DOI chapter:
Chap. II: Herculaneum, Papyri - Torre del Greco - Pompeii; its Theatres, Temple, Porticos, and Villa, general Appearance and Effect - Excursion to the Aqueduct, and Palace of Caserta
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62268#0069
Ch. IL
THROUGH ITALY.
59
a city, noticed frequently in Titus Livius for a
Roman camp, long stationary on the hills above
it: we shortly after skirted Maddaloni, and en-
tered the valley to which it gives its name. This
valley is formed by Mount Tifata on one side,
and on the other by Monte Gazzano, which is
only a branch of the former. It is long and
deep; its sides are rugged, and its appearance
is wild and solitary.
In the midst of this lonely dell, the traveller
is surprised to behold an immense bridge, formed
of a triple row of lofty arches, crossing with gi-
gantic strides from one side to the other. This
bridge forms part of the celebrated aqueduct of
Caserta; it is near two thousand feet in length,
and two hundred in height, and conveys a whole
river of the purest water across the valley. The
stream itself is collected in the neighborhood of
Mount Tabwrnus, and carried sometimes through
mountains, and sometimes over vallies to the
palace; but though the work may in many
places have been more difficult, it is no where
more magnificent than in this valley. In length,
elevation, and effect, it surpasses all similar edi-
fices of modern construction, and may, indeed,
vie with some of the noblest Roman monuments,
The first row consists of nineteen arches, the
second of twenty-seven, and the third of forty»
THROUGH ITALY.
59
a city, noticed frequently in Titus Livius for a
Roman camp, long stationary on the hills above
it: we shortly after skirted Maddaloni, and en-
tered the valley to which it gives its name. This
valley is formed by Mount Tifata on one side,
and on the other by Monte Gazzano, which is
only a branch of the former. It is long and
deep; its sides are rugged, and its appearance
is wild and solitary.
In the midst of this lonely dell, the traveller
is surprised to behold an immense bridge, formed
of a triple row of lofty arches, crossing with gi-
gantic strides from one side to the other. This
bridge forms part of the celebrated aqueduct of
Caserta; it is near two thousand feet in length,
and two hundred in height, and conveys a whole
river of the purest water across the valley. The
stream itself is collected in the neighborhood of
Mount Tabwrnus, and carried sometimes through
mountains, and sometimes over vallies to the
palace; but though the work may in many
places have been more difficult, it is no where
more magnificent than in this valley. In length,
elevation, and effect, it surpasses all similar edi-
fices of modern construction, and may, indeed,
vie with some of the noblest Roman monuments,
The first row consists of nineteen arches, the
second of twenty-seven, and the third of forty»