Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1856-04-05
Familiar Letters from Europe.
NUMBER TWELVE.

MILAN, 1856.
Dear y # #: In Europe, railroad cars are
divided into three classes, but though the rstcass
indeed, the English who are never guilty of such a
thing the fare being little higher) say that none
but Americans, nobemen and fools ride in them
We have never been guilty of taking any other
comfortable and never crowded When we left
Florence we concluded to try secondclass, but soon
repented Off, for it was warm day, and the great
crowd in them make it very unpleasant.
Stopped at Pisa, short distance from Florence,
to see the four great curiosities. The greatest
among them is the leaning tower, of which every
one has heard 1t is certainly an object of great
interest, and displays much grand beauty in its
size and proportions. Some feel apprehensive
about ascending it. but never felt less SO. Found
the ascent easy, and from the top had fine view.
The Mediterranean is visible in the distance, the
river Arno meanders through the valley bordering
the city, while, clear day, fine mountain ranges,
and even Corsica may be distinguished The
height of the tower is one hundred and seventy
eight feet, and the wall ten feet thick; its form is
conical, and is assembled by two hundred and thirty
steps. There are seven bells on the top, one of
which weighs twelve hundred pounds, and was
formerly used to give notice of executions.
The Cathedral is splendid building, but these
Catholic churches are universally so very rich and
are ornamented so nearly alike, that one description
would almost serve for all This church contains
many paintings; and the silver about the altar cost
thirty-six thousand crowns. 1t has been standing
about eight hundred years. The baptistery, also "a
very old building, is circular in FORM
The Campo Santa, situated close by, isfour hun
dred and fifteen feet long, open above, surrounded
by covered colorado twenty-five feet wide, where
are inferred beneath the pavement great number
of distinguished persons. This receptacle for the
dead was planned by Bishop Ubaldo A. D. 100,
who, being expelled from Palestine by saladdn,
brought home number of vessels laden with
earth from Mount Calvary, said to turn to dust,
within twenty-four, bodies buried in it. He depos-
tied it here but it was not enclosed as at present,
until long after.
Pisa now contains about thirty thousand inhabi-
tants, though it once numbered one hundred and
fifty thousand.
Seeing everything in Pisa in a few hours, we
continued our journey to Leghorn the same day,
and took steamer for Genoa, where we arrived
the day following. l had heard much of the rough,
stormy and dangerous Mediterranean, but l have
now been on it five different times and always
found the same calm and beautiful sea. We have
not travelled by land; and if We had, should pre-
fer the sea- as the cholera is in all the towns, while
the country is everywhere infested with the most
daring robbers rendering it really uis: to travel
without guards. l have heard of many persons
being attacked, and Of some killed.
Arriving at Genoa, We were detained some time
before we could land and they were so fearful
that the cholera would spread over the city from
our trunks that an officer went aboard and opened
them for about ten minutes, thus rendering the
city safe. Genoa is literally city Of palaces, but
the streets are extremely narrow. The people here
are industrious in their habits and generally re-
spectacle looking, while few beggars are seen.
This is indeed great relief. The women here all
wear black wells instead of the broad rimed hats
of the Florentines.
One day we devoted to the villa of Count Pira
chn. 1t is situated some distance from the city,
and we had long dusty ride Then We had to
ascend a great high hill, but my fatigue was soon
forgotten when had visited the subterranean lakes
and grottoes, all the work of hands, and passed
through the beautiful grounds. Had ride on the
lakes in small boat. Returned to the city much
gratied with visit; then went to the Cathedral
almost entirely built of marble, and exceedingly rich
in the interior. Rode round the Corsino-a very |
inferior promenade ground.
The Genoese excel in their gold and silver fla
gree work; and the streets are filled with sho s
devoted to the manufacture and sale of it.
Left Genoa by rail to Novara having passed
rough mountainous country and tunnel four miles
ong; then on to Milan by diligence, a distance of
;wenty miles. Passed through rich, highly cult
va.ed country, growing wheat, rice and corn. On
'ur way stopped at the I" Tcind River" the bound
Try line between Sardinia and Austria. There is
! fine bridge over the river, commenced by Napo-
con l. There we had baggage and passports ex-
,mined.
The next morning we rose early md visited the
ar-famed Cathedral of Milan. 1t is certainly the |
most beautiful building in its structure, proportions
md architecture that have yet SEEM not excepting
st. Peters, in Rome. The style is purely gothic,
md though it combines all the graces and beauties
If architecture, still it is grand and imposing. 1t has
,ne hundred and thrty-six spires, seven thousand
statues in the inches of the exterior, and three |
thousand are still to be added to complete the de-
sign Many years will yet elapse before this build
ng will be completed, they are constantly retra
ling their steps-repairing instead Of finishing
Some think that in about one hundred and fifty
years it will be completed. The interior is vast in
is dimensions but too cold and dismal. Assembled |
The dome and had fine view of Lombardy-so
ertle and highly cultivated, AID of its towns and
villages Beneath us was the beautiful city of
Milan. On her western border were ten thousand |
Austrian soldiers performing the military evolutions
,f nd ~, A. 4