IL ' R
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in
T R A V E L S THROUGH
but even Venice, witli the cities of Padua, Vicenza, Verona, and tlie greateft part of the
Maiituan country; that, had my time permitted, I could have wilhed to have tranfported
myfelf thither, in order to enjoy fuch beautiful fceneryj as alfo to have explored the
mount, and taken its elevation, having with me a barometer conftrufted according to Mr.
De Luc's principles, in his ingenious work entitled " Recherches fur les Modifications
dc rAtmofphere." I fliould at the fame time have added to my eolleflion of plants
the Trifoliura Alpinum, mentioned by Giovanni Pona; as alfo the Ocymoides Mufcofus,
Geranium Alpinum, Longuis Radicatum, &c.: but, being under the neceffity of continuing
my route, I was forced to content myfelf with the information which had been
given me.
I WOULD advife the Naturalift and the inquifitive Traveller not to omit vifiting the lake
of Garda and its environs; as that cxtenfive and beautiful piece of water, with its adjacent
country, forms one of the moil pifturefque and encliancing fcenes I ever beheld.
T o thofe who are defirous of viewing what will fo amply repay their time and trouble,
1 would recommend from Verona the road to Pafchiera, which is fituated at the fouthcrn
extremity of the lake; but, on coming from Germany, the high road to Italy muft be
left near Roveredo; and, after crolTmg the Adige, travellers fhould proceed to Torbole,
a finall town, twelve miles diftant from that city, fituated towards the north.
THE Sarca is the moft conTiderable river which falls into the lake. It defcends with
remarkable rapidity from the great Glaciers, which are nearly fix miles in extent from
north to fouth: they not only furround the mounts Bedole, but even reach the lofty
fummit of Vederette di Lares.
THIS river, after croffing the valiies of Rendena and Arco, runs into the Garda,
between the charming city of Riva and Torbole.
I WILL now finiih my defcription of mount Baldo and lake Garda, fearing that I have
already by this digrelTion trefpafled too much on the patience of my reader, and will
therefore proceed on my route from the fmall wooden crofs near OiTenigo, the laft
village belonging to the ilate of Venice.
SOON after paiTing the limits already mentioned, one enters the bifhopric of Trent,
near Rocca-Pia, where fome Auftrian foldiers are ftationed to guard the defile, prevent
fmuggling, and proted the traveller from a banditti which fometimes infeft that road.
THE firft place, of any confequence in the bifhopric, is Ala, a poft-town, diftant
one hundred and five miles from Venice, well built and extenfive. It is feated on the
river whence it takes its name, which rrms into the Adige, after croffing the fertile
valley of Ronchi. There is alfo at Ala a manufadturc of velvet, much eftccmcd in
Germany. The country is well cultivated, and covered with a variety of fruit and
olive-trees, which ferve to fupport the vines, in great abundance here, and produiflive
of tolerably good wine. FROM
T H E RH^TIAN ALPS. 31
FROM Ala to Roveredo (which is the fécond poft-town after quitting the ftates of
the Republic) the road is particularly pleafant, and follows nearly the courfe of the
Adige, pafiing feveral fciall hamlets fituated on the declivity of tlie mounts Pcrabio
and Zaina.
THE valley of Lagarina continues widening till near the caftle of Seravalej the country,
which is watered by the Adige, and feveral other fmal! rivers, is fertile, romantic,
and well inhabited ; the mulberry tree in particular is remarkable for its fize ; the fcene
changes, as the road draws near to the village of Chizola, fituated at the entrance of
a long narrow plain, at the foot of the mounts Marco, Tovo, and Pra. The country then
becomes defolate, wild, and barren, there being only a few tufts of yews and firs,
which make their appearance from bctwcL-n large pieces of loofe rocks that nearly fill
the plain, and contrad the road, offering a melancholy pidure to the fpeculative
traveller. Thofe ruins are the eiïeds of the fall of the mounts Marco and Tovo;
this defolate fpot, which is called Slavitii de Marco, or, very improperly, the wood of
Roveredo, is as dangerous in the night, as the pafs of Chiufa.
IT is, however, probable, that a wood or foreft may have exifted prior to the overthrow
of thefc mountains, which might be totally deftroyed by the violent concuffion.
I endeavoured to gain fome information as to the time it had happened ; but
without fuccefs, as they affured mc that it was fcarcely a century ago, which does not by
any means appear probable, as ivy, in mafies uncommonly large, has taken polTefiion
of moft of the ftones, and even flirubs feemed to have taken root, which convinced
me the event muft have been at a more remote period.
THOSE rocks are calcareous, of the fpecies Wallerius terms " Calcareus Scintiilans
grifeus," without any petrifaftions of marine fubftances, at leaft I did not find any.
ROVEREDO, which is a fmall town in the bifliopric of Trent, and diftant from Ala
feven Italian miles, is well built, lias a caftlc that commands the town, furrounded
by fortifications: it is alfo the capital of the diftHA whence it takes its name,
which comprehends the valiies of Valarz, Teragnal, and Tranbclen. The inhabitants
fpeak German. One begins at Roveredo to diftinguifti fome little difference, both
morally and phyfically, between the people of this country and the Veronefe; for
althougli they do not inhabit fo rich and cultivated a foil, owing to the country's being
mountainous, yet they are ftronger, more aflive, and more opulent. The town is governed
by a chief niagiftrate or potefta, who is nominated by the biihop of Trent. It is
commercial, having feveral manufaftories, and one in particular of filk, which is much
admired. Its fituation is delightful ; it is watered by the Lena, which lofcs itfelf in the
Adige at a fmall diftance from the town, where feveral valiies meet, and form a fpacious
well-cultivated plain, nearly circular. •
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