fite flioie, Spinie Cafile , the ancient feat of the Bifhops of Afo'ay, makes a mag- 
nificent appearance. 
f he walls of Jjiijfiiis Cafile are of amazing thicknefs, and have fmall chambers, 
galleries of communication, and ftaircafes, within the body of the wall ; thefe 
chambers, above, open into a fpacious hall, of about forty-five feet long and thirty 
wide : the roof being fallen in, it is not eafy to afcertain its height. From thefe 
circumftances, it is probable, that the cafile was built in the eleventh century j 
for fuch, from concurring teftimonies, was the ftyle of building places of ftrength* 
in the neighbouring provinces, at that time. 
It is remarkable of this maffy ruin, that one large divifion of the end wall has 
funk obliquely into the fide of the mount, and by that means is confiderably re- 
moved from its place ; and ftands detached, impending over the hill, as if every 
moment about to fall down : but the mafs is fo thoroughly concreted, that the 
front of the wall is ftill preferved entire, though inclined to a pretty acute angle 
with the level. 
This cafile was inhabited in the beginning of this century j but after the year 
1715 was neglected, and gradually went to ruin. 
