breezes moderating the climate of all that part of the district of Melfi on which the earthquake exerted its baneful power, and causing it to abound with exquisite fruits, grapes, and olives. At the foot of the hill on which Venosa stands, flows the ancient Danno, now called Fiumara. The earthquake of the 14th of August did much injury to this famous and ancient city of 9,000 souls. The public buildings, churches, university. Episcopal Palace, and Mansion House were all thrown down, left tottering, or greatly injured; and the traveller beholds with especial sorrow the injuries of the Church of the Holy Trinity, which belonged to the old Benedictine monastery, whose rich abbey passed into the hands of the Knights of Jerusalem.
In this church is the tomb of Roberto Guiscardi, and his wife Aberada.[1]
In the tomb of Guiscardi, opposite Aberada's, the ashes of William of the Iron Arm, Drogone, and some others are inclosed, as we learn from a half-effaced inscription:—
"Drogono comitum comiti ducum duci hu-
jus sacri templi instauratori Guilielmo
Regi Roberto Guiscardo Normanno
Restauratori fratribus, ac eorem suc-
cessoribus quorum ossa hic situ sunt."
Next to it the Fathers had commenced a splendid tomb of largo hewn stone, (taken, perhaps, from the amphitheatre at Venosa,) which they had not time to finish, but which, incomplete as it is, awakens the admiration of the traveller, who beholds an important work of art of the fourteenth century. A painting on one of the pillars in the nave of this church, represents the pope giving the benediction, and beneath is written—
"Papa Nicolaus
Hoc sacrum Templum consecravit
Anno Domini MLVIII."
The Castle of Venosa, built with great solidity, suffered no important injury. It is a work of the age of Alphonso of Aragon,
- ↑ On the tomb of Aberada is the following legend:—
"Guiscardi Conjux Aberada hac conditur arca
Si genitum quæris hunc canusinus habet."
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