File:After-thoughts of foreign travel - in historic lands and capital cities (1882) (14777373461).jpg

Identifier: afterthoughtsoff00mcol (find matches)
Title: After-thoughts of foreign travel : in historic lands and capital cities
Year: 1882 (1880s)
Authors: M'Collester, Sullivan Holman, b. 1826
Subjects: Europe -- Description and travel Middle East -- Description and travel
Publisher: Boston : D. dLothrop and Co.
Contributing Library: University of Connecticut Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Connecticut Libraries

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ll reflect the paintings of faithful andsainted characters. IX. NAPLES AND ITS BURIED CITIES. STAPLES and its bay once seen live in■^ ^ memory like a fairy dream, or an en-chanting vision. The Italians say, The Bayof Naples is a piece of Paradise let fall to theearth. Its fascinating beauties almost justifythe statement. Sailing into the bay, the island of Capri firstgreets the eye, rising from the mirror-surfacesea like a lofty nymph, reflecting all the daylong varying shadows and exquisite beauties.Looking upon it now, one is disposed to ques-tion the statement of mythology saying, Itwas once the haunt of the most cruel tyrant.In front, not far off, stands Vesuvius with hiscrest of smoke waving as a massive plumeabove the steel helmet of a giant warrior. Soonis discovered a fringe of white towns circlingfrom Posilippo on the west to Sorrento on theeast, with Naples in the centre, overtopped bythe castle of St. Elmo. The houses seem torise in quick succession one above another. The
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NAPLES AND ITS BURIED CITIES. 249 hills in the distance are covered with vineyards,olive-trees, and extensive forests. Far off theApennines shoot up their glistening spires intothe sky. Everything is touched with thebalmiest air and the softest light. Ships lyingat anchor and sundry light crafts scatteredabout, complete the fascinating picture. Though the physical is so attractive, still thedeepest interest lies in the historic associations.These excite pagan and Christian memories.They tell us, these lands were once occupied bythe refined Greeks who revelled in art andscience, music and nature, until they were over-come by the Romans; then they passed intothe hands of a succession of intruders, includ-ing Normans, Swabians, Sicilians, Austrians,French, and Spanish Bourbons. Each has leftits peculiar impress, and influence. Accord-ingly, among the people there exists the greatestpossible variety of minds, characters, complex-ions, dispositions, and conditions. Entering the city one ca

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