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 south west 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.

REMA (34 miles) has a cathedral, an ancient castle, and several interesting churches. It is connected with Brescia and Lodi by steam tramways.

is an

CREMONA (61 miles) (Hotels: Sole d'Oro, Italia, both poor) ancient Roman town, dating back to 218 B.C. It has been many times destroyed and restored during the various internecine wars. It is chiefly celebrated for the manufacture of its far famed violins and violas, made by Guanari (1552-80), Amati (1590-1620), and Stradivari (1620-1728). In the Piazza Grande is the Torrazo, 397 feet high, said to be the highest in Italy. It was erected in 1261. The Cathedral dates back to 1107. It is built in the German Lombard style, with a fine facade, ornamented with columns. The interior is enriched with fine frescoes of the Cremona school. Besides the cathedral there are several churches of considerable interest. The principal Palaces are the Pal. S. Secondo, the Pal. Crotti, the Pal. Stanga a S. Vicenzo, and the Pal. Dati, now part of an hospital.

MANTUA (100 miles) (Hotel: Aquila d'Oro) is an ancient town, owing its origin to the Etruscans, and it was for some time the home of Virgil, and also the scene of the labours of Raphael's great pupil, Guilio Romano. The cathedral in the Piazza S. Pietro is a plain edifice of little interest, except for the fine fretted ceiling of its nave. Opposite the cathedral is the old ducal palace of the Corte Reale, which was built by Suido Buonasolsi in 1302, and

afterwards altered and redecorated by Guilio Romano. It contains an interesting series of handsomely decorated and frescoed salons. The other points. of interest are the Castello di Corte, the ancient castle of the Gonzagas, the Museum and Academia della Belle Arti, the Palazzo del Tè, erected by Guilio Romano, containing several of his finest frescoes; Guilio Romano's house, and the fine church of S. Andrea.

ROUTE 169.

FLORENCE TO VENICE, BY BOLOGNA AND PADÚA.

(That part of the route between Bologna and Florence is described in Route 167, that part between Padua and Venice, in Route 164.)

From Bologna to Padua, 78 miles. Express, first class, 15.45 francs; second, 10.85 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 win

dows.

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 paintings by the great masters of the Ferrara and Bologna schools.

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

The Duomo, erected in 1060-70, has a richly sculptured facade. The interior, in the form of a Latin cross, with nave and aisles, contains some fine paintings, and several of the modern stained

glass windows are very fine. Near the Duomo is the ancient church of San Giovanni, a basilica of the 8th or 9th century.

The Palazzo Pubblico contains a small but choice selection of paintings.

[Fifteen miles from Lucca are the BATHS OF LUCCA. Omnibus several times a day in 24 hours, fare 3 francs; carriage with 2 horses, 15 francs. These baths, which are much frequented in summer, are situated in a charming valley which enjoys in the hot season the most agreeable temperature of any part of Tuscany. The name of Baths of Lucca is given to three or four adjoining villages. The best hotels are at Ponte a Serraglio; they are, Pagnini's Hotel de l'Europe et d'Amerique, Hotel de New York, Grand Hotel des Bains. At Bagno alla Villa are the pleasantest private apartments.

Visitors will find here all the usual accompaniments of frequented bathing places. The neighbourhood abounds in pleasant drives.]

Leaving Lucca we pass Ripafratta (50 miles), San Giuliano (58 miles), a much frequented bathing place, and reach PISA. (See Route 172).

ROUTE 171.

BOLOGNA TO RAVENNA.

Distance 53 miles; fares, 1st, 9.50 francs; 2d, 6.70 francs.

are the

HIS route follows the ancient Via Aemilia over a fertile plain, on the right of which Apennines. The important towns on the route are Imola (22 miles), the Forum Cornelii of the Romans. Passing Castel Bolognese, where our line goes off to the east, diverging from the line to Brindisi, we soon reach

RAVENNA (Hotels: Spada d'Oro, S. Marco). PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF INTEREST- -Baptistery, S. Vitale, S. Nazario-e-Celso, S. Mario-in-Cosmedin, Tomb of Dante. This ancient town is situated in an unhealthy plain between the rivers Lamone and Ronco. It was once a seaport, but it is now six miles distant from the sea, with which it is now connected by a canal. It is remarkable for its ancient churches and mosaics, most of them dating from the fifth and sixth centuries. The cathedral, rebuilt in the eighteenth century on the site of a church of the third century, consists of nave and aisles with transepts, a dome in the centre, and a round campanile. In the sacristy is the ivory throne of St Maximian, with bas-reliefs of the fourth and sixth centuries. In the lunette above the entrance to the sacristy is Guido Reni's fresco of "Elijah in the Desert fed by the Angel." In a chapel in the north transept is Guido Reni's "Falling of the Manna."