La Verma. 307 



In summer we sometimes made excursions to avoid 

 the heat of Florence. One year we went to Valom- 

 brosa and the convents of La Vernia, and Camaldoli, 

 which are now suppressed. We travelled on mules 

 or ponies, as the mountain paths are impracticable 

 to carriages. I was disappointed in Valombrosa itself, 

 but the road to it is beautiful. La Vernia is highly 

 picturesque, there we remained two days, which I spent 

 in drawing. The trees round the convent formed a 

 striking contrast to the arid cliffs we had passed on 

 the road. The monks were naturally delighted to 

 see strangers. They belonged to the order of St. 

 Francis, and each in his turn wandered over the 

 country begging and living on the industry of others. 

 We did not pay for our food and lodging, but left 

 much more than an equivalent in the poor-box. 

 Somerville slept in the convent, and we ladies were 

 lodged in the so-called Foresteria outside ; but even 

 Somerville was not admitted into the clausura at 

 Camaldoli, for the monks make a vow of perpetual 

 silence and solitude. Each had his little separate 

 hut and garden, and some distance above the con- 

 vent, on the slopes of the Apennines, they had an 

 establishment called the Eremo, for those who sought 

 for even greater solitude. The people told us that 

 in winter, when deep snow covers the whole place, 



wolves are often seen prowling about. Not far from 



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