The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-04-29

I
 as it has been styled the Westminster
 Abbey of Florence, for there are many | tombs of distinguished people to be
 seen here. Prominent Is the tomb of
 Michael Angelo-a grand affair-and
 here is Dante's splendid tomb; he was driven into banishment at Ravenna and
 died there, and at last his tomb was
 erected In St. Croce. Macchlavelle and
 Calico Galilei lie beneath gorgeous tombs in this same church. A large
 plaster statue of Donatello scribbled over with lead pencil marks Is a promi- nent object, it Is a. model for a manu-
 ment to Donatello. There is, l am glad | to state, fine monument erected to his
 memory in the left transpet of St. LOT enzo. Among many tonpbs in St. Croce
 I noticed one of John Catrick, bishop of
 Exeter, who died here in 1419; he was
 on an embassy from King Henry V, to Pope Martin V. Also there IS here a monument of the Countess of Albany, widow of the young pretender It is a great pleasure and privilege to wan der through the corridors of this grand old church, it Is full of many objects of art and interest, and many visits must be taken to this church to thor
 oughly appreciate it's contents. The
 sacristy, Copella Medici, and choir are
 fairly radiant with Giotto's and Cima-
 bue's frescoes, and with the beautiful
 works of Gaddi, Andrea Del Sarto and
 many other noted artists. The chapel
 of the Castellani glows with brilliant
 frescoes; but let us hasten on.
 The cloisters adjoining St, Croce are
 quite interesting and very large. Here
 is to be seen the chapel of the powerful
 family of the Pazzi, the opponents of
 the Medici; this chapel was erected in 1420 We see here some splendidly
 wrought heads by Donatello also the twelve apostles and four evangelists In
 terra cotta by Luca della Robbia. The
 outer cloisters which are splendid colon made courts are now used by soldiers;
 what a dissertation is this; but much of
 this dissertation has been wrought of late years by the Italian government, and many soldiers stand guard in and
 occupy splendid monastries and rare old cloisters rich with "Cinque Ccnto"
 commentators and brilliant with fres- coes of great masters. There are many churches in Florence which will more
 than repay a visit, and it is a refresh ing experience to leave the hot, dusty, street and seek a cool retreat within
 the kindly embrace of churches; al- though their exteriors may resemble battered fortresses stripped of their de- lenders, their interiors fairly glow with a living fire of art. Such delightful church to visit is that of St, Ognassan- ti, or more properly, St. Salvatore D'Ognassanti, with its ancient monas- tery filled with soldiers in their brilliant uniforms of the Italian army.
 While strolling about the quiet cool interior of this church, came upon the tomb of Amerigo Vespuci, Che died in 1512) the great Florentine navigator who gave his name to our great wes- tern continent, that magnificent New World of his own day, Many frescoes are to be seen here by Botticelli and Ghirlandajo, St. stefano, built in the seventh century, is an interesting old church, and so I might go on and on and mention an endless number of sim liar churches.
 The Jewish synagogue Cthere are many Jews here) is the grandest modern edifice in Florence, and the finest Jew ish place of worship in Europe. Near the Porta St. Giorgio is Galileo's house, 8 modest, unassuming abode, but nat urally it is a place of interest from the associations which cling about 1t, for this very house was the home of that great astronomer.
 The homes of Cellini and Macchiavelli are also places to be visited and looked into. Not far beyond the city wall is the famous "Tore del Gallo; this is an ancient castle in which Calico had his observatory, and here he resided for over ten years, or rather in the "Villa of Calico" which is close by. His telescope and various instruments and many "reminiscences of Calico are to be seen here. It was at this villa 1 that the illustrious Milton came to visit l the great astronomer.
 The views to be enjoyed here are un- in 1oveliness and 1t is a. pleas l ant thought that the bright eyes of | Calico were familiar with the land- | scapes which are so widely spread out | before us. There are many charming l and historic places quite near the Torre 1eI Gallo, but as we must pay visit | to the "Aacademia delle Arti," let us | proceed thither over the Ponte Vecchio, | going on our way past the Palazzo Vec- shio, and up by the Duonio into the Via | and in this busy street up in l the direction of St. Marco we enter the | academy This is a very important col ection of the development of Italian lrt during the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Very many of the L came from suppressed monas- cries, and are of the greatest merit md power Botticelli, Giotto, Fra An yelico, Filipino Lippi, GhrlandoJo, Pe- 'ugino and many others of Italy's great ,st painters are splendidly represented !, n the academy. In the cupoa saloon Jtands the splendid statue of David by Michael Angelo, who was but twenty our years of age when he executed this .lorious work from a huge block of marble which another sculptor had abandoned as worthless David, n colossal figure, stands erect with his ling prepared to make the attack upon he Phillistine giant. David looks the 'erfection of young manhood. The ex- ression upon his face is calm, peaceful, etermined, and such noble face! This gure is very life-llke and it is one of he grandest works of Michael Angelo. lt I