The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-01
Entered at the POST Office at Richmond, Va, as
second-class matter.
ESPOND ENCE,
Letter on Italy.

h0CU0I OA 1Cdly
MesSrS. Editors, We resolved to visit
Tivoli before winter made any further
advance. Leaving Rome by the
Gate of San Lorenzo,
we emerged upon the Roman Campagna.
The broken arches and aqueducts re-
sembling giant skeletons, the ruined
masses where the shepherds rested, and
up whose giant sides goats clambered the
Apennines with their slopes dotted with
monuments, the cypress groves and viii.
lows-give the country the aspect Of the
largest cemetery ever seen by man. A
little less than a mile from the city gate,
we passed the church of the same name,
one of the most ancient of the Christian
edlfices. Its character is simple and i'm
posing. Constantine is generally regard
ed as the founder, but it has been sue
cessively restored by Sixtus Ill, and sew
eral of the succeeding Pontiffs. Many Of
the architectural parts have been bor-
rowed from still more ancient buildings.
We passed over the Tburtine Road, bor-
dered with the relics of innumerable
tombs and temples. In the midst of these,
quantities of cinerary urns are perpet-
ually discovered, and other curious an
tlque remains. Here stands the tomb OF
the naughty Fallas, the freedman of Olau-
dlus. Farther on lies the Campo Terano,
beneath which are catacombs filed with
the bones OF Christian martyrs. Passing
over the Solpaterra, we reached some
baths called the Baths of the Queen
more probably the remains of villa
belonging to Regulus, famous iuris-
consult, mentioned by Pliny and Martial.
We then arrived at the bridge of Luciano,
which is terminated by the monument of
the Plautiau family, who possessed a su-
perb villa at this spot. The tomb is of
circular form, resembling that of Cecilia
Metelia. Constructed principally of ira
yertine stone, it was faced with mar
BILE and ornamented with columns and
statues
Fastening forward, we arrive in sight
of the
Magnificent Cascade of Tivoh.
The stream dashes down with deafen-
ing sound, sometimes initiating the noise
OF thunder, according as the sound strikes
directly on the ear, or is dispersed by the
wind. Between us and the Cascade Law
the bridge, the church, and the town, and
the effect of the sun on the river, whose
waters flashed back beauty as they flowed
by the city, was most pleasing. The
heavens were cloudless, and the very
dashing of the Cascade seemed softened
as 1T was borne to our ears on the mellow
sir. The chirping of the birds, the turn.
ing of mills, the noise of the horses hoof
as they passed the bridge, the voices OF
the peasants, clothed in their best habits
and Fastening to the town, and the sound
n ha oll
Nothing is pleasanter in Italy than the
perpetual Ginning of the bells, so dis
agreeable in other places-here it resem-
bles aerial music. Near the falls is
The Temple of the sybn.
or.rather of Vesta, now in a state of ruin.
Situated like an eagles nest on the pin
nacle of hollow rocks, and surrounded bv
precipices down which the river falls
this edifice, of a circular form, is built in
style OF architecture singular and ele-
CANT. OF the eighteen Corinthiau col
umns which surrounded it in the form of
detached peristyle only ten now re-
main. The light must have entered by
the door or through an opening in the
roof, for the windows appear less ancient
than the primitive building, the origin of
which is unknown.
During the Augustan age the environs
OF Iivoli were the retreat of crowd of
celebrated men-Virgil, Horace Proper
tuls' Varro and lastly, Mecenas, the pa
tron and protector of letters and of the
arts. All those who cultivated literary
pursuits with success, fixed their resi-
dence on the borders of the Anio. Here
M@cenas built a villa, or rather city,
the immense circuit Of which is filled still
with great variety Of beautiful edifces
which almost seem destined for immor-