INTERIOR (When closed ring at the door to the right). 2nd chapel on the right, stained glass designed by Francia, Madonna and the Saviour; in the window of the last chapel on the right, John the Baptist, by the same. Above the high-altar a figure of Christ, and at the sides Madonna and Angel of the Annunciation, by Lor. Costa (1499). At the 3rd altar on the left, G. M. Crespi, St. Nepomuk. From the end of the Strada Castiglione (comp. Pl. F, 7), the tramway No. 12 (p. 469) ascends in 5 min. to San Michele in Bosco (440 ft.), an Olivetan monastery dating from 1437 (suppressed in 1797), now an Orthopedic Institute. From the front of the church fine view of Bologna and the plain. To visit the interior, apply to the 'Dimostratore' (custodian) to the right of the church (fee 11⁄2 fr.). The church, rebuilt after 1514, has a fine portal by Bald. Peruzzi (1523); the aisleless interior contains remains of frescoes by Bagnacavallo and others. In the cloisters are scanty remains of frescoes by the Caracci and their pupils, from the history of SS. Benedict, Cecilia, and Valerian. At the crossing of the roads near San Michele lies the Villa Revedin, which is shown in the absence of the proprietor; its grounds command charming views. A few paces from the tramway terminus in the Strada Castiglione the steep Via del Monte (Pl. D, C, 7) ascends to the (14 hr.) Villa Mezzaratta (590 ft.; fine views; adm. free). Close by is the little church of Sant' Apollonia, containing Bolognese frescocs of the 14th cent. (closed). About 11/4 M. outside the former PORTA SANT' ISaia (Pl. A, 4), to the W. of the town, on the branch of the arcade leading to Meloncello (see below), is situated the Certosa (formerly a Carthusian monastery), founded in 1333, and consecrated in 1801 as a Campo Santo. Since 1869 the cemetery has been enlarged by the addition of new cloisters and magnificent colonnades. Open daily 8-6 (in winter 9-4). The entrance is on the E. side, 3 min. from the station of the electric tramway No. 5 (p. 469); guide desirable; 1/2-1 fr. to the custodian. The CHURCH Contains paintings by Elisabetta Sirani (p. 478) and Bart. Cesi and carved stalls of 1539 and 1611. At the beginning of the CLOISTERS are ancient tombstones from suppressed churches, arranged according to centuries. Then, modern monuments, including many illustrious names such as those of the philologist Gaspare Garatoni (d. 1817), Clotilda Tambroni (d. 1817; p. 471), and Giosuè Carducci (d. 1907; p. 482). The monument of Letizia Murat Pepoli (1802-59), with a statue of her father Joachim Murat, King of Naples ('propugnatore dell' italica indipendenza'), was executed by Vinc. Vela. A rotunda here contains the busts of celebrated professors: Mezzofanti, Galvani, Costa, Mattei (teacher of Rossini), and others. Near by is the Forno Crematorio (for burning the dead). On the fortified Monte della Guardia, an eminence 3 M. to the S.W. of the PORta Saragozza (Pl. A, 6), rises the handsome pilgrimage-church of the Madonna di San Luca (940 ft.), erected by C. Fr. Dotti in 1723 et seq., and so called from an ancient picture of the Virgin, ascribed to St. Luke and brought from Constantinople in 1160. The hill is ascended in about 3/4 hr. by an Arcade, or Porticus, 2 M. in length, consisting of 666 arches with numerous chapels, constructed in 1674-1739. This begins a short way beyond the gate and from the beautiful Arco del Meloncello (tramways, see p. 469), designed by Franc. Bibiena, sends a branch, added in 1811, to the Campo Santo (p. 489). A carriage-road (cab ca. 10 fr., bargain necessary) also ascends to the top of the hill, through the valley of the Rio Ravone, and then in a wide curve. The *View, particularly from the S. ascent to the portal of the church and from the dome, now used as an observatory (staircase from the roof of the church; adm. 30 c.), is remarkably fine and extends from the Apennines to the Adriatic. In very clear weather the Alps are visible. The HIGHROAD FROM BOLOGNA TO FLORENCE (65 M.; motor-omn. to San Piero a Sieve), constructed in 1762, leaving the former city by the Porta Santo Stefano (Pl. H, 7), leads through the valley of the Savena to (91 M.) Pianoro, and thence ascends viâ Livergnano, Sabbiuno, (181 M.) Loiano (2360 ft.), and (23 M.) Monghidoro (2705 ft.; inn) to the (28 M.) Passo della Raticosa (3175 ft.). It then leads through the upper valley of the Santerno to (281/2 M.) Pietramala (2855 ft.; a little to the E. of which are the subterranean fires known as the Fuochi di Pietramala) and along the E. slopes of the Monte Beni (4124 ft.) to (30 M.) La Mazzetta (Hôt. Montebeni Quisisana, P. 5-7 fr.) and (32 M.) Covigliaio (2860 ft.; Gr. Alb. Covigliaio, P. 8-10 fr., two summer-resorts of the Florentines, at the base of the Sasso di Castro (4190 ft.). Thence we cross the (361/2 M.) Passo della Futa (2960 ft.) and descend the valley of the Sieve to San Piero a Sieve (p. 507). [This point is reached also by another road, diverging a little before Covigliaio and leading viâ Firenzuola (1385 ft.; Alb. Quisisana), the pass of Il Giogo (2885 ft.), and Scarperia.] From San Piero the road follows a hilly course vià (56 M.) Vaglia (p. 508) and Pratolino (p. 673) to (65 M.) Florence (p. 545). A BRANCH-LINE (41 M. in 3-3/4 hrs.) runs to the N.W. from Bologna to Revere, viâ (26 M.) San Felice sul Panaro (p. 455), (301⁄2 M.) Mirandola (comp. p. 455), and (37 M.) Poggio Rusco (p. 322). 64. From Bologna to Florence viâ Pistoia. 821 M. RAILWAY. Train de luxe' (Egyptian Express from Berlin, p. 22) in 312 hrs. (fare 23 fr.); 'lightning express' (dining-car) in 3-3/4 hrs. or ordinary express in ca. 312 hrs. (17 fr., 11 fr. 90, 7 fr. 75 c.); slow train in 43/4-5/4 hrs. (15 fr. 45, 10 fr. 80, 6 fr. 95 c.). The Berlin to Naples and Vienna to Rome expresses (pp. 22, 30) run viâ Faenza (R. 66). This is a boldly-constructed line, with fine views of the valleys and ravines of the Apennines (generally to the left) and of the rich plain of Tuscany. Bologna, see p. 468. - The train crosses the Reno (p. 468) and follows the left bank, near the Monte della Guardia (p.489). On an island in the Reno, not far from Bologna, the Second Triumvirate was concerted by Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus, in 43 B.C. 3 M. Borgo Panigale. Near (6 M.) Casalecchio di Reno the army of Giovanni I. Bentivoglio was defeated by Gian Galeazzo Visconti in 1402, and in 1511 that of Pope Julius II., under the Duke of Urbino, by the French. Steam-tramway, see p. 469. The valley of the Reno contracts. - 12 M. Sasso (420 ft.). A picturesque HIGHROAD leads from Sasso over the Apennines to (49 M.) Prato (motor-diligence starting from Casalecchio). The road at first ascends to the S. in the valley of the small river Setta, from which a subterranean aqueduct, constructed by Augustus and restored in 1881, leads to Bologna. The chief places on the road are (7 M.) Vado (495 ft.), Lagaro (1712 M.; 1310 ft.), in the valley of the Brasimone, and (25 M.) Castiglione dei Pépoli (2265 ft.; *Stabilimento Ruggeri, P. 7-10 fr., fashionable, open June-Aug.), at the foot of the wooded Monte Gatta (3800 ft.). Thence we ascend to the (261/2 M.) Serra (2625 ft.), the crest of the ridge. On the S. side, on the ridge of the Montepiano, lies the village of (3012 M.) Montepiano (2285 ft.; Alb.-Pens. Alleanza, Alb.Pens. Gemmi, both good, P. incl. wine 6-8 fr.; Alb. Appennino; Pens. Firenze), a favourite summer-resort in a wooded neighbourhood. The road then descends in many windings into the valley of the Fiumenta, and reaches San Quirico di Vernio (885 ft.; Alb. della Posta), usually known as Vernio, in a picturesque situation. Below Vernio begins the beautiful and industrious Val di Bisenzio, in which the road passes (361/2 M.) Mercatale (810 ft.; rustic inn), Vaiano (43 M.; 540 ft.), Briglia, Santa Lucia (near a gorge known as Il Cavalciotto), and Coiano (250 ft.). 49 M. Prato, see p. 542. 17 M. Marzabotto, with the Villa Aria (important art-collections; adm.-tickets at the Casa Aria, p. 480) and the remains of the Etruscan town and necropolis of Misa. Between this point and Pracchia there are 22 tunnels. At (24 M.) Vergato the valley expands. 29 M. Riola; on the left rise the steep rocky peaks of Mte. Ovolo and Mte. Vigese (3580 ft.); a landslip from the latter destroyed the village of Vigo in 1851. On the right bank of the Reno is the prettily situated castle of Savignano. -- 361⁄2 M. Bagni della Porretta (1155 ft.; Hôtel Helvetia, P. 12-16 fr., good, Hôt. Pallazzina, Gr.-Hôt. Porretta, all open June-Sept. only; Hôt.-Pens. Brunetti; Alb. di Roma, with restaurant, R. 2-4 fr.; Pens. Morandi), a village with frequented sulphurous springs and baths. Attractive walks to the (1⁄4 hr.) Madonna del Ponte and to (4 hrs.) Pracchia. The narrow and romantic ravine of the Reno above Porretta abounds in waterfalls, particularly in spring. 46 M. Pracchia (2020 ft.; *Albergo Appennino, R. 3-5, P., incl. wine, 8-12 fr.; Alb. Fiornovelli, similar charges, well spoken of; Alb. Orticaia, plain), the highest point on the line, a pleasureresort both in summer and in winter. At Pontepetri (2180 ft.), 134 M. to the S.W. of Pracchia, the road from Bologna joins the old Apennine road (p. 455) from Modena to Pistoia (motor-diligence from Pracchia to Pievepelago). From the latter, beyond Pontepetri in the direction of Modena, a branch leads to the right (diligence from Pracchia twice daily in 11/2 hr.) to Maresca (2885 ft.; Alb.Pens. Villa Bizzarri, P. 6-7 fr., light extra, good; Pens. Teso; Pens. Girard), a summer-resort prettily situated among woods at the foot of Monte Teso and the starting-point for the ascents of the Monte Uccelliera (5950 ft.) and the Corno alle Scale (6380 ft.). The descent from the latter may be made to Gavinana (see below) or via the Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi and past the little Lago Scaffaiolo (5855 ft.) to San Marcello or Cutigliano (p. 492). The branch-road goes on to (33/4 M.) Bardalone (2695 ft.), a small summer-resort at the N. base of the Piano Pratale or Le Lari (3940 ft.; view of Pistoia, Prato, and Florence), whence a carriage-road leads to the summer-resort of Gavinana (2665 ft.; Alb. Ferruccio; Posta; Pens. |