361 



fe* nano new Naples ; the Grotto del Cane in the same vi- 

 "' cinity, called by Pliny, Spiracula Ditis, remarkable for 

 a deadly vapour arising from its bottom, and Cor the 

 repeated experiments of its efficacy by letting dogs down 

 into it; the vapour baths adjoining to the grotto; the Sol- 

 tiitura, a plain of sulphureous marl at Puzzuolo, which 

 is so hot on the surface as to scorch the feet of those who 

 walk over it, and is continually emitting sulphureous va- 

 pours, which, in some places, appear by night as a pale 

 blue flame, anciently called Forum Vulcani, described 

 by Pctronius Arbiter, and alluded to by Milton in his 

 Picture of the infernal regions; the Pietra Mala, a 

 mountain 40 miles from Florence, on the road to Bo- 

 logna, where a continual flame spreads over a portion 

 of the surface, without any of the effects of a volcanic 

 eruption ; the intermittent fountains on the promonto- 

 ry of Torno, near Lago di Cbmo; tha wells atCasalnu- 

 ovo, mentioned by Pliny in the second book of his na- 

 tural history, where the water never rises or falls be- 

 yond a certain mark ; Pulo di Malfetto, a curious ca- 

 vern, where mineral saltpetre is found ; the Claudian 

 Emissario, a canal cut through the mountain Salvianus 

 by the Emperor Claudius, to carry off the superfluous 

 water from Lake Celano ; the echo near Pie de Luco, 

 on the way to Caduta, on the banks of the Velino ; 

 and the falls of the same river at the same place. 



Climate. 



Climate. In regard to climate, Italy has been counted the gar- 



den of Europe, and the most delightful region on the 

 face of the globe. Extending between the 38th and 

 46th degrees of north latitude, it would be exposed, by 

 its situation, to a considerable degree of heat in sum- 

 mer, and of cold in winter ; but by the influence of the 

 seas, by which it is inclosed on so many sides, and of 

 the mountains, by which it is intersected, its tempera- 

 ture is greatly moderated, and preserved from all ex- 

 tremes. Its climate, therefore, may be pronounced in 

 general to be genial and temperate ; but varies consi- 

 derably even in districts not far distant from each other. 

 It has been divided into four regions, each of which 

 possesses a climate somewhat peculiar to itself. First, 

 the Vale of the Po, or Lombardy, about 260 miles in 

 length, and 150 at its greatest breadth, bounded by the 

 Alps on the north-west and south, and open to the 

 Adriatic on the east. This is accounted one of the most 

 delicious climates in the world, its sunshine uniformly 

 bright, its atmosphere clear and unclouded, and its sul- 

 try season cooled by the gales from the surrounding 

 mountains. The second extends over the Roman and 

 Tuscan territories, and being inclosed by the Appenines, 

 so as to be well protected from the north, is more in- 

 commoded by the heats of summer than the cold of 

 winter. Frost and snow are occasionally experienced ; 

 but the temperature is sufficiently high, and continued, 

 to ripen completely the orange and the grape. The 

 third is that of Campania Felix, and its immediate de- 

 pendencies, where nature appears to pour out all its 

 treasures, where the air is almost invariably genial, 

 and tl\e sky continually serene, and where the most 

 delicate vegetable productions flourish in perfection. 

 The fourth, lying beyond the Appenines, and opening 

 to the east, is still warmer than the last ; and abounds 

 more in the productions of a southern latitude, such as 

 the aloe* and the palm. This extends over the south- 

 ern extremity of Italy, including L'Abruzzo, Apulia, and 

 Calabria. The mountainous regions vary in climate 



ITALY! 



according to their elevation ; and such is the influence Stati'.ti. 

 of these local causes, that inHlieir smaller rallies a cool x ","'' 

 temperature may be experienced in Ae south, and a 

 sultry atmosphere in the north. The climate over the 

 whole country may be considered ingeneral as inclin- 

 ing to heat, the rays of the sun being powerful even 

 in winter; and in summer, especially when the Siroc- 

 co blows, particularly sultry and oppressive. At the 

 same time, the heat is never intolerable, but is cooled 

 by breezes from the mountains or the sea. The sea 

 breeze rises about eight in the morning, and continues 

 without interruption till four in the afternoon ; while, 

 in the mountainous tracts, mnny retreats may be found, 

 such as the baths of Lucca and the valley of Vallom- 

 brosa, where the mildest temperature may be enjoyed, 

 even during the raging heat of the dog-days. Rain is 

 not frequent during the spring and summer months ; 

 but occasional showers sufficiently refresh the air, and 

 revive vegetation. These are not unfrequently accom- 

 panied by thunder storms, which in harvest are some- 

 times very destructive to the crops. In the end of au- 

 tumn, rains are regular, and extremely heavy ; and in 

 winter, inundations to a wide extent often take place. 

 But all these are only temporary interruptions of the 

 prevailing serenity which constitutes the chief advan- - 

 tage of the Italian climate. 



It has been recommended to invalids, especially to 

 those of a consumptive habit, to reside at Pisa during 

 the winter season ; at the baths of Pisa, or the city of 

 Florence, during the first part of summer : and, during 

 the great heats of midsummer, at the country retreats 

 on the hills beneath Fiesole. 



It has been imagined, that the climate of Italy has Supposed 

 become warmer than the descriptions by the ancient increase of 

 Romans would .'ead us to suppose it to have been in tempera- 

 their time; and this change has been ascribed to the tute - 

 cultivation of Germany, by the clearing away of its im- 

 mense forests, and the draining of its extensive swamps. 

 But the lofty barriers of the Alps seem to preclude any 

 cause of this kind from operating upon Italy; and 

 others consider this higher temperature as the effect ra- 

 ther of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and similar lo- 

 cal causes. It may be questioned, however, whether 

 any change at all has taken place ; and it is observed 

 by travellers, that the same places which are described 

 by the Roman writers as peculiarly cold, are still liable, 

 in consequence of their situation, to severe winter 

 blasts. But the most remarkable peculiarity in the cli- 

 mate of Italy, is the Mai- Aria, or unhealthy state of Mai-Aria, 

 the districts called Maremma, in the summer and au- 

 tumn months. This tract extends about 192 geogra- 

 phical miles in length, from Leghorn to Terracina, and 

 about 40 in its greatest breadth in the Campagna di 

 Roma. There is no visible sign of any insalubrity in 

 the atmosphere of these regions ; but the sky is as 

 clear, the air as tranquil, and the verdure as fresh -as 

 in the most healthy district. Many of the places where 

 it prevails, are even elevated, dry, and airy. But no. 

 thing can be more fatal than its influence, which occa- 

 sions the worst kind of intermittent fevers, and is par- 

 ticularly hurtful to those who sleep in the open air du- 

 ring the night. The few inhabitants who remain in 

 these tracts, are sickly and languid in their whole ap- 

 pearance ; and even those who repair only to the tem- 

 porary labours of the harvest, very frequently fall a sa- 

 orifice to the distemper, or at least have their constitu- 

 tions seriously injured for life. Even in the vicinity of 

 Rome, the shepherds and their flocks come every night 



