New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-06-11
wee. ~. NO. So.

gOE.. ~. NO. SIS.
::z=s.-.:c--==-s
ins: room well supplied with Papers from all paris
OF the wo:ld, including few from America In
the centre of the Piazza is an historical column Of
granite brought from Rome in 1887, and erected
By Cceno I. to commemorate his victory over
the " Fuoruscih
The Pcie=.0 Stro==i is little farther en-. /;
is an excellent type OF the Florence palaces, ior
1t unites most of their striking pecuiariics.
Outwardly it looks ike grand prison, such as
captive Kings might be content with. Ii covers
an entire block in one square MSS, with q court
in the centre, the oaly entrance to which is by
a massive iron bound door. The outer windows
are high above the street, and are covered with
heavy iron gra;ings. The stones are formed into
what architects call roctl-worl,'' each stone
swelling out into separate knob or boss, project
ing as if in defiance, and cut thus with careful
rudcness. Heavy iron rings, richly cared or
cast, arc inserted along the front TO support the
standards OF the Prince or to bear torches on
great festivals. Others say that they were en-
ployod for hanging out silks and other goods, in
those days when Florence had her merchant
princes" The edifce IS crowned by heavy
and richly ornancs,ed cornicc projecting many
feet over The street, and greatly increasing the
imposing effect. The other palaces are similar
to this in general style, and even tho common
houses have much OF the same character. the
'ower Windows OF all being guarded by massive
ron bars rs in those turbulent times of faction
when every mans house needed to be minia-
lure castle. Turning around the corner Of this
palace we soon reach the Market. Among the
provisions and goods temptlngly arranged, the
proiusion Of flowers will justify the heraldic de-
vice OF Florence which was CA rose in field
of lillics.'' It's first foundations said to have
been laid in bed Of flowers, and they seem 10
have been increasing ever since. Among the
market people you will hear the pure Florentnc
accent in all It's unmitgated harshness. Their
language is remarkably correct and elegant, but
their pronunciation is as rough their voices.
The true sounds seem too soft for them, and they
change before a and o into a harshly aspFatcd
h, so that case, and camera, become Hasa, and
Hamera. Here you viii appreciate the justice
OF the provcrbal phrase, which says that tho hes;
Italian is " la iingne 1oScana IN tocca Ro-
mana"
The magnificent Cathedral is not far distant.
It is utterly uahae any Of those which We have
already seen and admired but yet you would
not wish it changed in any thing from yyhat il is
Your girst impression Is that OF rich warm mass
Of yellow marble, with huge dome rising above
It's baustrados and iurrets and smaller cuPolts.
On closer inspection you see th=t all the wall:
,ro delicatey niad with vaT!ausy colored mar
ecs, yellow, b!ack, red and white, arranged in
paa;icls enG compartments, sometimes yellow
with border and divisions Of black, and some
.imcs bi.ck surrounded by yellow The differ
cnt coIors alternate il bands and stripes and piias-
tcrs, III way utterly opposed TO all our notions
of proprety and harmony OF colors and yet, SO
4kilfuiiy are they combined, and 50 VOL has
Tine inellowed them tosethor, that tho whole
produces the effect Of the most delicate and
vel majestic beauty.
Arno!jo, the fast architect entrusted with tho
great work, was ordered BIZ the Florentine Re
public in 1894 TO form the design of the conslruc-
ton " with The mos, lofty and sunptuous magri-
licence possible, 90 that the Church should be as
Grand and as beautiful ss the power and the ill.,
dustr7 of men could make it." Arnolio made
model in accordance with this naughty resolve
aud soon saw the foundations so firmly laid that
he exclaimed " l have preserved thee from earth.
quakes may Heaven guard thee from thunder
bolts" Bat he made little farther progress be-
fore he died Four other architects in turn con-
,nuod the great work, and died before ii was
finished. Their lives seemed absorbed by the
building which rose as they sunk. Brunetlesshi
was the sixth, and TO him we owe the great
dome, which his genius raised in spite Of the diff
culties which he encountered from men as well
as stones. II is the largest in the world, not
ccpting the Roman Saint Peters, and whom
Michael Angelo was called from Florence TO
Rome to construct this latter Church. he is said
to have exclaimed, az he took his last look ct
the FlorenGne dome, "Adieu, ana going to try
to make thy sister, but do not hope to make
thy equal"
The front of the Cathedral is unworthy of the
rest 1t was once covered with precious marbles
and adorned with statues, but they were torn off
in 1855 to make renovation, which was never
carried into effect, and it is now bare and naked,
excepting some half efaced architectural lrcscoes
painted upon It in 1918 on the occasion Of the
marriage Of Ferdinand de Medcis to the Pyin-
cess Y:olente OF Bavaria.
Entering tile Church you fnd it dark and
solemn, Ike q huge cave above ground. It's
monuments and sculptures are swallowed up in
its vastness, and your first feeling is dssppoint-
nent at the infcriority Of the interior to its out
ward promise. -Four huge pointed arches stride
along the pavement of tesselated marble and the
dim light shows the cupola covered with the
very Indifferent lrescoes Of Vasari. Immediately
below Inc dome is the CHOIR, enclosed by balus