On the east bank, a little beyond the village of Blevio, is the villa Taglioni, with a Swiss cottage, formerly the property of that celebrated danseuse. A little way beyond Torno, on the east bank, is the villa Pliniana, at the end of a bay and at the entrance of a narrow gorge. It is a gloomy edifice, now the property of the Princess Belgiojoso. Behind it is the celebrated intermittent fountain described by the younger Pliny. Tremezzo is passed on the left, west bank, and soon Cadenabbia is reached. Just before landing the beautiful Villa Carlotta is passed.

Opposite Cadenabbia, and at the angle formed by the branches of Como and Lecco, is BELLAGIO (Hotels: see "HOTEL LIST.") The scenery here is exceedingly beautiful. Bellagio is regarded, in fact, as the most delightful point on the Italian lakes. Its views extend in every direction, while those from Cadenabbia, its only rival, are in one direction only. The open and airy position of Bellagio on the point of

division between the two lakes renders it particularly cool and airy, in contrast with Cadenabbia, which, from its sheltered position, is at certain hours of the day oppressively hot.

On the hill above Bellagio is the VILLA SERBELLONI, the views from the grounds of which are the finest on the lake. Near by is the Villa Melzi. In the interior are several works by Canova.

The garden (fee, 50 c.) has magnificent magnolias, camellias, aloes, and other tropical plants. Opposite Bellagio, close to Cadenabbia, is the Villa Carlotta, with small but beautiful gardens. The interior contains the famous Cupid and Psyche of Canova, and Thorwaldsen's relief, "The Triumph of Alexander," said to have

cost £15,000. (Fee, 1 fr. each person.) The most beautiful position at Bellagio is that occupied by the new Grand Hotel. The views from its apartments and terraces are very fine.

Four miles beyond Bellagio, on the west bank, is MENAGGIO (Hotel: Victoria), from which there is a good carriage road, six miles, to Porlezza on Lake Lugano. Beyond this point there are fewer villas, and the shores are less interesting. At Colico, which is the last point at which the steamers land, commences the route to Coire, by way of Chiavenna and the Splugen Pass, and that to the Maloja and Stelvio Passes.

ROUTE 170.

MILAN TO VENICE.

178 miles; 1st class, 41.40 francs; 2nd, 30.15 francs; 3rd, 17·90 francs.

WV

E pass through fertile meadow-lands for a considerable distance, and reach Cassano (161 miles), situated on the Adda. A considerable business is done here in the manufacture of silk. At Treviglio (20 miles) a line goes to Caravaggio and Cremona. The country beyond Treviglio abounds in plantations of mulberry trees. We make a gradual ascent to

BERGAMO (31 miles), (Hotel: d'Italia). It consists of the old and the new town. In the former, in the great square called Piazza Garibaldi, is the Palazzo Nuovo, occupied by the municipal offices, and the Palazzo Vecchio, standing upon three Gothic arches, with

sculptured pillars; in front stands a statue of Tasso.

The Public Library is on the first floor of the Palazzo Vecchio. Behind this building is the fine Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, of which the earliest portion is of the 12th century. The interior contains some fine paintings and elaborate wood-carvings. The Duomo is without interest. The Church of Santa Grata has a fine altar-piece, representing the Virgin and several saints. The Church of San Spirito and some others contain good paintings.

There is a Picture Gallery in the Academia Carrera, and a good library in the Broletto, or Town

hall.

Pleasant excursions may be made in the neighbourhood. From Bergamo there is a railway to Lecco.

BRESCIA (63 miles), (Hotel: d'Italia), the Brixia of the Romans, a prosperous city. It contains the ruins of an ancient Roman building, with Corinthian columns, supposed to have been a temple. Within its precincts is the Museo Patrio, containing bronzes and other remains, discovered in making excavations. There are two Cathedrals. The Duomo Vecchio, called the Rotunda, a building of the 9th century, contains some fine paintings. Good paintings and frescoes are also to be found in many of the other churches. The Palazzo della Municipalita is richly decorated with carvings and sculptures. There are several other palaces and galleries worth visiting. The Museo Civico contains a collection of ancient and modern pictures.

Brescia possesses, moreover, a good Library, containing many rare volumes and manuscripts, a curious old Town-hall, and a fine Clock-tower. The Campo Santo is beautifully laid out. Some miles

after leaving Brescia we obtain a view of Monte Chiaro on the right, and soon afterwards reach Lonato (78 miles), beyond which we obtain the first view of the Lago di Garda, and crossing a viaduct arrive at

Desenzano (80 miles), (Hotel: Albergo Reale), situated near the shore of the lake. The Peninsula, or island of Sermione, is covered with groves of olives. It contains an old castle, a church adorned with frescoes, and several Roman remains. The scenery around the lake is varied and beautiful. The lake itself is the largest in Italy, being 35 miles long, and 7 miles broad in the widest part; its greatest depth is 1900 feet.

[From Desenzano an excursion may be made to Solferino, the scene of the great battle fought between the Austrians and the allied forces of the French and Piedmontese, on the 24th of June 1859, in which the latter were victorious. Part of the battle field is in sight of the railway, south.]

The next station is PESCHIERA (90 miles), a strongly fortified place near the lake. [Steamers in five hours to RIVA (Hotel: Sole d'Oro), at the head of the lake; a charming excursion. Riva is in the Tyrol, and is an Austrian fortress. The environs are very beautiful. See Route 156.]

Passing Castel Nuovo, a village burned by the Austrians in 1848, and Somma Campagna, we reach

see

VERONA (104 miles), (Hotels: "HOTEL LIST.") ARRIVAL.-Omnibuses from the hotels meet the trains.

Cabs. Per course, 75 c.; per hour, 1.50. From or to the railway station, 1 fr.

PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF INTEREST.-Arena and Piazza Bra, Tombs of the Scaligers, Cathedral,

San Anastasia, San Zeno, Piazza de Signori, Piazza delle Erbe. All the sights really worth seeing may be seen by those pressed for time in three or four hours.

It is beautifully situated on the Adige, by which it is divided into two unequal parts. It is a fortress of the first rank, a member of the famous Quadrilateral, and has always been considered a place of strength since it was surrounded with walls by the Emperor Gallienus, A.D. 265. Its modern fortifications are amongst the most extraordinary works of military engineering in Europe. After passing into the hands of the Austrians in 1815, it was greatly strengthened. The interior of the town is worthy of its situation. The Adige sweeps through it in a bold curve, and forms a peninsula, within which the whole of the ancient, and the greater part of the modern city, is enclosed. The river is wide and rapid; the streets, as in almost all continental towns, are narrow, but long, straight, with houses well built, and frequently presenting, in the form of the doors and windows, and in the ornaments of their framework, fine proportions and beautiful workmanship.

This city possesses one of the noblest monuments of Roman magnificence now existing; its AMPHITHEATRE, or Arena, inferior in size, but equal in materials and in solidity to the Coliseum. The external circumference, forming the ornamental part, was destroyed long ago, with the exception of one piece of wall containing three stories of four arches, rising to the height of more than eighty feet. The pilasters and decorations of the outside were Tuscan. Fortyfive ranges of seats, rising from the arena to the top of the second story of outward arches, remain

entire, with the numerous vomitoria and their respective staircases and galleries of communication. The whole is formed of blocks of marble, and presents such a mass of compact solidity as might have defied the influence of time, had not its powers been aided by the more active operations of barbarian destruction. The amphitheatre was built, it is supposed, between the years 81 and 117. Its lesser diameter is 404 feet, that of the arena 146 feet, and the edifice is calculated to have contained 22,000 people. This, as well as many of the other structures of the city, has a handsome appearance, owing to having been built of Verona marble. Amongst other Roman remains are the Porta dei Borsari and the Arco de' Leoni, both fine specimens of ancient Roman gateways. The walls of the town also preserve, in many parts, traces of their Roman origin. In the Piazza Bra, in which is the Arena, are also the old Town Hall, now a barrack, the Teatro Filarmonico and the Museo Lapidario, the latter containing a good collection of Roman statuary, bas reliefs, &c., and the Municipio or city hall. The Piazza dei Signori contains the Palazzo del Consiglio, or Hall of Council. It is a handsome building, adorned with bas-reliefs, and statues of distinguished Veronese, of whom the most renowned is Catullus, the poet. In the centre is a statue of Dante. Adjoining the Piazza dei Signori is the Piazza delle Erbe, or vegetable - market, formerly the Forum. A fountain stands in the centre, said to have been erected by King Berengarius in the 10th century. There is also a clock-tower of the 14th century, and a pillar consisting of a single block of marble, on which the lion of St Mark once stood.