Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-09-06
LETTER FROM EUROPE
Rome, March 20, 1860.

~
interesting excursion of several day
some twenty miles from the Capita
We made the tour on foot, as this a
fords the best opportunity of lool
ing into all the corners and by
ways; taking our provisions an
every needed article; stopping wher
We pleased, resting when fatlgueG
ano eating when hungry. We visi
ted the towns Of FRAscATI, ALLANo
and the ruins of ancient TUsCULUM
The city of Tusculum Was situated
ION sn elevation fourteen miles from
Rome, beautiful site overlooking
the C'pital, the Mediterranean anc
the Campagna in the distance
Here fourished city Of great mag
nifeence, nearly three thousand
Years ago; now, but heap Of ruins
with portions of its walls, palaces
and temples visible, serving to show
its locality and ancient splsndor.-
From this point We obtained the
finest view imaginable. At the dis
tanos of fourteen miles. is seen the
city Of Rome in the centre of the
Campagna, the towering dome of St.
Peters Church, the picturesque walls
and battlemented city tcwers, With
the graceful meandering Tiber couIs-
ing its way from the mountains to
the sea. The distant and gently
slopins mountains skirt this plain Cd
three sides, while, al The east,
Stretches afar the msjsstic Meditsrra-
mean dotted with vessels OF all de-
scriptions. | should mention tina:
by the Campagna is meant tse uu-
dulating plain which spreads on all
sides, Rome being in the centre. 1t
is thirty miles In width, and nearly
one hundred in length. and once in-
cluded portion of ancient LATIusI
and ETRURIA. The mountain range
enclosing the Campagna is composed
ofthe Sabine mountains AID Alban bills.
Our receat excursion for fourteen
miles was on the Via APpIA or APPIAN
WAY. You are aware that this great
tobroughlare was one Of the most re-
markabls lines Of communication
which led from .he Capital of the
Roman world. 1t is in a perfectly
straight liae and is paved the entire
length with blocks Of lava and other
volcanic rocks. 1t was commenced
by APpius Claudius, the Censor,
three hundred and twelve years before
Christ, and four hundred and dforty-two
after the founding Of Rome. Al first
it extended only to CAPUA, in the Vi
cinity Of Naples, but was afterwards
completed to ancient BRANDUsIuM on
the eastern coast of the modern king
dom of Naples, and thus became the
line of communication not only With
southern Italy. but with Greece,
and the most remote possessions Of
Imperial Rome. Along this road on
either side from the city gate to AB,.
LANo are continuous heaps of ruins.
1t WAS lined with tombs, monuments,
temples, villas and baths of great
elegance and splendor, ornamenteG
with every species Of marble statua-
ry, bas.reliefs, and constructed in
the richest architectural style. Two
thousand years ago here must have
been a sight of unparalleled mag
nifcence; now piles of rubbish and
ruin, With marble pillars, corinthian
capitals, rich mosaics, statues of the
gods, of ancient heroes, and mon
uments erected to commemorate per-
sons of distinction among the Ro-
man citizens: all lay commingled in
one common heterogeneous mass to
tell the tale of the almost infinite re-
sources Of Roman wealth, the per-
fsction Of art, the transitory exis-
tence of human grandeur, and the
leveling hand of time. The VIA
APPIA, with it's wealth Of tombs aud
monuments, has been covered ever
flor centuries, many feet under
ground. and the present Pontiff
Plus TX, has caused than to be ex.
cavated and brought 10 view, greatly
to bis credit. the delight Of antigua
rians, and the qualification Of the
lovers of ast. 1t ia said that the
pavement, now exposed, is not more
than a thousand or fifteen hundred
years old, and that another, still be-
low this, will yet be found, which be-