DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0539
chap, xxii.] LUCIEN BONAPARTE'S VILLA. 43&
pass the night.1 In the morning we drove back to
Musignano.
The villa is a very plain building, with no pretensions
to external magnificence, very unlike the palazzo of an
Italian prince. It was originally an abbey, giving its
name—La Badia—to the famous bridge, and it retains
much of a gloomy monastic air; or, were it in England,
it would pass for a mad-house. The ponderous gateway
is flanked by Etruscan lions and griffons in stone, and
in the quadrangle within are several similar objects of
antiquity—relies from the Cucumella. We were disap-
pointed of finding the Padre Maurizio within, but were
fortunate enough to meet with a substitute in Signore
Valentini, the son-in-law of the Princess, who received us
courteously, and showed us what vases and other relies
the Princess's cabinet at that time contained. Few, of the
treasures of this unrivalled mine of Etruscan wealth are
retained on the spot. The finest vases are bought by the
Pope for the G-regorian Museum, or find their way into
foreign countries, for the Princess has agents in many
of the capitals of Europe ; and the richest and rarest
articles of gold and jewellery find ready purchasers in
the Cavaliere Campana, and a few other kindred collec-
tors of antique treasures. Thus, while the glories of
Vulcian art adorn so many of the public and private
museums of Europe—scarcely a ray brightens the spot
where they arose.
The few vases in the Princess's cabinet were such as
could not find a ready sale on account of their imperfect
1 Let me caution the traveller against In the latter case, let him, on alighting
passing the night at Canino. By leaving at Mnsignano, send his vehicle on to
Montalto early in the day, he will have Canino to bait the horses, and he can
ample time to visit Musignano, and return follow on foot at his leisure. It is a
the same night, or to push on to Tosca- pleasant walk through the grounds,
nella—the next site of Etruscan interest.
VOL. I. F F
pass the night.1 In the morning we drove back to
Musignano.
The villa is a very plain building, with no pretensions
to external magnificence, very unlike the palazzo of an
Italian prince. It was originally an abbey, giving its
name—La Badia—to the famous bridge, and it retains
much of a gloomy monastic air; or, were it in England,
it would pass for a mad-house. The ponderous gateway
is flanked by Etruscan lions and griffons in stone, and
in the quadrangle within are several similar objects of
antiquity—relies from the Cucumella. We were disap-
pointed of finding the Padre Maurizio within, but were
fortunate enough to meet with a substitute in Signore
Valentini, the son-in-law of the Princess, who received us
courteously, and showed us what vases and other relies
the Princess's cabinet at that time contained. Few, of the
treasures of this unrivalled mine of Etruscan wealth are
retained on the spot. The finest vases are bought by the
Pope for the G-regorian Museum, or find their way into
foreign countries, for the Princess has agents in many
of the capitals of Europe ; and the richest and rarest
articles of gold and jewellery find ready purchasers in
the Cavaliere Campana, and a few other kindred collec-
tors of antique treasures. Thus, while the glories of
Vulcian art adorn so many of the public and private
museums of Europe—scarcely a ray brightens the spot
where they arose.
The few vases in the Princess's cabinet were such as
could not find a ready sale on account of their imperfect
1 Let me caution the traveller against In the latter case, let him, on alighting
passing the night at Canino. By leaving at Mnsignano, send his vehicle on to
Montalto early in the day, he will have Canino to bait the horses, and he can
ample time to visit Musignano, and return follow on foot at his leisure. It is a
the same night, or to push on to Tosca- pleasant walk through the grounds,
nella—the next site of Etruscan interest.
VOL. I. F F