A PORTAL OF PARADISE. 281 



another prosperous Lord Mayor, and the world would 

 never have had that most remarkable of all modern 

 books, the Divina Comedia!" 



Not less illustrous are the names of those whom I 

 have mentioned as entombed in this old church. Not 

 far off is the tower of Galileo, whence the great 

 astronomer made his observations which led the pious 

 sons of "Mother Church" to cry out also concerning 

 him, " Crucify him." Here, too, was born and buried 

 that illustrous man who gave his n?ime to "Ameiica." 



Among the monuments of this lovely city is the 

 Cathedral, or Duomo, which \vas begun about the 

 year 130U. The grand cupola of the Duomo, so much 

 admired by Michael Angelo, was taken by him as his 

 model for that of St. Peter's at Rome. Very near is 

 the Baptistery, with its beautiful bronze doors, with 

 carvings and figures to repr sent great sc iptural 

 events. The principal one is so perfect and so beauti- 

 ful as a work of art that Angelo declared it worthy to 

 be a portal of Paradise. 



Fiom the Palazz > Vecch'o and Ufizzi Gallery we 

 crossed the River Arno by a covered wa!k, above the 

 bridge, to the Pitti Pa'ace. Tin-re arc lit. rally tht u- 

 sands of paintings, some done by m n whose names 

 are well known, and many by those of lesser talent. 

 19 



