The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-10-23
A BEAUTIFUL CITY.
Description of Genoa, One Of
Italy's Historic Centers.
Both a Military and Commercial Power
"A Novel Way of Obtaining Light,
Air and Cheerfulness-A
Grand Cemetery.


Genoa is one of the most interesting
cities in Europe. . 1t 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
commercial supremacy with Venice
and Pisa, and that was bone of con-
tention over which neighboring powers
have constantly quarreled as to who
shall pick it. Genoa can show record
in the distant past of as many revolu-
tions per square yard as can even our
sister republic, Mexico. Its great mil
itary 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
mense statue has been erected, located
in front of the Doria palace, on top of
a hill, where it can be seen far and
NlNNC' az Ol1O pCllON SOlnCN nCl Z III lllC
thirteenth or fourteenth century, Genoa
was the chief commercial city, perhaps
of the then known world, and had col
onies established on some of the
islands in the eastern Medterrane an
Sea. Finally Venice became a great
commercial emporium and disputed SUI
premacy with Genoa, resulting III sew
erar 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 Ameri-
ca merchant princes" who were the
progenitors of the present ''illustrious"
aristocracy of that city, all graced
with high-sounding Italian names,
such as the Spinola family, Grimaldi
family, Fiescha family, Doria family,
Espeldina family, Redinaldi family, etc.
In the morning after our arrival we
were furnished with guide and we put
in good days work at sightseeing.
As we drove through the principal
street, we noticed a popularity adopted,
which is really worthy of imitation, to
enable the handsome business blocks
to have light and ventilation from their
four sides as well as from the courts in
the center, and which added to the
beauty of the street as well as the build
ings themselves. A block of five or six
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 which
open the rooms surrounding it. The
floor of this court, situated over the
stores, is covered with soil on which
small trees and plants are planted. 1t
can be seen that the view from the
windows is thus made pleasant. The
The upper part of the building, that is
above the stores, is occupied by
families who live in suites of rooms,
which are lighted and ventilated from
the outside on the four sides as well as
from the court. In order to get this
light and ventilation from all sides, the
next building is only one story high
and about fifty feet wide, and is covered
with small trees, plants and flowers,
which are seen from the street. The
next building after the one-story affair
is six stories high, with court in the
center, etc. In this way the apart
ment houses are thoroughly lighted
and ventilated, and the eye rests on
flowers and plants while looking out of
the windows. Whole streets are built
up In this manner, every other building
being only one story high The tail
buildings are very handsome and archi-
tecrurally ornamented on all sides,
thus giving a row of such buildings a
very pleasing effect. These buildings
are modern. In the old part of the city
are seen the palaces of the former
merchant princess of Genoa, when for
time she was the principal commercial
city of the Mediterranean. These
palaces are several hundred years old.
built with considerable architectural
pretension. The streets on which
these palaces are situated are verv mar
row. and the palaces depend on their
courts for most of their light and venti-
lation. The front windows are all pro-
tected by heavy iron gratings, pro-
jecting Outwardsy about a foot, to
enable a view up and down the street
to be obtained. 1t is difficult to realize
that these palaces we're standing before
Columbus was born and when the New
World was "uaknown to fame"
Our drive around Genoa was exceed
ingly interesting. The docks presented
a very curious appearance. The old
buildings with walls five feet thick,
and some eight stories in height, stand
fronting the harbOr. in full view of the
shipping and of the lighthouse, said to
be the tallest in the world, ii being four
hundred and ten feet high above the
sea. 1t Is built on rocky promontory,
which is about two hundred feet above
the sea. making the lighthouse proper
about two hundred feet high. The
front walls Of some of these antiquate5