions of the illustrious men of the
House of Farnese. On the vaulting are compartments with six scenes, four
square and two round, which follow right round the cornice of this hall,
and in the centre are three ovals, accompanied along their length by two
smaller and rectangular pictures, in one of which is painted Fame, and
in the other Bellona. In the first of the three ovals is Peace, in the
central oval the ancient arms of the House of Farnese, with the
helmet-crest, above which is the Unicorn, and in the last is Religion.