,U GORHIO. 



Gorbio, and \isit all the wild, romantic villages — 

 from Castellar. \\'hose houses are huddled together at 

 the top of a steep incline, to Roccabruna, which, with 

 its half ruined castle, clings to the dark mountain side. 

 Good carriage roads wind through tlie valle^-s, but the 

 walker will j^refer the paths which lead him to his 

 destination in the shade of the 01i\'es and Pines. A pro- 

 lusion of llo\\ers siuTOunds him on all sides and though 

 he ma^• resist the temptation of gathering them into a 

 boui_[nct. he will pluck some of the innumerable \'iolets 

 from the bank. lie \\-ho does not shrink from the exer- 

 tion should extend this walk be\'ond the limits of the 

 usual excursions. Not until aou reach a considerable 

 height does the full splendour of the landscape unfold 

 itself, and the eye tra\el unimpeded o\'er land and sea. 

 In the early morning hours of a warm, sunn\', 

 spring diw we left the road ^^'hich leads from Mentone 

 to Monaco and turned into the tertile (Torbio \'alle\', 

 tliroiigli which Hows a .stream of some ^'olume. At first 

 handsome villa - gardens line the slowh' ascending road, 

 then come modest farm holdings. Fragrant llowers trail 

 over the walls; at lirst the show}' llowers of the rich, 

 and then the Wall -llowers, Stocks, Pelargoniums and 

 Anemones which even the poor can allord. G\presses 

 festooned \\'ith Roses rise here and there high into the 

 air. Lemon and Orange groves follo^\' upon each other; 

 then Fig trees. Higher up our northern frnit trees, 

 Peach and Phmi, occiu" here and there. l"hc\ are in full 

 bloom. It is still too warm here for .Vpples and Pears; 

 the\' do not thrive imtil we reach St. j.\gnese, be\'ond the 



