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another south by west. Its area is 61 square miles. The lake, at the point of Belaggio, when about three miles wide, is divided, in an acute angle, into two branches. The wider and larger branch, which is about 18 miles in length, and has no outlet, extends in a south-westerly direction to the town of Como, and retains the name of the Lago-diComo. The view of the lake from this town is confined to a small circular basin surrounded by high hills, and enlivened by villas; but on doubling the low headland of Cernobbio, a very beautiful reach opens up, in which the mountains rise on each side boldly from the water's edge, their ascent covered by a triple plantation of olives, vines, and chesnut trees, and their summits terminating in peaks of varied form and elevation. The southeast branch, 12 miles in length, is called the Lago-di-Lecco, from the town of that name, near which it begins gradually to narrow into the Adda. Owing to the want of an outlet at Como, the waters of that branch are forced to return to the Point of Bellaggio, and are thus subjected to constant interruption, either in their downward or upward course, by the cross influence of the wind; so that one side is frequently excessively agitated, while the other is perfectly calm. From this circumstance, and from the vast height of the bordering mountains, the navigation is rendered uncertain and sometimes dangerous by the violent swells and squalls to which it is particularly liable. Steamboats, however, navigate the lake from one extremity to the other in four or five hours. The depth, according to Eustace, varies from 40 to 600 feet. It deepens rapidly from the edge. In summer the water is higher than at other

snows.

seasons, from the melting of the Throughout its whole extent the banks of the lake are formed of precipitous mountains from 2000 to 3000 feet in height; in some places overhanging the water, in others partially clothed with wood, and studded with hamlets and villas. But a vast extent of the scenery is bare; for the woods, luxuriant and beautiful as they are on the immediate shores of the lake, bear but little proportion to the bordering mountains, where the crags and cliffs, partly from their excessive steepness, partly from the dryness of the soil, and the burning effects of the sun, nourish no vegetable production whatever, but present an aspect of glaring arid whiteness.

On the west bank of the lake, soon after leaving the suburb of Vico, between the villages of Cernobbio and Moltrasio, is the Villa d'Este, long the residence of Queen Caroline, the unfortunate wife of George IV. of England. It is now an hotel called GRAND HOTEL VILLA D'ESTE,* and is connected with the hotel Reine d'Angleterre. It is a favourite resort of tourists. (A beautiful road along the lake from Como to the Villa d'Este, 33 miles.)

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.

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BEFFVCIO MILANE OF COWO

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BELLAGIO, LAKE OF COMO.

GRAND HOTEL BELLAGIO.

One of the finest Hotels in Europe, situated on one of the most beautiful parts of the Lake, and surrounded by a splendid Garden and Park. Superior accommodation. Thirty Sitting Rooms. Saloons. Fine Dining Room, and every comfort combined with moderate charges.

N.B.-The Hotel is patronized by the high class of English and American travellers.

L. BREITSCHMIDT, PROPRIETOR.

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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,

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fact, as one of the most delight. berona 4.

ful points on the Italian lakes, as from its open position between the two lakes, unquestionably commands the finest views on the lake, while those from Cadenabbia, its only rival, are in one direction only.

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 (see Route 99), and that to the Maloja and Stelvio Passes. A railway now runs between Menaggio and Porlezza.

a arrived.

ROUTE 164.

MILAN TO VENICE.

165 miles; 1st class, 29.95 francs;
2nd, 21 francs; 3rd, 15 francs.

At

E pass through fertile meadow-lands for a considerable distance, and reach Cassano (16 miles), situated on the Adda. A considerable business is done here in the manufacture of silk. Treviglio (20 miles) a line goes to Caravaggio and Cremona. The country beyond Treviglio abounds in plantations of mulberry trees. A line also branches off to Bergamo, rejoining the main line at Rorato.

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 Townhall.

Pleasant excursions may be made in the neighbourhood. From Bergamo there is a railway to Lecco. At Rorato (40 miles) is the junction of the Bergamo and Brescia line described above. 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 battlefield 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 151.]

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

see

VERONA (1043 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,

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