Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/287

This page needs to be proofread.
*
261
*

ROME. 261 SOME. A'illa Farncsina with its gardens. It has dccova- I'utn^ designed by Kapliael and executed by Giiilio Riiniano and iithers. Twelve of these deco- lations I'orni the Myth of I'syclie — of rarest value. The villa also contains Kaphael's unsur])assed Galatea, executed by himself. Opposite, on the west, is the Palace Corsini with line gardens. Xtnir by is the Museum Torlonia with a vast col- lection of antiquities. Some distance southeast of the Jluseum Torlonia, and on the elevation, is the well-known Church of Santa JIaria in Traste- vere, alleged to have been founded under Alex- ander Severus. It has been restored in later times. Farther on to the southeast is the note- worthy Santa Cecilia in Trastevcre. where the home of the saint was, and where now her re- mains lie. From the top of the Janieulum. along which run fine drives, especially the beautiful modern Passeggiata ilargherita tlirough the former gardens of the Palace Corsini, may be had splendid views of Eome. Especially in the late afternoon, when tlic sun is casting its waning glow over the Imperial city below, is the scene marvelous — the countless domes, towers, colos- sal piles, and vast ruin.s — all set off by the mag- nificent line of the Alban Mountains, usually snow-capped, in the distant background. On the Janieulum, and west of the Trastevcre Church, is the Church of San Pietro in Jlontorio. marking the place where it is claimed Saint Peter was martyred. In the grounds of its monastery is a little round Doric tempietto, a fine example de- signed by Bramante. It is situated on the pre- cise spot where Saint Peter's cross is supposed to have stood. The superb view over Rome from the piazza of this church is the usual one en- joyed on the Janieulum by tourists. Some dis- tance to the west is the fine Villa Doria Pamphili, with large and delightful grounds. Rome is not important as an industrial and commercial centre. The art manufactures are, however, prominent, and consist in ]jart of bronzes, terra-eottas. mosaics, cameos, artificial pearls, and church ornaments. Other manufactures are leather, silk, umbrellas and parasols, strings for musical instruments, ai'tificial flowers, candles, soap. Hour, macaroni, fertilizers, and glue. A ilotirishing industry is the making of copies of famous paintings. In the Vatican is the Papal manufactory of mosaic, where copies of famous pictures are executed in colored glass for chiuches and other religious institutions. The Government has a large tobacco factory in Rome. The largest imports are grains, cattle, and wine. The Tiber is canalized in the city, but its port only suffices for small river craft. Rome is the seat of the Italian Government and of the Pojie and the College of Cardinals. The head of the municipal government is the syndic or. mayoi'. He is chosen by the 80 numi- bers of the municipal council, who ai'e themselves elected by the people. The giunta is an admin- istrative body, consisting of the mayor and 10 members ( assessori ) . who preside over the de- partmental committees. For purposes of admin- istration the city is divided into 15 districts. It forms five parliamentarv circles. In 1902 the budget balanced at about .$0,500,000. The debt of the city in 190.3 was some .'?4:i.000,000. The streets are lighted principally by electricity. There are electric street railways and a fire department. There are also municii)al markets and baths, and a municipal slaughter house, bakerj", cemetery, crematory, and pawn shop. Rome is unequaled perhaps for its line iind abundant water supply, which is eimdueti'<l from the mountains into tiii' lity by fiair great con- duits, which employ in part the half ruined aqueducts of old Kunie, that stalk so inajestinil ly across the Canipagna. The liuildhig n-guia- tions of Rome, adopted in 1SS7, are exceedingly strict. They make ample |>r«vision for light and air and have had a marked eireet upon the kind of tenement and other houses erected. They forbid the destruction, even by the owni-rs, of buildings of historic or artistic interest, hut encourage the tearing down of otlu-r anliquateil dwellings. The desire of the (Joveriunenl not to sacrifice the monuments of antiijuity vn« clearly shown by the project to acquire and set apart as an archieological park the district containing the Forum, the Colosseum, the Forum of Trajan, the Baths of Titus, the Circus Maxinuis, the temples of Vesta and of Fortuna, and the re- mains of the palaces of the Cirsara on the Pala- tine. The interesting features in the environs (.sec C.VMPAGNA 1)1 Roma) not already mentioned are: The Villa Albani, on the northeast, with an interesting art collection, including some well- known examples; farther on, the Sant' -gnese fuori le Mura Church, built over the tomb of the saint, and restored in 1850; the various Catacombs (q.v.) : the Appian Way (q.v.), on which is the Domine (|Ui> adis (q.v.) Church, southeast of the city ; farther on, the interesting Circus of JIaxentius and the well-known tomb of Cfecilia !Metella (q.v.) ; and the San Paolo fuori le Mura Church, south of the city. This churcli was called the most attractive one in Rome before the fire of 1823. It has been rebuilt in splendid style, with a particularly gorgeous in- terior. It contains a series of portrait medallions of all the popes. The cloisters are also fine. Under the monarchy the Roman educational system has been thorougldy reorganized. Besides the University (see Roiili,' U.MVKR.srrv of), there are the College of the Propaganda, fovmded in 1627, with theological and philosophical facul- ties; the Pontificia Accademia dei Xobili Ecclesi- astici, for the preparation for administrative and diplomatic careers: the Collegio tiermanico-l'n- garico: the Jesuit Collegio Romano: a Collegio Rabbinico: an Institute Talmud-Tora : a Col- legium Bohemicuni: two Collegii Teutonic!: a Conservatory of ilusic: a School of Architecture and the Plastic Arts; four municipal licei ; four public ginnasi, etc. Among the numerous acad- emies and art and science institutes and associa- tions are the Accademia degli Arcadi; the Royal Academy of Sciences; the Societit di Belle .rti. Xearlv all the leading countries are represented bv schools, inchnling the .merican Schools. of Architecture and of Classical Studies. The botanic garden is of some interest. The museums of Rome are vast and invaluable, especially the art and archaeological collections. They have been in part noted above in flrnrrnl Description. (For the Vatican collections, see Vatican; for the Capitoline collection, sec Capi- TOi.iNE :MrsEUM.) The Capilidine Museum con- tains the beautiful Capitoline Venus and the famous mosaic (Pliny's) Ooves on a Fountain Basin, brought from I'ladrian's Villa. The nuise- um of the Lateran possesses the fine portrait- .statue of Sophocles, discovered in 1838. Among