DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62267#0077
'Ch. III. THROUGH ITALY. 67
the wonders of Italy. To these islands, there-
fore, we immediately bent our course.
As we rowed along gently in order to enjoy
the magnificent prospect that opened around us
in every direction, we were informed by the boat-
men that we were then in the widest and deepest
part of the Verbano. Its breadth may be here
about seven or eight miles, w7hile the plummet
descends to the enormous depth of eighteen hun-
dred feet! The imagination takes alarm at the
idea of skimming in a light boat over the surface
of such a tremendous abyss, and even the traveller,
who has been tost in the bay of Biscay, or lifted
on the swell of the ocean, may here eye the
approaching shore with some degree of com-
placency.
We first landed on the Isola Bella, as the first
in fame and the most attractive in appearance.
It derives the epithet of beautiful from the palace
and gardens which cover its surface. The palace
stands on the extremity of the island, and almost
hangs over the water. It contains upon the lower
story a suite of rooms fitted up in the style of
grottos, paved, lined, and even coved with
spars, shells, and party-colored marbles, and in
appearance, delightfully cool and refreshing,
Two magnificent saloons in the principal story
F 2
the wonders of Italy. To these islands, there-
fore, we immediately bent our course.
As we rowed along gently in order to enjoy
the magnificent prospect that opened around us
in every direction, we were informed by the boat-
men that we were then in the widest and deepest
part of the Verbano. Its breadth may be here
about seven or eight miles, w7hile the plummet
descends to the enormous depth of eighteen hun-
dred feet! The imagination takes alarm at the
idea of skimming in a light boat over the surface
of such a tremendous abyss, and even the traveller,
who has been tost in the bay of Biscay, or lifted
on the swell of the ocean, may here eye the
approaching shore with some degree of com-
placency.
We first landed on the Isola Bella, as the first
in fame and the most attractive in appearance.
It derives the epithet of beautiful from the palace
and gardens which cover its surface. The palace
stands on the extremity of the island, and almost
hangs over the water. It contains upon the lower
story a suite of rooms fitted up in the style of
grottos, paved, lined, and even coved with
spars, shells, and party-colored marbles, and in
appearance, delightfully cool and refreshing,
Two magnificent saloons in the principal story
F 2