Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-03-08

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our way towards Naples. The hotel keepers o.
Marselles are noted for their various pretexts in
OBTAINING travellers, and we had our share. The
riseiag our Passports before we were allowed to
depart, cost US about five dollars each. in addi-
ton to the dollars paid out for the same thing
previous to arriving here. The whole passport
system IS an intolerable, vexatious nuisance and
shameful imposition upon the traveller, often
OBTAINING him for many precious hours, besides
the continual drain upon his purse. But there is
no escaping it: with armed soldiers always in
sight 1t would be folly to resist the powers that
be.
Upon our arrival at Genoa, the steamer was an
chored half mile from the shore, fol steamboats,
are not allowed to go up to the wharf, at any of
the Mediterranean ports; and we were subjected
to delay of two or three hours before we could
get permission to land, from the proper authori-
ties. Passports closely scrutinized, and no.
body is allowed to go ashore, unless everything
appears just so-and liberal fees paid.
Genoa is beautiful, pleasantly situated city,
billy and uneven, somewhat like Boston, with
about the same population. twas formerly, land
indeed is now, the residence of numbers of the
nobility, and their numerous splendid marble pal
aces are IN almost every fine street. Many of
them, now, however, are converted into shops and
dwellings for the common people The Hotel
d'Italie, where we lodge, is very large and ell
egant marble building, and was formerly noble
mans residence. Its mosaic floors are very beau
tful, and the whole establishment must have cost
vast deal of time ard money.
| To-day is Sunday. and thousands of people are
in the streets,it being great holiday here. None
of the ladies had bonnets on, but instead thereof
were very tastefully attired in long white muslin
scarfs, thrown over their heads, and fastened on
the crown with ornamental pin-and, with
their handsome features, and sparkling black eyes,
made very pretty appearance.
We visited some of the churches, and found
them as gorgeous and beautiful, as the taste and
art of man, with costly marble and plenty of gold
and silver, could make them. We have never
passed Catholic church, whatever the hour,
without finding it open, with many people, often
hundreds, on their knees, repeating their pray
ers. If we judge from the time spent in their
churches, and their apparent sincerity, while at
their devotions, the Catholics are certainly more
devout and religious than any other denomina-
ton.
A great deal of beautiful ornamental silver and
coral work is done here>and we saw large guam
titles of it for sale in the shops This is the birth
| place of the immortal Columbus but the particu-
| lar house or spot cannot be identified.
| Leghorn, jane 2sth-We landed here early
this morning, but, as there is little to interest
stranger here, we took the cars and rode
twelve miles to Pisa, to see the celebrated Lean.
ing Tower, and other famous buildings there
The Tower is really wonderful curiosity, and is
justly called one Of the Seven Wonders of the
world. We went to its top, about two hundred
feet high, by circular inside steps, from which we
had very fine view. The diameter of the Tow
er. at its base, is about fifty feet, and perhaps
half that at the top, gradually tapering all the
way up. 1t is built of massy marble blocks, and
and the views and descriptions so often made of
it, usually very correct. It leans over, about
twelve feet from perpendicular line; and, in as
cending the stairway, standing on the ground
near it, you cannot avoid peculiar sensation,
that the whole structure will tumble down upon
! you 1t was built for belfry and has seven i'm
mense bells hanging at the top of it. The Tower
| was built about eight hundred years ago, and it
is disputed question, whether it was built in
leaning position or not The ground where it
| stands is srnngy and vet, and il might veil be
| supposed rnar the foundation had settled: and
yet the inside steps and platforms are level which
would seem to prove that the Tower was built as
it now stands.
Pisa has about sixteen thousand inhabitants,
and is full of ancient buildings of great architec-
tural beauty and grandeur. The Cathedral here
is of immense size, and beautiful appearance. 1t
was built about eight hundred years since mostly
of elegant MARBLE and is the third building, as to
size and beauty, in Italy. Many other rare and
wonderful antiquities are to be seen here, afford.
ing subjects of much interest to those fond Of such
matters. We returned to Leghorn in the even.
ing, regretting we had SO little time to spend
here. S. H. c.