The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1910-06-16

! r Tally is not SO well known as
III France and Germany for its spas
and watering places. There are
= two reasons for this-frst, the
places are further of and more diff
cult OF access, and, secondly, 1t Is only
of recent years that the medicinal wa
tiers of Italy were rediscovered and in
troduced to the European public. In
the days of the Roman empire. before
the invasion of the barbarians, these
waters were well known and highly
esteemed, but later they fell into dis
use among people who cared little
for water, either for drinking or for
washing. Not the least of the benefits
conferred by renascent Italy is the re-
opening of these springs and health
resorts, which are gradually making
their way to the knowledge of Europe,
and only need to be more widely
known to be as favorite places of re-
sort as the most popular French or
German spas. Salsomaggiore is per.
haps the most frequented of the water.
ing places in northern Italy. for its
medicinal waters have effected some
wonderful cures and, indeed, they are
strong cough to cure anything, If the
healthy visitor may be allowed to
Judge from cursory inspection. The
little town lies on one of the most
northern spurs Of the Apennines, Just
of the line half way between Piacenza
and Parma, and is reached by a light
railway from the station of Borgo San
Domino. 1t is a merry little place,
which has been discovered by the Rus
SLAMS and Germans especially, but
would be very glad to see more Eng
lish visitors. It's bathing establish
ments are quite magnificent and have
the reputation Of having set many ap-
parently hopeless cripples and inva-
lids on their legs again. It is a very
warm spot and rejoices in the Italian
sky In all its beauty and marvellous
depths OF blue.
The other spas of northern Italy are
situated in the southern gorges of the
Alps. The most beautiful of them all
Is San Pellegrino, which is reached by
q winding mountain railway from the
charming little old world city of Der.
gamo. San Pellegrino is so new that
It Is not marked on any but the most
modern maps. Three or four years
ago it was nothing but a mountain
hamlet, only known to the people who
lived close by. It had perhaps some
500 Inhabitants, and lay hidden away
on the banks OF its river, shut in by
mountains and completely out of the
world. Then the famous San Pelle-
grino mineral water was rediscovered
which has now become the fayorite
drink with visitors to northern Italy.
and the value Of its baths was rea.
Lied; monster hotel was built on
the banks of the river, and across the
stream magnificent casino was act
up. The casino has a splendid stair.
case and wonderfully fine rooms. and
1t is quite surprising to find such a
building in little mountain valley. By
the side of the casino a funicular rail.
way runs up to the top of the noun.
tain, and provides beautiful views over
the most southerly ranges of the Aims.
San Peliegrfno is a., ideal place for a
rest cur and we can imagine nothing
more delightful than to be lulled to
sleep by the murmuring of. the noun.
tain stream FLASHING over its stony
bed IN the autumn, before the rains
have swollen It to its winter volume.
.Jtrmione, the "eye of Garda," one Of
the ioyeliest spots on earth, which has
been sung of by poets so far apart as
Catullus and Giuseppe Carducci, has
also its more prosaic side. The spot
Df which Catullus sang:
''Peninsularum, Sirmio. insularumous
ocelle,"
possesses, besides the marvellous beau
ties OF its position on Lake Garda, sui
phur baths Of most penetrating odor.
md 1t 10 said Of potent efficacy. Poetry
and prose are thus harmoniously
but the poetry overcomes the
prose, for one might travel far and
not come upon such a view as that |
ACROSS and up Lake Garda from the |
peninsula of Sirmione, where the
grottos of Catullus mark the |
ute Of the poets villa, to which he re- |
tired with such rapture. There is an
Dther place among the Italian lakes
which must be mentioned, though It ia |
not strictly watering place. and. al |
though 1t is geographically in Italy, It
b politically In Switzerland. BY one
u those strange freaks which possess
Ereat powers wheE they are delimitat-
ng frontiers by treaty. Monte Gene
1850 was included In Switzerland and
not In Italy. It IL absolutely Italian.
but the boundary dips down and
places Lugano and Monte Generoso on
he northern side of the frontier.
Monte Generoso II another restful
llacs. and being mountain Of consid-