MONASTERY OF MONTSKRRAT. 5G3 



us, dedicating it, as the Latin name briefly denotes, to Divine 

 Wisdom. Its architecture indeed, is greatly inferior to that of a 

 higher and more classical period ; yet the effect is grand and im. 

 pressive, and the copola is admired as a bold and skilful effect of 

 the art, while the seeming weight is diminished by the lightness of 

 the materials, which are bricks formed of a particular clay that 

 will float in (he water. The interior is adorned with a profusion 

 of marble columns of various beautiful descriptions, the purple 

 Phrygian, green Spartan, red and white Carian, African of a saf- 

 fron colour, and many other kinds. 



There is a very beautiful cathedral at Salerno, which, though 

 less expressive, may be compared with the temple of Sancta Sophia 

 in point of splendour, and in some part of it has a considerable 

 resemblance to it. 



The temple of Sancta Sophia, however, has been less happy in 

 its fate ; for upon the triumph of the Ottomans, it was converted 

 into a Turkish Mosque, and continues such to the present day. 



[Editor. 



SECTION XX. 



Monastery of Montserrat. 



MOVTSERRAT is well known to be one of the most romantic 

 mountains of Spain : it is situated in the vicinity of Barcelona, and 

 has given its name to one of the Leeward Carabbee Islands from 

 a sJpposed resemblance to it. Towards the summit of this craggy 

 and perpendicular steep, are erected a monastery and chapel dedi- 

 cated to the Virgin Mary. The scenery is highly picturesque ; 

 and from the difficulty of the ascent, it has long been resorted to 

 by pilgrims, who wish to show a proof of their zeal and superiority 

 to fatigue. It is inhabited by monks of several nations, who enter- 

 tain gratuitously, for some days, all who visit them, whether from 

 curiosity or devotion. 



The mountain is calculated at ten miles in circumference, and 

 three thousand three hundred feet above the level of the sea; 

 towering over a hilly country like a pile of grotto-work, or Gothic 

 spires. . 



