Catoctin clarion., 1900-09-06
Florence and Venice.

Venice, Italy, Aug. 4, 1900.
We are now, as will be seen by the date of
this letter, at the water walled city Of Italy,
the queen of the Adriatic. Having finished
our examination of Pompeii we started for
Florence, stopping for short time in Rome
to visit few places we failed to see on our
former stay there. We noticed a number of
towns along the road between Rome and
Florence, most of them during the first half
of the route. being located either on the tops
of mountains or high up on their sides. AS
we advanced towards Tuscany, however, we
found them located on the plain, with cot
tages and farm houses evincing a superior
class of people to those of southern Italy.
The corn fields looked flourishng and the
stacks of wheat seem to indicate good har-
vest. The pale green of the olive trees con-
trast beautifully with the vivid colors of
grape vines, forming great loops from tree to
tree We were impressed with the marvel
of engineering IN building the road from
Rome to Florence. 1t crosses q portion of
the Appennine mountain at a grade Of $50
feet to the mile; tunnels are innumerable.
The country through which the road passes,
especially the first part of 1t, being what was
formerly known as portion of the patrimo.
ny of st. Peter, is very sterile, being mostly
mountainous. Every spot however is closely
cultivated; even the mountain sides as far up
as the olive tee can be made to grow, are
covered with the fruit Of that commerce.
We were delighted to find aprico,s peaches
and plums of fine quality and IN abundance.
Florence has been awarded the title by Byron
of being the falrest city of the earth, If in
Byrons time it cou i'd be called so it is much
more entitled to that honor now. Its public
squares are numerous and beautiful The
Duomo is noted more for its historic associ-
atious than for any special granduer il exhib.
lts. 1t was in this great building Savonarola
delivered many of his stirring sermons trying
to arouse the sleeping conscience OF the old
Forentlnes, who 30 resented the interference
with their peace of mind as to burn the gifted
orator on the spot where the fountain of
Neptune now stands Near by are the fa-
nous bronze doors of the Baptistry by Chi
berti, of which those of our Capitol are a
copy. Over the door of San Marco, another
historic church, is n crucifiX by Giotto and
at the right is an annuncialion and a mosaic
of the virgin enthroned. The church of
Santa Croce Is called the Westminster Abbey
of Florence. So many of the lllustrious men
who have made her famous are inferred here
or have monuments erected to their memo
ries. The monument Of Michael Angelo is
one Of the most beautiful. There are monu.
ments to Dante, Bruni, also Rossini the Gel
ebrated composer, and many others of the
mighty dead who have influenced the world
and made history in past years, and who
being dead, yet speak in the paths of science
art and craftsmanship. Florence is situated
IN the rich valley Of the Arno, surrounded by
beauties Of nature and art and is revered as
the birthplace of Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio
Calico, Michael Angelo and other great men.
Beautiful gardens adorned with statues, vases
fountains and other decorations, as well as
the open squares or plazzas, continually at
tract the eye of the visitor. The palaces,
which are very numerous, contain rare paint
ings and sculpture, form the principal objects
of interest in this delightful city which is the
pride of Italy. The Arno passes through the
city and is crossed by six handsome bridges.
One Of the most interesting places to stran.
ger in Florence is the Uf1zi Gallery, the
paintings in which are said to be the richest
and most varied in the world. The Tribune,
small circular chamber, not only contains
the chefs d Guure of this gallery but Of the
world, both in paintings and statuary.
Among the sculpture is the world renowned
Venus de Medici, the Apollino or young
Apollo, the Antonio, a slave whetting his
knife. These were all recovered from the
ruins of Rome and are the products of hea-
then sculptors. The Titan Venus alluded
to by Byron is here with several Of the pro-
ductions of Michael Angelo. The bank of
the Arno is laid out as a beautiful walk or
drive, overshadowed by magnificent trees for
several miles and seats beneath the shady
groves supply the wants of solltaits as well
as lovers. We left Florence in the afternoon
for Venice arriving there at II O'Clock on the
same night. The first thing that lmpresses
a visitor to Venice who arrives at night, is
the quiet that prevails; the silence ia broken
only by the dip of the oars in the water and