The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-04-30
FOR rHE CENTRAL PREsBrrERIAs.
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE
BY REV. pEYroN HARRISON.
FLORENCE, March 10Th, 1873.

Il LUhENGE, mdTCN 1OEu, 1Ol y.
Rev. and Dear Brother BroWn,-Florence
seems so tame after Naples, am afraid l
shall not be able to write letter that will
interest you, or your readers. 1t has no
beautiful bay spread out like sea of glass;
no sublime scenery like that of Sarentum !;
no smoking Vesuvius with the desoatiOns
it hath wrought; no Herculaneum, nor Pom
peii, nor Bai@ with the antiquities disem.
bOwelled from the earth, bringing before US
the ancient world of Rome, as it was two
thousand years ago.
And yet Florence is not without its beau
ties, and objects of interest. The beautiful
ArnO runs through the city of 14O, 900 in
habitants. 1t is well, though not very hand
sOmely built, except on its southern side
where the buildings are most of them new.
Standing on the high hills amidst the beau
tiful villas on the southern borders, the whole
city is spread out before you with i:s back
ground Of mountains embracing the north
ern and western border, handsome villas ali
the way round, almost to the tops Of the
mountains, she hills On the south and east
almost meeting the mountains, except when
the broad campagna separates them. The
streets are beautifully paved with square flag
stones like those Of Naples, though not with
ancient lava like the latter city. There are
buildings too with their contents which are
full Of interest. There is a large gallery of
paintings very celebrated. Also 6ne collec-
tiOns of statuary. The Venus de Mediei,
one Of the most celebrated works of sculp-
ture in the world, is gen of beauty, scarce
ly, if it all, less perfect than the Apollo
Belyidere in the Vatican. In front of the
church La COrse is a grand statue of Dante.
WilbiR the church is the tomb of Dante, and
that of Michael Angelo. The house where
Dante was born is in a narrow street, pressed
in by houses on each side, itself not more
than ten feet wide. On the way down from
the hills on the southern border of the city
is beautiful group of the DemidOf family
in white marble. Four female figures sur
round the tomb. Among these are two
beautiful women each with baby in arms.
Tbs whole is crowned with an old man sur
rounded by little children. The tombs of
the Medici family, famous for beauty, and
power, and vice, are in the basement of a
circular building which is supported by a
number of arches ten feet thick. Above, in
the walls of the upper building, are beauti
ful tombs Of variegated marble of the diff
ferent members of the family who are buried
in the basement below. The great Cathe-
dral is an immense building, the exterior,
with hexagOns projecting where the affairs
stand within, all covered with marble Of diff
ferent colors. This building has very i'm
posing aspect without, while there is nothing
particularly striking within. The circular
church Of John the Baptist is chiefly re-
markable for its doors elaborately wrought
with figures in bronze, of which the doors
are composed. The Kings palace is very
large; the exterior rough looking, and old,
built Of stone, the edges of which are bevelled
of so that each stone projects beyond the
surface. Within these are many elegant
rooms furnished in the most splendid and
costly manner.
A fashionable drive in the afternoon is
through the park. 1t extends two miles
along the river, the fast flowing Arno on
the south side, the mountains dotted with
houses and villas on the north. Several
beautiful roads run through its whole length,
about two-thirds laid Of, and tastefully
adorned with flowers and shrubbery, the re,
naming third left with its natural growth of
forest trees. To appreciate the beauties of
Florence one must drive along the serpen-
tine way, among the handsome villas to the
Cemetery on the highest Of the hills. As
you ascend the hill the city is presented in
varied aspects of beauty. From the GENE
terry itself you have commanding view Of
the whole city with the surrounding noun
tains and hills, and occasional glimpses Of
the river, as it winds its way through the
beautiful city.