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Summer Experiences of Rome, Perugia, and Siena, in 1854; And Sketches of the Islands in the Bay of Naples
Summer Experiences of Rome Perugia and Siena in 1854 And Sketches of the Islands in the Bay of Naples Author:J E Westropp General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1856 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: LETTER III. Kome, June 19, 1854. My dear Brother, -- To-day I shall describe to you the festivities and solemnities attendant upon the Corpus Domini at Eome. In France this day is termed the Fete-Dieu. It was established by Pope Urban IV. in the thirteenth century, and is now the greatest solemnity in the Eomish Church. It is a moveable feast, always taking place on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. Wednesday 14th I went with Mrs. C to see the Gallery at the Corsini Palace, in the Traste- vere. There are an immense number of paintings, some very beautiful, but a great many very common-place. We came home to rest and dine, and about half-past four went down 'to St. Peter's. The transept, where the feet are washed in Holy-week, was all prepared with temporary seats and two moveable organs, and at a quarter before six the clergy and choristers came in, and vespers began. The music was very fine, especially the hymn "Pange Lingua Gloriosi," appropriated for this festival, and sung for a week. The music is very peculiar, but very striking, according so well with the sense of the words. There was a large congregation, who left the church at the conclusion of the service, soon after seven. We were obliged to hurry home, being engaged out to tea in the Via Babuino. "We spent a pleasant evening, and Master Eomulus came to escort me home. The next morning, at break of day, cannons fired from the Castle of St. Angelo, church bells rang, and the bustle of passers- by and carriages began as soon as it was light. I had my breakfast soon after six o'clock, and before seven my friends called for me in a carriage....« less