A Summer Trip to Northern Italy 
ISOLA BELLA AND ITS BACKGROUND 
dise. From its shores, bathed by the clear, 
blue, limpid waters of the lake in which are 
reflected the snow-capped heights of the dis¬ 
tant Alps, terrace rises above terrace on the 
island covered with every flower which exists 
of sweet perfume, all growing on this enchanted 
island as if by magic, and the air is laden with 
the scent which issues from orange and lemon 
trees, camphor trees, magnolias, lilies, roses, 
gardenias which, added to the sweet songs of 
countless birds and the buzzing of myriads 
of brightly-colored insects, endue you with 
the desire to lie down on the grass beneath 
the trees in one of the many glades, and there 
to give yourself up into the arms of sleep. 
The Palace itself, which rises in the middle 
of the island, is well worthy of it, and the 
family have ever made it a storehouse of all 
that can be bought of what is most valuable 
in sculpture and painting. The whole island 
really defies description, for it is truly a 
creation of the fairies. I hough I have 
visited it many times, each visit awakens 
feelings of renewed delight. 1 here are many 
other lovely spots to visit on the lake. The 
Monastery of Santa Catarina built on a 
height from whence a most glorious view 
stretches before you, then come Intre, Luina, 
and many other places, but the best way is to 
hire a boat for the day and with an intelligent 
boatman you will soon discover many lovely 
spots for yourself. By land you can take 
many beautiful drives right up into the 
mountains, visiting the little out-of-the-way 
villages on your way, and I cannot describe 
to you what the views are which, as you 
descend, unfold themselves before you at 
each turn of the precipitous road down 
which the drivers fly at heedless speed. Wind 
up your journey by crossing the Alps by the 
Saint Gothard, and this and all else you have 
seen will carry you home with many thoughts 
of delight to fill up any dreary times that 
may come to you. 
PIAZZA SAN MARCO—VENICE 
286 
