Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-09-04
A VISIT TO TIvoLI.

Apra 25-We have given up going 10 Ma
pies, on account of two things which are unsur-
mountable--robbers by land and quarantine by
sea. We have taken our places IN the Diligence
TO start for Florence the last day OF this month
We shall start in a few minutes for fiyoli.
,hink, as we do not go to Naples, we can afford
to see this world renowned spot. 1t is eighteen
miles from Rome, on the green slopes OF Monte
Ripoli We shall goby vetturins. stay all night
and return tomorrow evening. This will give
rs barely time to make acquaintance with its
wonderful beauty But as we have our pass
port to attend to, and something less than a
hundred things TO see yet before quitting Rome,
our time is very precious. 81
Apru 27-We returned from Tivola last night
little before dark, with our minds full cf beau
tiful pictures and our pockets full of rare pe;ri
factions; all of which we shall keep safe until
we see YOU do not know how II is possible
10 give you any idea of Tiyoli, but | shall try
Imagine two or three mountains yiOlentlythrOwn
together by a tremendous earthquake or four or
FIVE infant volcanoes. Imagine these mountains
all shiyercd and broken TO pieces by the terrible
coneussion Then imagine the waters of the
silyery Anie striving and struggling 10 force a
passage through the shapeless ruin. Here rush.
lug from beneath a huge moss Of disjOinted
rocks, aud leaping madly from terrace TO ter,
race till il looses itself in some sunless gorge.
There spTingIng in broad sheet over atowe<
ing precipice, aud disappearing in a cloud Of
snowy mist three hundred feet below. At one
place forcing ITS way through the winsivss OF an
ancient ruin, dancing gaily down the green side
of the mountain. Here it forms a splendid
rainbow, aud there it covers the yellow rocks
with a myriad of diamonds. They call the
largest OF these falls the Cascade; the lwo small
or Cascatelle: and the three smallest Cascaiellc-
nj. These all have their peculiar voices: one is
bass, another tenor and another treble. In a
word. the cascades of Tivoli chant one OF ma
l'ture's sweetest and grandest harmories.
"These rocks and cascades form but part
of the beauty of Tivoli. Seated on green hills,
| at the foot of high mountain; surrounded by
dark green olive groves; dotted here and there
with white villas, it is one of the most pictur-
| esque towns in the world 1t was the Thur Of
the Sicani, and was founded five hundred
wears before Rome. At one time many of the
statesmen, poets aud philosophers of Rome re
/ .ideG there, and the ruins of their villas are
still shown to the curious traveller. Virgil
wrote of IT, Zenolia spent the last days Of her
| life il. Catullus praised il; and Horace com
posed many OF his lyrics, wandering in its quiet
groves. But its ancient glory has departed.
and il sits in sackcloth and ashes on the tomb
of the past For, excepting few noble Ro-
man families who have villas there, TO which
they retreat during the summer months, its pop
| ulaiIon may be set down amongst the poorest,
the most ignorant, aud the most miserable Of
the families OF humanity.
1--WE stopped at the Hotel Of ala Sibilla"-
4 This, though not the newest, a. the best hotel
in the town. 1t commands many oi The finest
views OF the falls, and numbers among It's pos
sessions, the Temple Of The Sibyi, which has
| been the pilgrim shrine of antiqnarisns, artists
and lovers Of the Leautiful, for unnumbered
centuries II is built exactly like the Temple
| Of Vesta, at Rome, heretofore described. You
will sec an engraving oY it in Mr.. Owens book
m architecture. The room assigned Us was
within ten steps OF this classic teInPle; and
there we slept to the grand, eternal music oftht
| falls OF l'ivoli r au
The next morning we We're up, had break
| fast, and were ready 20 commence The grand top'
BY seven o'eicck. Thisis circuit Of four miles
| embracing the views Of the cascades and th'
| ,emple passing the house OF Horace the ruiss
of the villa Of Mecsnas and the remains OF N,
villa of Catullus the ancient temple called
Temple della Tosse portion Of the Via Thus
ina and an ancient bridge. We hired guide
for three pauls. and set out at seven o'clock