Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-01-29

the interior is very magnificent, adorned by the
productions Of the pencil and the chisel, and
works in Mosaic; the baptismal font which is
raised on fight Of marble steps in the centre
is exquisitely and tastefully designed, and
wrought with astonishing claborateness of skin
But must leave this gem of the middle ages
and run up to the top OF the wonderful Leaning
Tower-that miracle of art, so lovely and fanci.
ful-with its succession Of columns and arches
arising in delicate proportion and beautiful or.
der, like eight little circular Corinthian TEMPLES
piled one above the other; and then, how strance
is the leaning of this tower which is now gene.
rally believed to exist not from accident, or the
insolidty of the soil, but to have been so CON.
structed by design. The idea Of the architects
was very singular but, from long detailed &C.
count of it which have looked over, perceive
that the best architects have agreed that it was
intended, from its peculiar construction to be
what it is-a leaning tower. The view from
the summit is extensive:-a wide plain. richly
cultivated with the vine and the olive-the blue
Apprentices in the distance in one direction. and
the sea towards the West, and the silvery Arpo
winding through the fertile plain. Alas! have
left the ancient City OF Pisa without contempls,
ing those remains of Roman magniicence and
power, the Aqueducts of Nero;-neither have
entered the holy precincts Of the Campo SantO
must Of necessity hurry on to Florence. ar
rived there about O'Clock, after pleasant ride
on fine sunny day, through smiling country
but night closed upon my view Of the scenery
as we approached "the Etruscan Athens /
went to bed fatigued and sleepy at Madame
Hombert's Hotel one Of the most comfortable in
Florence. The next day was one ofntensee x
element | walked out with a Cicerone 10 look
at some Of those interesting objects which |
have since often contemplated at my leisure.
One of the first objects that arrested nv wan.
dering eyes, was the exquisitely beautiful tower
Of the cathedral erected by Gotto, the friend
and contemporary of Dante, the first artist of
his age, whose glory as the reviver and cul-
tivator Of the fine arts, like that Of the grea,
father of Italian poesy, streams brightly from
the dark cloud that enveloped an age of igno
rance and barbarism. The height of this tower
is 25S feet, and its circumference l79 feet H..
ches. The exterior work is all of marble of va
rious colors, which gives it great richness of
effect, and adds to the beauty ofform, the charm
arising from harmonsing coors The style is
the Italian Gothic: it is rich, quaint and deli
cate. The forms and proportions of the whole
building are full Of grace and symmetry. The
lower part is adorned on each of the four sides,
with statues and has reliefs. These are the va.
rious productions Of Giotto, Andrea Pisano,
Luca della Robba, Donateilo, "a great namea
mong the Florentine artists of the 18th century
and Nicola Aretino. The effect of this magn
ficent creation, this architectural dream. is sin.
gularly enchanting by moonlight. 1t was the
design Of Giotto TO have added to this already
lofty ediice, high and beautifully formed spire,
which would have rendered il at least the eighth
wonder Of the world. The cathedral is a stu.
pendous building and think Of the cathedrab
of Italy, the next in size to st. Peters. It's
built in the form Of a cross: the length is 45T
feet inches, and the breath 2S6 feet in.
ches. Its exterior, excepting the front, is highly
finished: it is inlad with marbles Of various co.
lours but mostly black and white; and all The
ornamental work, of sculpture, carving and
mosaic, is executed with surprising elegance /
and minuteness of finish. 1t was built from the |
plan of Arnolfo di Gambia The cupoa was
raised by Filippo Brunaleschi great archiec!
Of the 18th century. The elevation of this Gu.
po!a is considered one of the most wonderful l
events in the history of the arts. The interior
has very unfinished aspect, and it is very dark
and gloomy; but it is grand, stately, and mpres
sive. The baptstry is very ancient building
ofan alaconal form, and composed OF black and
white marble: butl've reached the limits oCNo2
liz SlIaardo,,.