much more rural; the hills become mountains; the inhabitants, of courfe, influenced
by the fituation, appear in a more natural ftate, and are eonfequently better and
liappicr. This changc increafes as one approaches the romantic valleys of Polieclla,
Paltena, and Chiampo.
THE provinces of Padua and Verona made formerly part of the kingdom of Lombardy.
The city of Verona, which is feated on the river Adige, or Athefis, is very ancient,
fince it is faid to have been buik by the Euganei and Rha:ti, and to have been afterwards
one of the twelve cities which the Etrurians poflefled beyond the Apennines, till
they were driven from thence by the Cenomani. It is badly built, and its population
does not exceed fifty thoufand inhabitants. The fituation is particularly pleafant, in
the midft of a charming plain, and watered by the Adige, which divides the city
nearly in two equal parts. One may take water at Verona for Venice in boats or
barges, rendered convenient for that purpofe, and where one meets with every neceflary
accommodation for fo ihort a voyage, which is generally accompliüied in three days.
From its vicinity to the mountains, being nearly at the foot of the Alps,
ferene and liealtliy.
ALTHOUGH the grcateft part of this province is not only mountainous, but filled with
romantic and cxtenfive valleys; yet the foil is particularly rich, and- well cultivated;
for it amply furniihes tiie inhabitants with every luxury as well as neceíTary produdion.
I SHALL not dwell on the origin of the city of Verona, only obferving, that after
many changes of government, it was forced, in imitation of Padua and Vicenza to
fubmit to the Venetians, and I lhall content myfelf with adding, that both arts and
fcienccs flouriOied in that city long before the decline of the Roman Empire; fince
Pliny the Elder, a native of Verona, lived in the time of Auguftus, fifty-five years
before Chrift. That city, as well as Padua and Vicenza, formed in the ninth century
d i f t i n d Republics, which were frequently at variance with each other, and engaged in
continual contentions. Their government was at firft democratical, but, foon after,
became monarchical, through the ambition of feveral individuals.
VERONA, as well as thofe cities, during their democracy, appointed a Potefta,
whofe authority was to laft a limited time. (See the work of John Villani, entitled
Chronique dcs difFcrens Peuples du Monde.) This writer afferts, that " the change
" of government was owing to Maftin Efcalius, who being eleñcd in the thirteenth
" century Potefta to the Republic, gained fufiicicnt influence to add the title
" of Perpetual Captain, which privilege remained in his family till the fifteenth
" century, when the defcendants of this new Sovereign, taking advantage of their
" power and authority, became fo many petty tyrants, as cruel and blood-thirfty as
" Ezzelinxis
T H E RH^ffiTiAN ALPS. 21
" Ezzelinus could poffibly be at Padua : but Maftin the Third, adding every fpecies of
.. cruelty to his tyrannic difpofition, obliged the Veronefe and the Vicentini to throw
« off the yoke, and feek the protedtion of the Venetians, who have always treated
" them with the greateft lenity."
THE government of Verona is adminiftered by a Potefta, or Major, and a Capitaneo:
the fixft for civil, and the fécond for military affairs. They are both fcnt by the
Venetians.
THE eity of Verona was formerly well fortified; and it was one of the Srft in
Italy which made ufe of battions, although they, as well as their curtains and ravelins,
are at prefent in a ruinous condition.
IT is guarded by two forts; the one called St. Pietro, and the other St. FcUce, which
ate alfo nearly in ruins. The firft, which is fituated on much higher ground than St.
Fehce, commands an cxtenfive view of the adjacent country, the courfe of the Adige,
and the Tridentine Alps.
FBW cities of Italy, except Rome =nd Naples, contain a greater variety of antiquities
than Verona. At the foot of the caftle of St. Pietro arc the ruins of three triumphal
arches, which arc not fo much effaced but that one may perfeflly perceive their different
orders. The firft I took to be Corinthian, the fécond Compofitc, and the third Tufcan.
They were all three buUt by Vitruvius. There is a third caftle called Caftello Vecchio,
fituated on the banks of the Adige.
THE Mufeum contains many remahis of antiquity, military pillars, maufoleums,
and tripi, with feveral curious infcriptions in various languages. Oriental, Greek, Latin,
Etrufcan, and others. They are mdebted to the celebrated Marquis of Mallei for his
liberality in enlarging this valuable colleaion, as alfo for the care and attention with
which it is preferved.
AT no great diftance from St. Maria Antica, which is an ancient church, are fome
Gothic maufoleums erefled for the family of Efcalius, who was their firft Potefta; but
not for Scaliger, as fome writers have aflerted, who was an hiftorian in the reign
of Francis the Firft, 1528. In the letters of naturalization, which were granted him
by that Prince, there is not the leaft mention of his being a defcendant of the family
of Efcalius, which would not certainly have been omitted, could he have made any
pretenfions to it.
THE Palazzo della Ragionc, or Town Hall, is a handfome building; but not fo
large as that of Padua.
THERE are five marble ftatues eredted in honour of five of their wife men,
natives of Verona, viz. the poets Catullus and iEmilius Macrus, the Chiofrtnoerilaiunss
)l •