Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1868-06-12

nonAx PALACES, rrc.


Ny journey from Athens to Rome was one
Of much Interest. left the Piraeus or Port
Of Athess, in small Greek steamer, and
creased the beautiful Bay Of Sslaner, to the
Isthmus Of Corinth. In passing over the
narrowest part Of this tive miIes, I Obtains
ID PLAIN view Of the site Of Old Corinth, .
city 20 very celebrated in Greciaa history,
And also 10 the history Of she early Christ>
ian Church. On the opposite side of the
Isthmus, took passage in another little
Creek steamer, called the Pan Helene,
which was very fast boat, and which had
run the blockade to Crete ten or twelve times.
In going dovn the Gulf Of Corinth, saw Mt.
Helicon, famed in antiquity ~ the selN Of
Apollo and the Muses. and also, Mt. Par
nassus, in Phocis, whose summit was sacred
to Bacchus, and 1t whose base was the town
Of Delphi, where there stood the noted orac>
ular shrine Of Apollo, which was resorted to
BY untold thousands of the superstitious
The Csstalian fount, which was believed to
be the source Of inspiration, is still there,
but the temple has long since disappear.
ed.
Afier leaving the Gulf Of Corinth, and en-.
tering the Adriatic Sea, We came to the To-
nian lslands, recently under che protectorate
Of England, but nov = part Of the Kingdom
Of Greece. Spent day very pleasantly q
Corfu, the priscipal Island OF the group, and
then proceeded on, in . large Austrian
steamer, ~ Aneona. At this place, which
for the city Of Rome. The distance vas
about two hundred miles. and the ride vas
exceedingly interesting and pleasant, fos il
was across the msuntains Of the Appeniue
range, where the scenery was bold, grand,
and romantic. In ascending, ~ passed
along up the Valley Of ths Esino, aud, in
descending, went down the Valleys ef ths
Tup:no and Nera, and aher~afdG sleag by
the river Tiber.
On arriving at Rome, obtained aeeem>
modations in the Hotel de Russe, . very su.
perior house. situated on the PiazA del Pop
olo, or Peoples Square, On account Of
Holy Week and Easter being Just at hAsd,
the city was crowded with strangers from eli
parts Of christendom. On the evening Of
my arrival, found the city very brilliantly
illuminated. Il Was the time Of the anni>
versary Of the Pope's installment and coro.
nation, as the bead Of the Roman Catholic
Church, and Prince Of the Roman State.
The illuminstions we're On grand scale.
found Rome 70 b . city oe wondess 10
more respects than one il was % in it,
churches, in it. palaces, and above ell, in its
stupendous ruins, which greatly Impressed
me With the fact of it, former grAndsue,'
wealth and power. In this sketch, viii re-
fer 10 few Of IL many palatial residences,
bat only those which ! personally visited:
Rome has been sometimes called . city Of
palaces," !" md, should think with ths u.
most proptiety for The MANSIONS Of The Ro>
man nobility. which are really nothing lsss
than palaces, ars almost legion and many
Of shsm vill tie. in size. and grandeur end
internal sdssr hsat, with he sssidences Of
soversigss themsslves.
Ths two great papal palaces Of Rome aD
The Vatican and The Qsirinal, which took
their names ffotn their situation. the one
having bssa erected on Mount vaticanus,
and tho other on the Quirinal Hill. The
Vatican i the largest ard most important
ofthe tive, and 10 the residence Of the Pope
during the winter and more than half the
year. II il nearly quarter Of mile ia
length, aud about one thousand feet IN Width.
Different popes have added varioss parts 70
the bsilding, so that its present extent i
much greater than il was originany. Il Vas
6rst occupied as papal palsce after he ~
turn Of the popes from Avignoa. France, -
l37S. There is no palace Il IT, s0slA that
has % many rooms and staircases and none
eostains such collection Of valuabls works
Of ast Besides The grand slairsase, and
sevsa ether large onss, there are nearly two
hundred Of less size and there ass not far
from Eve thousand digeseHt saloons, CALLER
ies, chambers, aud other apartments, great
and small; and there are two beautiful chap
els in the building, called the Sistine snd
st. Psul's, and not less than twenty different
covrts. The Scala Regia, or the grand stsir.
case, is not surpassed, Il equaled, b. any IN
Europe, or the world. In ascending Il, l
VS. mach impressed with its vast size and
msgni6cence. Iii Of stone, and presents .
most substantial appearance. ! was a The
Vatican 1t two different timea, and was much
interested in going through the rooms and
halls which ore open 70 the public. Days
and weeks can be spent in most entertain.
ing manner, in rambling through the varis
GUS galleries and courss Of this celebrated
palace. Objects Of interest ere met on every
hand. / did no. se the Pope in the vati.
can, but h.d . neas and distinct view d
him on several occasions, in St. Peter'l
Church, where he was officiating. Thesa
occasions were o. Palm Sunday, Hol,
Thursday and Easter, when vast numbers o.
people attended the services. Probably, moi
less than fifty thousand persons were 10 ST.