Litchfield enquirer., 1844-10-24
lettsrslfrom Abroad. No. Xxi, !


she morning Ofthe 2Sth December, and went a lit.
tie out ofOur road to visit the palace of the King
CaseFtas said to be the largest aud most imposing
in appearances ofaRy in Europe It's splendid YES
fibule is hlledwith columns Of the richest Siciian
| marble, from which you ascend a noble staircase,
lined with marble of varied kinds, with ballus-
trades of equal richness and beauty. It has the
atre and chapel ornainented also with rich marble
and profusion Of gliding; in the latter, to grace
the Christmas festival, there had been placed re.
presentation of the Holy Family in the stable at
bethlehem. Numerous figures of the size of an or
binary doll. dressed in the most picturesque cos
tune and seemingly true to the life, were thread
ing the mountain passes of Judea; some seated in
beautiful groups under cluster Of palm trees that
waved their graceful leaves above them. while over
the humble birth-piaceof the Savior lowered a
Heavenly Host. and around it crowded humble
throag, with their caeringsof sheep and doves.
Fhe whole scene was truly oriental and in perfect
keening with the tifnss and country it depicted,
and is said 10 have cost 5000 pounds TWAS open
to the public for three days and attracted crowds of
people from all the region round. In the grounds
ofthe palace, and directly in front of it, there is
succession of cascades, nineteen in number, each
ornamented with grottos and statuary, forming
most beautiful perspective. Situated on the beau.
tiful amphitheatre behind is large and Furnishing
silk factory established by King Ferdinand in 1882
and forming part of the domain, is the pretty cas-
slno called the Belvidere. Leading from these
mountains is noble aqueduct built by Charles III,
which conveys water to the cascades and ornaments
the grounds of the palace and the villages in its
vicinity. We spent near two hours looking at the
varons beauties of the place, and received famous
scoiding for our dlatoriousness from our veturno,
who had real or pretended fear Of bandits, and
sadly lamented the delay which would keep us on
our way till after dark. We reached ere long the
site Of ancient Capua, passing the fine remains Of
its amphtheasre and through triumphal arch over
the road. Two miles farther brought us to the
modern town of Capua, where we hreakiasted. Our
road all day was through continued vineyards with
groves Of fig and olive trees, and no fences to mar
their beauty. At dusk we passed guard house,
and our vetturno directed our attention to soldier
Just mounting his horse whose duty was to pace up
and down certain portion of the road as night pa
troll to support his allegation that their was much
to fear from robbers. We however arrived at our
destination without let or hindrance and were glad
on reaching the inn Of St. Agatha to find bright
fire blazing 10 the dining room where an English
family were already enjoying their dinner. The
next morning we had partaken of an excellent
aSeaaras:, and ~ese satsly "a soato q half past fve
Our vetturino, Monsieur Charles, was now in high
spirits, and could hardly praise sufficiently our lau
dable efforts to aid him in cheating tie robbers by
early rising. The day was delightfully."- warm and
pleasant, and the country richly cultivated. Vine
yards with the branches of the vine trained from
tree to tree, orchards of the olive, fig and orange,
sometimes all mingled together, with verdant
crops of grain or vegetables growing underneath,
formed altogether lovely sight for the eye to dwell
upon. They exceedingly economical Of the
ground here land it is that they do not produce
five crops from field, that is including the fruit.
We had pretty peasantry in picturesque costume,
and who exhibited consciousness of their beauty,
by their curling hair OF rich brown tastefully ar
ranged about the face, and bright gay ribbons min
gled in their trcsses behind ;-traveling too
ground faught with historic and poetic association
every moment was rich in enjoyment. We saw very
many ruins, some of them so ruinous indeed as to
be more interesting to the Imagination than to the
sight. all trace of their origin purpose being lost
or at least doubtful. There were however beauti-
full remains of an ancient aqueduct that formerly
crossed the road by which we passed, and which
still extends long distance. Near it are also the
remains Of an amphitheaiye and the walls ola city
All these once formed part Of Minturne, whose
reeds and marshes concealed Marius; and we had
at least the certainty Of knowing that we were on
the Via Appia, the once Queen of Roman roads
We breakfasted at Mola de Gta, beautifully si.ua-
ted OH the seaside; its hotel almost empowered by
thick groves Of the orange laden with fruit. lit
tie boy presented me with abeautiful boquet Of Or
ange blossoms, roses and other sweet flowers. From
the of the house in the midst of this grove you
have view Of high promontory, on which are
two or three pretty villages and the citadel OF Ga
ia, celebrated for two great delences, one by and
one against the French. The garden extends TO
and is washed by the waves Of the Mediterranean,
and contains the remains of Ciceros villa and Of an
amphitheatre. After breakfast we left vetturi-
no to follow, and walked on about mile to see a
tomb which is called Cicero's, but with some doubt
as to its being such, and doubts deract very much
from the pleasure and interest with which we
would otherwise view SO interesting an object.
The whole country through which we passed to-
day was also covered with the vine, olive and fig
tree. In the afternoon we saw immense herds Of
Bufialoes, guarded by men on horseback with long