DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.847#0163
TARQUINIA. 153
acquainted. A great municipal meeting had just
been held at the Hotel de Ville, where this worthy
magistrate was still to be found. His greeting was
a cordial embrace, and a prompt offer of assistance;
and hastening to the carriage, he conducted us to a
comfortable private house, where some of our party
procured bedrooms, while the rest were invited to
revisit the little inn where we had at first been re-
fused admission, but from whence the already arrived
guests were in some unaccountable manner made
to vanish, and where we were supplied with as many
rooms as we required. After this little episode
concerning the realities of life, we again fell into
our dreams and speculations about ancient Etruria,
and were glad to be guided as to the method of
following them out by the enthusiasm and kindness
of Signor Avolta, in whom centres the rarest union
of essential requisites which a cicerone can possess ;
thorough acquaintance with his subject, a warm
imagination, unweared energy of mind and activity
of body, the most perfect cordiality of disposition,
and polite and gentlemanly attention. He left us
to repose after the fatigues of the day and the scram-
ble of the night, and arranged for us a plan of sight-
seeing during the next few days, which enabled us
to visit thoroughly the sites of Tarquinia, Tuscania.
and Vulci.
When Etruria was finally reduced under the yoke
of the Roman commonwealth, Tarquinia shared the
fate of Veii, Caere, and other great cities, and, stript.
of independence, its importance soon dwindled
h 5
acquainted. A great municipal meeting had just
been held at the Hotel de Ville, where this worthy
magistrate was still to be found. His greeting was
a cordial embrace, and a prompt offer of assistance;
and hastening to the carriage, he conducted us to a
comfortable private house, where some of our party
procured bedrooms, while the rest were invited to
revisit the little inn where we had at first been re-
fused admission, but from whence the already arrived
guests were in some unaccountable manner made
to vanish, and where we were supplied with as many
rooms as we required. After this little episode
concerning the realities of life, we again fell into
our dreams and speculations about ancient Etruria,
and were glad to be guided as to the method of
following them out by the enthusiasm and kindness
of Signor Avolta, in whom centres the rarest union
of essential requisites which a cicerone can possess ;
thorough acquaintance with his subject, a warm
imagination, unweared energy of mind and activity
of body, the most perfect cordiality of disposition,
and polite and gentlemanly attention. He left us
to repose after the fatigues of the day and the scram-
ble of the night, and arranged for us a plan of sight-
seeing during the next few days, which enabled us
to visit thoroughly the sites of Tarquinia, Tuscania.
and Vulci.
When Etruria was finally reduced under the yoke
of the Roman commonwealth, Tarquinia shared the
fate of Veii, Caere, and other great cities, and, stript.
of independence, its importance soon dwindled
h 5