Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1868-06-26
INDEPENDENCE. IOWA. FRIDAY, JUNE 2e. 1863

unique appearance.
Genoa is a very ancient city, founded long
before the Christian era, and rebuilt by the
Romans. Abont A. d. 600, It was laid
waste by the Lombards, and Afterwards re-
sorcd by Charlemagne. Its present popu'
la,ion is 10000.
From Genoa went to Venice, stopping Al
Milan TO see its wonderful Cathedral, and
making an excursion 10 Como, to sail ur
and down that charming Lombard lake, EN-.
Losomed in the Italian Alps.
On arriving 1t Venice, stepped from The
platform of the railroad station, into one ol
the beautiful gondolas, and was taken mp the
en- nails 10 the Hotel Victoria. II really seem.
ell strange to be in a city Of canals, instead
OF streets, and a city in which boats are
made use Of for carriages. ] was told there
were not more than two or three horses in
all Venice, and they were not used for the
conveyance Of vehicles; for such there are
none.
Most of the palaces OF thn city are si,ua-
ted on the Grand Canal and in going up
aud down this busy water ihorcuehfore: the
views Of them are very fine. Their front is
upon the Canal, which is about $50 feet
wide, and the appearance presented by them
is very isnposing.
The principal palace Of Venice. aud OF the
greatest historical interest, is called the
Doge's, or Ducal Palace. had the prisi-
lege Of going through its various apartments,
which are spacious and lofty, and some of
them magnificent They are adorned with
10 sntings by celebrated Venetian artis,s.
The Senate Chamber is . noble room, and
contains many fine works OF art. The adorn
ments were particularly intended to pcrpetu-
ate the glories Of the republic. The sub
jects Of the paintings were taken from scrip
ture and the history Of Venice ; so that the
mobiles assembled here in looking at these
representations we're furnished with incen>
tivcs both to virtue and patriotism. In n
painting placed over Che Doge's scat, there
Is an appropriate inscription, intoxicating i'm
portant principles. This magnificent Sens
ate Chamber is kept in the same condition
that it was before the downfall Of Venice.
The courts and staircaces Of the palace are
decorated with antique statues, and marble
and bronze shine on every side. What is
called the 8. '.Giants' Staircase Is Of much
interest, and receives its name from two
large statues Of Mars aud Neptune, that
stand at the head Of the steps.
The present palace was erected by one of
The vene .isn Doges in the fourteenth cen>
tury and is on the site Of one erected FIVE
hundred years before. The building is Of
the Saracenc style of architecture, and il is
quite worthy to be- as it was, the seat Of the
:overnuseEt, aud the place Of the assembling
ot the sscat councils Of state. When in the
principal hall, il was Interesting to call to
mind the fact that was in the room where
the forty,one mobiles were accustomed to
nominate the Doge. who should be their ru-
ler and when in another ball, it was Of even
more interest to know that was in the room
where the dreadful "Council Of Ten for
merly sat and when stood at the head of
the Giants Staircase, it was Of yet even
greater interest to be informed that | was
standing where the Ducal Princes we're
crowned. The Hall Of the Great Council is
one hundred and seventy.six feet long,
eighty-6ve feet wide, and fifty-two feet high,
aud is really magnificent room.
B. X. G.