Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-09-04
A GLIMPSE OF ROME.
w. J, Penhallegon Writes of the
Sights Of the Ancient City.
Rome, italy, A ng. 2, 1902.

a glimpse Of Rome, the Eternal City.
We have visited so many interesting
places it il difficult to know where to
begin. Rome Is so different from any
other city, inasmuch as you can see
the ruins and works Of art Of two CEN
turtles ago as well as magnificently
designed buildings of the 10th century.
A visit to the hills OF Janiculum and
Pincio, the two highest OF the seven
hills upon which Rome was built,
gives one an idea OF the plan and
scope Of ancient as we'll as modern
Rome One is impressed with the
magnifcenca and grandeur of the
Roman empire, by visiting the numer-
| Gus art galleries and museums here,
and seeing the beautiful sculptures,
frescos, mOsaics and art treasures
unearthed from its ruins. We have
visited SO many it would be impossi-
BILE to remember many, SO will only
give meagre description of one or
two.
We visited the Vatican and found
this the most sumptuOus and mag
nifcent of all the palaces and art
centers. Besides the museums and
galleries it contains over 4 900 rooms,
and has eight grand stair cases, 200
smaller ones and 20 court yards; in
all 1000 rooms. We enter by the
great bronze doors next to st. Peters
and advance up the passage through
series of stairways etc, until we
reach the Sixtine chapel, built by
| SiXtus " in 1913. Here we see some
OF the worlds best sculptures and
frcscos by Michael Angelo, including
| h Is Last Judgment, the Creation, the
Fall, the Deluge, Punishment of Ha-
man, and many others. After visit
| ing severa minor rooms W. ascent to
the Gallery of Saints, where are seen
many Of the best works OF modern
artists. Passing from here through
| several other galleries, each of which
has many of Raphael's works, we
come to the Hall of IIeliodorus. Here
are the finest fresCos in the world,
the most important of which Is Hello
dorus, Driven From the Temple, by
Raphael. Coming to the gallery OF
Pictures we see the best works of Lee
leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Merillo
and many others. Although not be-
ing an artist, felt | would like to
spend II week in some OF these places
and absorb some OF the genius of
| these artists of bygone days. After
viewing the numerous sarcophagt in
the Hall of the Greek Cross, rs we'll
as the two colossal Egyptian statues
! brought from Hadrian's villa to
adorn it, we are led out to the rOtun-
| do, in the center OF which Is a magni-
| hcent basin or bowl of red porphyry
| AZ feet in circumference brought from
| the ruins here in the bath of DiOcleti-
an. Around the sides OF the hall are
arranged busts and statues, among
which is Hercules Victor, found on
the sight of Pompey's theatre. 1t is
entirely of gilt bronze, and is n Won
derful work. The Hall OF Animals,
the Gallery OF Statues, etc, etc, are
visited and we come to the Court of
the Belvedere, In which Is the world
renowned Apollo of the Belvedere,
300 years b. c. Here also may be
seen. The Two Boxers, Mercury of
Belvedere, and the celebrated La
cocoon. From the balcony OF the next
room we get an excellent view OF the
| Pope's gardens, where His Holiness
takes his airings.
| Viewing many more rooms and gall
| leries, we next visit St. Peters, the
most wonderful and costly, as we'll as
the largest church in the world. A
few facts regarding IL will suffice. St.
Peters Is built on the site formerly
occupied with the gardens and circus
OF Nero. The first building after
| Nero's time WAS erected In A. d, 326,
and after many beginnings and rs
many failures until 1850, no perman-
eut building was erected, 1t remained
for Michael Angelo to design the inn
mense cupola and other parts of the
building, and the various architects
that succeeded him to complete it,
The building took l76 years, and cost
was t50, 900 600. ltcovers 100000 so. #.
and It costs 800 900 a year TO keep it
UP. The height from the floor to the
highest point OF the dome is 4i0 feet;
the extreme length is 6l3 feet and the
breadth All feet. There are 80 chapels
and affairs, in each of which are the
most beautiful nosaics In existence,
representing Scriptural scenes, etc,
In the construction OF some OF these
pictures 5000 different shades Of
glass are used, and 1t takes 20 years
l to complete. These mosaics are all