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112 SWEDENBORG’S TRAVELS AND DIARIES. [Doc. 206.
August 28. I arrived in Florence. The road between
Bologna and Florence lies among the mountains. It is one
of the finest towns, containing many beautiful palaces, and
magnificent paintings, sculptures, and other rare objects. The
church called S. Maria del fiore has a dome which is of
marble on the outside and cost 18 millions [of francs]. Close
is the Church of S. Giovanni Battista [il Battisterio] , where
are sculptures in marble, and statues in bronze. In S. Giovannino
[degli Scolopi] are beautiful pictures, as well as in S. Spirito,
in S. Felice in the piazza, and in many others. In the Galleria
[degli Uffizi] are the most magnificent objects in Europe, rarities
old and new, precious stones, mosaics, &c., which it is impossible
to describe. The principal statue of Venus is there, amid
many others. In the chapel * where the Dukes [dei Medici]
are buried, may be seen the most splendid art, all kinds ofchoice
.
stones and mausolea; it is not yet finished. In the Palazzo
Pitti where the Princet resides were most beautiful paintings
by the best masters, and in a room below a magnetic stone
two ells long, two ells broad, and an ell and a half high. I
was in the garden, called Boboli, where there are likewise
many statues, and which abounds in cypresses ; there too is
an amphitheatre. In S. Marco, which is a monastery, are
beautifully inlaid stones, and enamelled work; a chemical
laboratory is also there. The Library of S. Lorenzo [Biblioteca
Laurenziana] consists entirely of old books dating two hundred
years back. The Library of Magliabecchi [Biblioteca Maglia
becchiana] is large ; it is arranged alphabetically. The arsenal
is not large.
August 31. We were out of the town to the Villa Imperiale
[Villa Poggio Imperiale], where is a handsome avenue of
cypress and laurel trees, and a most magnificent gallery of
paintings by the best masters, mosaics, statues, especially
beautiful Greek statues, etc.; likewise an orangery, a grotto,
and fountains. Afterwards I was in the fine monastery of
* The tombs of the Medici are in the Church of S. Lorenzo.
John Gasto, the last Duke of the house of Medici, died in July 1737,
when he was succeeded by Duke Francis Stephen of Lorraine, who had
been appointed his successor by the Vienna treaty of 1735.
The art-treasures were removed from the Villa in 1860.
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