Italy from the Alps to Mount Etna . nding amagnificent view over the town and the sea. The town truly belongs to the sea; and towards the sea all her energies areconcentrated. From the long tongue of land, at whose extremity a light-house nowstands, the town was anciently called Zancle. Its inhabitants have proudly given it thename of La nobile as Genoa, its north Italian sister, is called La superba Messinais proud of her history, which goes back to a remote antiquity. She flourished when A VOYAGE ROUND THE ISLAND. 459 the Hellenes were lords here ; and even the conquering- Romans admitted he
Italy from the Alps to Mount Etna . nding amagnificent view over the town and the sea. The town truly belongs to the sea; and towards the sea all her energies areconcentrated. From the long tongue of land, at whose extremity a light-house nowstands, the town was anciently called Zancle. Its inhabitants have proudly given it thename of La nobile as Genoa, its north Italian sister, is called La superba Messinais proud of her history, which goes back to a remote antiquity. She flourished when A VOYAGE ROUND THE ISLAND. 459 the Hellenes were lords here ; and even the conquering- Romans admitted her to be thesecond city in the island. She was a favourite child of the Arabs, who decked her withthe richest architecture after their manner. The Normans came, and Messina was thejewel in their rulers crown. All the nations wooed the enchanting sea-siren, and so shegrew spoilt, capricious, and haughty, and at the present day is somewhat unwilling toabandon her bridal finery for the work-a-day garb of a good housewife. But La nobile. RUINS OF THE TEMPLE OF HERCULES, NEAR GIRGENTI. must learn to become a bourgeoise, and then a fair future lies before her. Her populationis prouder and more dignified than that of Naples. Palermo has perhaps understood her modern mission better than Messina, and hasbeen labouring actively for some years past to render herself more and more worthy of truly her efforts are seconded by the sea and the land, the mountain and the plain,the sky and the soil. The plain, enclosed by a semi-circle of hills, is named from itssingular form and luxuriant fertility, the Conca dOro, the Golden Shell : and within thisshell lies Palermo, like a splendid pearl. Pernormus, the haven of havens, unites withinitself everything needful to become a Garden of Eden, if man would but have it so. Tothe eye, however, it must ever appear a landscape paradise. Comparisons are odious ;and if you gaze at Naples from the sea, or look from its shore across at Vesuvius, or the
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Keywords: ., bookauthorcavagnasangiulianidig, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870
