nese, Esther; 597, 605, Titian Duke and Duchess of Urbino; 618, Titian, Madonna ; 626, Titian, Flora; 636, P. Veronese, Crucifixion. A corridor extends from the Uffizi Gallery across the Arno to the Pitti Palace. Along the corridor are interesting Etruscan urns and an admirable collection of original drawings by great masters, among them drawings by Raphael, Michael Angelo, Rubens, Albert Durer, and others.

Besides the two vestibules, three corridors, and hall, already mentioned, this museum contains the following apartments: HALL OF NIOBE, containing the famous figures in marble of NIOBE AND HER CHILDREN, cabinets of modern and antique bronzes in fourteen glass cases; cabinet of Greek and Latin inscriptions; Egyptian monuments, &c., &c.; portraits of painters, chiefly done by themselves, in two large apart ments; cabinets with pictures of the Venetian, French, Flemish, Dutch, Italian, and Tuscan schools; cabinet of the hermaphrodite, and cabinets of gems, &c.; in all, two vestibules, three corridors, two halls, and twelve cabinets. The passage, built by the Medici to connect the Pitti Palace with the Pal. della Signoria, is an additional gallery of art, and forms a delightful walk, especially in rainy weather. It has numerous and valuable sketches of the old masters, engravings, and portraits of the Medici family.

PITTI PALACE AND GALLERY.

This palace was commenced by Luca Pitti, à Florentine merchant, in 1440, after the designs of Brunelleschi. Not being able to finish it, he sold it to the wife of Duke Cosmo, and it became the residence of the Me

dici, by whom it was considerably enlarged. The facade, on the Piazza Pitti, is more than 600 feet long. The chief attraction of the palace is its collection of pictures, numbering about 500, "not one of which is inferior, and many of which are works of the very highest merit." Catalogues are to be found in each of the rooms for the use of visitors. This gallery boasts several of the best works of Raphael, among which are the celebrated MADONNA DELLA SEGGIOLA, the MA DONNA DEL BALDACHINO, Madonna del Granduca, and the portrait of Pope Julius II. It contains also Titian's Bella di Tiziano, and Murillo's famous MADONNA. In the Hall of Flora is Canova's celebrated statue of Venus.

The Academia della Belle Arti (open from 9 to 3, except on Sundays) contains an extensive collection of pictures and designs, interesting as showing the development of art in Tuscany. It is third in value among the collections of Florence.

In the Via Ricasoli, close by, is the Government manufactory of Florentine mosaics.

The MUSEO NAZIONALE is a collection recently formed to illustrate the history of medieval and modern culture in Italy. It is in the palace called IL BARGELLO, close to the Piazza S. Firenze. Admission, 1 franc; on Sundays, gratis.

The House of Michael Angelo is No. 49, in the Via Ghibellina. It merits a visit on account of the designs and other reminiscences of the great master, which are shown here. (Admission daily, from 10 to three. A small fee is expected.) Among other objects shown, which formerly belonged to Michael Angelo, are his writing-table, sword, cane, and slippers.

The house once occupied by Galileo is in the Via Costa, No. 359. Benvenuto Cellini died in the house No. 38, Via della Pergola.

There are several theatres in Florence, the largest of which is Della Pergola, for operas and ballet, with seats for 2,000 persons. There are several open-air theatres.

The Arno is crossed by six BRIDGES, besides the two modern suspension bridges at the extremities of the city. The oldest is the Ponte alle Grazie, built in 1835. The next below it is the Ponte Vecchio, which is covered with shops, mostly of goldsmiths. Above is a gallery which serves as a passage between the Uffizi and Pitti palaces. Next is the Ponte di Sta Trinita, built in 1559, and remarkable for its elegance. The next bridge is Ponte alle Carraja, built in 1557. The principal PLACES are: Piazza della Signoria, formerly Granduca, the busiest part of Florence. In it is the Palazzo Vecchio, once the seat of government, and the residence of Cosmo I. At the north corner is the brazen lion known as Il Marzocco. Close by are a fountain with Neptune and Tritons, and the equestrian statue of Cosmo I. by John of Bologna. At each side of the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio are statues, one the celebrated David by Michael Angelo, and Hercules and Cacus by Bandinelli. On the south of the Piazza is the Loggia de' Lanzi, erected in 1375,so called because it was the guard house of the lancers in the reign of Cosmo I. Beneath the arches on the right is the marble group, the "Rape of the Sabines," by John of Bologna; on the left the bronze group, "PERSEUS WITH THE HEAD OF MEDUSA," by Benvenuto Cellini; beyond is the "Rape of Polyxena," by Fedi, erected in

1866. In the centre a warrior supporting a dead man, supposed to represent Ajax; at the back are 6antique female statues, brought from Rome; a bronze group of "Judith with the head of Holofernes," by Donatello; and Hercules Slaying the Centaur," by John of Bologna.

Adjacent to the Loggia de' Lanzi is the Mint. Near it is the Portico degli Uffizi, the internal niches of which are adorned with statues in marble of distinguished Tuscans.

The Piazza della SS. Annunziata is a beautiful space adorned with porticoes. Upon it are the church of SS. Annunziata and the Foundling Hospital. In the centre is the equestrian statue of Ferdinand I. by John of Bologna. In the Piazza Santa Croce is the STATUE OF DANTE by Pazzi. was inaugurated in 1865. statue is 18 ft. high, the pedestal 22 ft. The latter is adorned with four reliefs representing scenes from the Divina Comedia. At the corners are four lions, and around the base are the arms of the principal Italian cities.

It

The

Immediately behind, and extending south-west from the Palazzo Pitti, are the BOBOLI GARDENS, about 14 miles in circumference, having the city wall for their boundary on the south. They command a series of charming views of Florence. (Open to the public on Sundays and Thursdays, noon to dusk.)

The CASCINE is the Bois de Boulogne of Florence. It is on the west side of the city, and is reached by the lung'Arno.

The heights around Florence afford many fine views of the city and environs. One of the favourite promenades is the VIALE DEI COLLE, a road which goes to the heights from the Porta Romana, the southern gate of Florence, and along the slopes of

S. Miniato, and descends to the river, terminating at the Ponte di Ferro, near the Porta S. Nicolo, in the south-eastern part of the city. The road is called Viale Macchiavelli from the Porta Romana to the Piazzale Galilei, and thence the Viale Galilei. It is bordered by fine grounds, and affords magnificent views. The view from the Piazzale Michel Angelo is charming.

San Miniato may be reached by carriage in less than half an hour. The church of S. Miniato al Monte is a beautiful edifice, with a facade incrusted with mosaics. The interior, with mosaics and some beautiful monuments and the crypt, are well worth a visit.

Bello Sguardo, a little southwest of Florence, should be visited for its delightful view.

FIESOLE, 3 miles (carriage 7.8 francs), should be visited for the delightful views. Its cathedral is interesting. Parts of the ancient Etruscan wall of the city are visible, and recent excavations have laid bare an ancient Theatre. THE VIEW from the plateau in front of the church of S. Alessandro, over Florence and the country beyond, is very extensive and beautiful.

Florence owes its origin to a colony of Roman soldiers, sent thither by Octavianus after the victory of Perugia, to whom he allotted part of the territory of the colony of Fiesole, established about 40 years before by Sylla. Little more is known of it under the empire, and hardly any remains exist of that period, except some relics of an amphitheatre, and a few inscriptions. Christianity was established here in the third century, and early in the fourth a bishop of Florence attended a council at Rome. In the beginning of the 12th century the city had risen into importance

through the industry and enterprise of its inhabitants, who had now commercial establishments in the Levant, France, and other parts; and had become money changers, money lenders, jewellers, and goldsmiths. In the latter end of the 14th century, the wealthy family of the Albizzi became chief rulers in Florence.

These again were overthrown in 1434 by Cosmo de Medici, a popular citizen and princely merchant, who assumed the first place in the state. On the fall of the republic in the 16th century, a member of a lateral branch of the Medici-the line of Cosmo having become extinct-was placed by Charles V. as Duke of Florence.

The ducal dynasty of Medici continued to rule till the year 1737, when, becoming extinct, they were succeeded by Francis of Lorraine, afterwards Emperor of Germany. From this period the history of Florence merges into that of Tuscany, until its amalgamation with the Kingdom of Italy. Among the illustrious men it has produced, are Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio, Guicciardini, Lorenzo de Medici, Galileo, Michael Angelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Benvenuto Cellini, Andrea del Sarto, Amerigo Vespucci, &c.

"Of all the fairest cities of the earth, None is so fair as Florence. 'Tis a Of purest ray; and what a light broke

gem

forth

ROUTE 174.

FLORENCE TO VENICE, BY BOLOGNA AND PADUA.

(That part of the route between Bologna and Florence is described in Route 173, that part between Padua and Venice, in Route 170.)

From Bologna to Padua, 783 miles. First class, 14.50 francs; second, 11.10 francs; third, 7.95 francs.

FTER quitting Bologna we pass through a fertile but uninteresting country to FERRARA (29 miles), (Hotels: La Stella d'Oro, dell' Europa). This town is situated in a low marshy plain in the delta of the Po, a few miles south of the main branch of that river.

It is large and well built, with spacious and regular streets; it is enclosed by a wall, and is defended by a citadel regularly fortified.

In the centre of the city is a castle flanked with towers and surrounded by wet ditches, which was once the residence of the dukes, and afterwards that of the Papal legate. It was subsequently garrisoned by Austria till 1859. Ferrara, in the middle ages, was the great commercial emporium of Italy, and the seat of a court renowned throughout Europe; but, though retaining many traces of its former grandeur, it has long been falling into decay; the staircases of many of its noble palaces are overrun with ivy, while others are without either doors or windows.

Its ecclesiastical edifices, which

are very numerous, and of which the churches of Santa Maria degl' Angeli and of San Benedetto are the most remarkable in point of architecture, are rich in paintFerrara and Bologna schools. ings by the great masters of the

The University, founded in 1264, is in high repute as a school of medicine and jurisprudence, and is attended by about 300 students. It has an excellent library.

The house in which Ariosto was educated, and that in which he lived during his latter years, and known by the names respectively of the Casa degli Ariostei and the Casa d'Ariosto, are shown to strangers. The latter is now national property, and is ranked among the national monuments.

Another object of interest is the cell in the Hospital of St Anna, in which Tasso was imprisoned.

The house occupied by the author of the Pastor Fido-the Casa Guarini-is still inhabited by the marquises of that name.

In 1849 the Austrians took possession of the town, but were compelled to abandon it at the commencement of the Italian campaign in June 1859.

In April 1860, Ferrara, with the state of which it is capital, was formally annexed to the kingdom of Italy under Victor Emmanuel.

Leaving Ferrara we proceed to Ponte Lagoscuro (32 miles), a place of importance as being the chief port on the lower Po. We here cross the Po, over a long wooden bridge, and reach Santa Maria Maddalena (37 miles), formerly the Austrian frontier station. Passing some other places, we reach ROVIGO (51 miles), (Hotel: La Corona Ferrea). The Duomo possesses no architectural details or works of art of any interest. In the Piazzi Maggiore is a column upon which the Lion of St Mark formerly