DOI chapter:
Chap. I: Bay and Castle of Procida - Evening Hymn - Beautiful View, Observations - the Island of Vivara - Ischia, its Mountains, Eruptions, Appearance, and Population - Nisida - Vesuvius
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62268#0028
18
CLASSICAL TOUR
Ch. I.
events on record before them, it is no wonder
that the poets should have placed Typhseus him-
self under this island, and ascribed its convulsive
throes to the agitations of that giant writhing
under his tortures.
The principal feature of Ischia is the mountain
anciently named Epopeus, now for euphony sof-
tened into Epomeo, hut more generally called by
the people Monte San Nicolo. To visit this
mountain was our first business; therefore the
next mornins*, about four o’clock, we mounted
our mules and began the ascent: the road is ex-
tremely steep and craggy, and at length with
much exertion we reached the summit, but found
it so enveloped in clouds, that one of the grand
objects of our excursion, the extensive view which
is said to comprehend almost half the southern
coast of Italy, was nearly lost to us. However,
our disappointment was compensated by the local
knowledge of the country, which our progress up
and round the mountain enabled us to acquire.
The summit is formed of a sort of grey or whitish
lava, in the midst of which the form of the crater
is easily distinguishable. Two hermits and a
soldier inhabit this solitary spot, and occupy
apartments cut out of the solid rock.
This mountain, and indeed the whole island,
CLASSICAL TOUR
Ch. I.
events on record before them, it is no wonder
that the poets should have placed Typhseus him-
self under this island, and ascribed its convulsive
throes to the agitations of that giant writhing
under his tortures.
The principal feature of Ischia is the mountain
anciently named Epopeus, now for euphony sof-
tened into Epomeo, hut more generally called by
the people Monte San Nicolo. To visit this
mountain was our first business; therefore the
next mornins*, about four o’clock, we mounted
our mules and began the ascent: the road is ex-
tremely steep and craggy, and at length with
much exertion we reached the summit, but found
it so enveloped in clouds, that one of the grand
objects of our excursion, the extensive view which
is said to comprehend almost half the southern
coast of Italy, was nearly lost to us. However,
our disappointment was compensated by the local
knowledge of the country, which our progress up
and round the mountain enabled us to acquire.
The summit is formed of a sort of grey or whitish
lava, in the midst of which the form of the crater
is easily distinguishable. Two hermits and a
soldier inhabit this solitary spot, and occupy
apartments cut out of the solid rock.
This mountain, and indeed the whole island,