Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-12-07
A BEAUTIFUL CITY.
Description of Genoa, Ono OF
Italy's Historic Centors.
Both Military and Commercial Power
"A Novel Way OF Obtaining Light,
Air and Chocrfulncss-A
Grand Cemetery.

cities in Europe. II is almost inclosed
on three sides by high hills or mount
aims, and fronts on the Mediterranean.
Its topography reminds me strongly Of
that of Cincinnati. 1t is an old city,
dating back to the days of the Caesars.
Its history for the last thousand years
is nothing but revolution, fighting for
supremacy with Venice
and Pisa, and that was bone OF con-
tontion over which neighboring powers
have constantly quarrcled as to who
shall pick 1t. Genoa can show record
in the distant past Of as many rcvolu-
tons per square yard as can even our
sister republic, Mexico. Its great mil
ltary character, that is one who is to
Genoa as Washington and Grant are to
America, and Wellington to England,
is Andrea Doria. in whose honor AN i'm.
mcnse statue has been erected, located
in front of the Doria palace, on top OF
n hill, where 1t can bo seen far and
wide. At one period somewhere in the
or fourteenth century, Genoa
was the chief commercial city, perhaps
OF the then known world, and had col
onlcs established on some of tho
islands In the eastern Mediterrane an
Sea. Finally Venice became great
commercial emporium and disputed SUI
premacy with Genoa, resulting in 'sev.
cral wars and the eventual defeat OF
Genoa. During the height of the opu-
lence OF Genoa, she produced a large
brood Of what We would call in Amcri-
en- 'mcrchant princes. " who were the
progenitors OF thepresent "illnstrious'
uristocracy OF tnat city, all graced
with hgh-sounding Italian names,
such us the Spinola family, Grimaldi
family, Ficscha family, Doria family,
Espcldina family, Redinaldlfamily, etc.
In the morning after our arrival we
were furnished with guide and we put
in Il good days work ut sightseeing.
As wc drove through the principal
street, wenoticed popularity adopted,
which is really worthy Of imitation, ia
enable the handsome business block:
to have light and ventilation from their
four sides rs we'll as from the courts in
the center. and which added to the
beauty of the street as well as the build
inrs themselves. A block Of i've or sly
stories in height is built, about one
hundred feet square, with stores run
ming clear through. In the center
above the stores is court, into whicl
open tho rooms surrounding II. The
floor OF this court. situated over tht
stores. Is covered with soil on which
small trees and plants are planted. II
can bo seen that the view from tn,
windows is thus made pleasant Thl
The uppor part OF the building, that Il
above the stores, is occupied b,
families who live in suites of rooms
which arc lighted and ventilated from
the outside on tho four sides as well a
from the court. In order to get thii
light and ventilation from all sides, the
next building is only one story higl
and abont fifty feet wide, and is coverc'
with small trees, plants and flowers
which are seen from the street. Th
next building after the one-story affai
is six stories high, with court in tn
certer, etc. In this way the apart
mont houses arc thoroughly lighte'
and ventilated, and the eye rests ol
flowers and plants while looking out o
the windows, Whole streets are bull
up in this manner, every other buildini
being only ono story high. The Ia
buildings are very handsome and arch
tecturally ornamented or all sides
thus giving n row of such buildings
very pleasing effect These building
are modern. In the old partoft the cit
arc seen the palaces of the forme
merchant princess of Genoa. when 70
a time she was the principal commerci;
city of the Mediterranean. Thes
palaces are several hundred years ole
built with considerable architectur,
pretension. The streets on whic
these palaces are situated are very nal
row. and the palaces depend on thei
courts for most Of their light and vent
lation. The front windows are oil PR
tected by heavy iron gratings, PR
iecting outwardly about foot,
enable view up and down the stree
TO be obtained. 1t is difficult to realil
that these palaces were standing betol
Columbus was born and when the Ne
1 World was .unknown TO fame.' sls
Our drive around Genoa was exceo'
ingly interesting. The docks prescntc
very curious appearance. The o.
buildings with walls five feet thicl
and some eight stories in height, stan
fronting the harbor, in full view of Il
shipping and of the lighthouse, said
be the tallest in the world, 1t being fol-
hundred and ten feet high above ii
sea. Il is built on rocky promontor
which is about two hundred feet abo'
the sea. making the lighthouse prop
about two hundred feet high. III
front walls of some OF these antiquat'
old buildings arc portions of an o
Roman wall erected about two tho
sand years ago. We visited tho ChurO
of tho Annuncation, and ! can on
: say that the inside is most exquisite
beautiful-the handsomest | have y
seems and it is too beautiful TO be d
scribed. The roof is supported
magnificent marble columns, and :
ceiling is gorgeously gilded with mo
aesthetic effect. The outside OF t
} church has no pretension to beau
whatever. Itlooks like an old dilal
dated affair
n After driving up or down some tv
.r thrnn hills and havin o. vary intara