Eustace, John Cretwode: A classical tour through Italy An. MDCCCII (Vol. 3): 3. ed., rev. and enl (London: J. Mawman, 1815)

122

CLASSICAL TOUR

Ch. IV.

course to the principal squares and ornamental
building’s, all of which were lighted up with a
profusion of lamps, arranged in such a manner as
to shew the form and ornaments of each edifice
to the best advantage. In illuminations both the
French and Italians surpass us; andon this occa-
sion the Neapolitans, I thought, shewed more
taste and magnificence than I had witnessed be-
fore in any country. The most splendid, and to
us the most novel object was the Carthusian Ab-
bey of San Martino, which stands on the same
hill as the fortress St. Elmo. The regularity of
this edifice, its magnitude, and its elevated situa-
tion, adapt it in a peculiar manner to the display
of well combined lights, and shew off to advan-
tage the whole plan of a regular illumination.
This abbey is perhaps the most beautiful site in
the vicinity of Naples ; it stands so high, and is
placed at the same time in so central a point that
it commands the whole city, which spreads im-
mediately under it, the bay with all its borders,
islands, and windings, Mount Posilypo, and the
promontory of Misenus on one side; and on the
other Mount Vesuvius, and the promontory of
Surrentum ; a view that might charm solitude
itself, if the tediousness of ever-during solitude
was susceptible of any charm.
When the immense front of this edifice is ilia-
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