The Rivieras (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ...as far as the Estrelles, the grand mountain barriers, with all the orange-clad valleys running up into them, and S. Agnese, rising out of the mists, on its perpendicular clifi'.'----'A I/Vinter at Menfone.' G II. I/Ientz'mz;.cents;lia, wilh Dolceacqua and Bordzgrkera in Italy. Beyond S. Mauro is the gaily painted church of S. Agostino. The village near this is called Latte, the land of milk, from the richness of its soil. Hence we ascend to Ventimzglia--once Albium Intermelium, the capital of the Intermelii, and still the chief fortress between Nice and Genoa, and the place where railway travellers pass the Italian custom-house--which crowns the steep brown precipice with its white walls. It is entered by gates and a drawbridge, closing the narrow pass of the rock. Within, the town runs along a ledge in a picturesque outline of brightly coloured towers, old houses, and deserted convents, while deep down below lies a little port with fishing vessels and some curious isolated rocks. The Cathedral, of which S. Barnabas is said to have been the first bishop, stands on a terrace with a background of snowy mountains, and beside it is the palace of the Lascaris--who ruled Ventimiglia as counts in the Middle Ages--with an open loggia and staircase. On a farther crest of the hill is the yellow-brown romanesque Churck of S. 1llichele, occupying the site of a temple of VENTIMIGLIA 99 Castor and Pollux. It has a fine crypt, and not far off is an interesting ancient baptistery. From the half-dry bed of the river Roya--the Rituba of Pliny and Lucan--there is still a very striking view of the old town and mountains, though, for artistic purposes, it has been spoilt since the old bridge has been replaced by a modern one, with th