Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1879-02-06
ical figures, representing Geography, Religion,
Strength and Wisdom. This splendid mon
ument to the great discoverer is composed of
marble and was erected in 1862.


ument to the great discoverer is composed OF
marble and was erected in 1862.
CHURCHES.
Conspicuous among the churches of Genoa
is the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, built in the
11th century. 1t is of gothic style, with an
odd exterior, being formed of horizontal
stripes of white and black marble. The
most beautiful portion of the church is the
chapel of St. John the Baptist. The relics
of the Saint are contained in an iron-bound
chest and carefully preserved in the treasury
of the Cathedral
The Church of L'Annunciata, second in
size to the Cathedral, was erected in the 18th
century, at the private expense of the Lo-
mellini family. It a splendid edifice and
cost about five million francs.
While in Genoa we visited the famous
Campo Santo, the finest cemetery in the
world. 1t covers an area of about twenty
acres. Many of the noble families and
learned men of Genoa are buried here, and
some of the tombs and monuments erected
to their memory are the most magnificent
specimens of sculpture ever seen. The GEM
etery is about five centuries old, and contains
nearly 10000 tombs.
The great promenade of the city is the
Corso, where the young and old, gay and
fashionable, resort and enjoy that free and
easy sociability which exists in Genoa, visit
ing being not customary within the houses
during warm and pleasant weather. The
Genoese ladies are indeed gay, and many of
them beautiful and attractive. They have
symetrical, compact forms, dark eyes and
hair, and are brilliant in expression. Their
graceful appearance is heightened by the long
flowing veil which they wear fastened in the
hair with gold pins, and then falling modest
ly around their necks and shoulders, showing
their pretty faces to much advantage.
Having seen the sights in the ''City of
Palaces we left on the 23d for southern
Italy, travelling again by the underground"
railroad. Such, at least, must style it, for
the reason that three-fourths of the distance
to Pisa-150 miles lis subterranean, running
through tunnels, some of them four to six
miles in length. Like the road from Mar
settles to Nice and from Nice to Genoa, this
one also runs along the Riviero, within sight
of the beautiful Mediterranean much of the
distance. A five hours ride, however,
brought US to that very noted and time
SCARED city of
PISA,
one of the oldest in Italy, and certainly one
of the most interesting. 1t is situated princi-
pally on the north bank of the Arno, and con-
tains now 10000 people -one-fifth of its
population in the 18th century. The men and
women of the lower classes, as a general
thing, are indolent and prefer begging to
working, and as in some other cities of italy
are very annoying. The four principal at
fractions of Pisa are in large square in the
northern part of the city: the Cathedral,
Leaning Tower, and Campo Santo
The Cathedral is one of the most famous
in Europe, both on account of the
beauty of its architecture and the valuable
works of art in painting and sculpture con-
tanned within its walls. 1t was erected in
the 18th century and is of the Byzantine style
containing 207 columns of the finest marble
and granite, many of which were relics from
the old heathern temples. The church is
built in the form of Latin cross. is 300 feet
long, 1O7 feet wide and 100 feet in height. 1t
contains many altars, 10 of which are of pure
marble, magnifcently carved and ornament
ed, having been designed by Michael Angelo.
One other we noticed in particular is COM
posed entirely of gilt and silver, and was pre-
sented to this church by one of the Kings of
The Medici family. The silver alone is said to
have cost $4,000 crowns. One of the treas
ures of art is the immense Byzantine Mosaic
over the high.altar, representing Christ, the
Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist.
Though this was done during the 14th century
The colors are as bright and the figures as per-
feet as if it were the work of the present
lime. In front of the main altar is suspended
he old bronze lamp, the swinging of which
first suggested to Galileo the theory of the
pendulum, when that illustrious astronomer
was but 18 years of age. Near the silver
altar is column of porphery, brought from
Jerusalem during the first crusade, and near
one of the altars, designed by Michael Angelo,
s pillar brought from Constantinople four
3. G. There are many tombs con-
aiming the remains Of prelates and distin-
yuished members of the nobility, but any
elaborate description Of them in this letter
would be too great task. Each one is
work of art and all the paintings areproduc-