THE SUNNY SOUTH. 379 



a commanding mountain top, not far beyond Levens. 

 This " high place " is the rendezvous for the people of 

 the mountain districts, as Laghet is for those of the 

 coast. The Madonna di Fenestra stands at the head 

 waters of the Vesubia torrent, beyond the Summer 

 resort of St. Martin Vesubia. This sanctuary is 

 6,000 feet above sea-level, and 2,000 feet below a col, 

 which is crossed by a mule path into Italy- The 

 Madonna dwelling here presides over the Alpine 

 regions : her title is " Queen of Heaven," " Regina 

 Coeli." The cognomen " Fenestra " is derived from a 

 "window" or hole in the rock through which the 

 souls of her devout adherents fly upwards to the 

 empyrean. 



The image in this shrine is supposed to have 

 come down from heaven like that Ephesian one 

 of old. 



Under the chapel are caverns, in which they say 

 that the ice never melts. Though she has her home 

 so near to the perpetual snow, this goddess finds the 

 Winter too severe. Accordingly, she is carried down 

 the valley, with much perspiration, by her faithful 

 worshippers to winter-quarters in the shelter of the 

 village. The spot where this Celestial Virgin reigns 

 throned among the snows is indeed worthy of the 

 " Queen of Heaven." The rustling Pine woods form 

 her sacred grove ; and stationed round, guarding as 

 it were the portals of her temple, stand rugged peaks, 

 inspiring awe and reverence 



"The Alps, 



Those palaces of Nature, whose vast walls 

 Have pinnacled in clouds their snowy scalps, 

 And throned Eternity in icy halls 

 Of cold sublimity." 



