The fourteenth in a collectible series reflecting life in Saratoga. Located adjacent to Spit and Spat in the northeast corner of Congress Park, The Italian Gardens trace their story to Greek mythology and their design to the Italian Renaissance. Purchased by the city of Saratoga Springs as part of the park in 1911,this small quiet corner often goes unnoticed by many. The gardens contain a reproduction of a Swiss sundail surrounded by four sculptures. Two represent maenads, Greek female followers of Dionysus, the Greek God of Revelry. Legend has the satyrs in constant pursuit of the maenads, but destined never to be succesful in catching them. A characterizationof each in this year's ornament pays homage to the foresight of our city,which in pursuit of preservation of our art and culture,restore these sculptures and gardens to their full beauty in 2007.
