Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume II.djvu/575

BERGAMOT BERGEN 555 between the Scrio and Brembo, 28 m. N. E. of Milan; pop. in 1872, 37,363. It consists of an upper and a lower town, half a mile Bergamo. distant from each other. The former, called the Citta (anc. Sergomum), is situated upon a steep and lofty hill, one of the last spurs of the Alps. It was strongly fortified by the Venetians, and its dismantled walls now form beautiful boulevards. The church of Santa Maria Maggiore was begun in 1134, but not completed until long afterward. The northern part, erected in 1360, is of black and white marble. The interior is rich in stucco decora- tions and paintings, among which are remains of old frescoes, some of which are supposed to belong to the 14th century. The stalls of the choir and screen are among the finest specimens of wood carving in Italy. The campanile, more than 300 ft. high, appears conspicuously in the view. The sacristy, erected in 1430, is among the earliest examples of the introduction of the Roman style in connection with the Gothic. Adjoining the church is the sepulchral chapel of Bartolommeo Colleoni, a famous condot- tiere of the 15th century ; the facade, which has lately been restored, is very fine, ornamented with different-colored marbles. The duomo, or cathedral, has a fine cupola, which forms a con- spicuous object. Before the Palazzo Vecchio, or Broletto, which contains a public library of 70,000 volumes, stands the statue of Torquato Tasso, whose father was a native of the town. In the Carrara academy lectures are given on art. There is also an academy of music, in which Donizetti was taught, a theatre, and other public buildings. The lower town, called the Borgo or suburb of San Leonardo, is the seat of business. It is noted for La Fiera di Sant' Alessandro, a large square building of stone, within which are streets, 600 shops, and an open space in the centre adorned with a fountain. A great annual fair commences here in August, which is said to have been held ever since the 10th century. The building was erected in 1740. The commodities sold are silks, cloths, wools, iron, '&c. BERGAMOT, a kind of green-colored citron or small orange, of tine flavor and taste, of round form, the fruit of the citrus margarita (bergamia of Risso and De Candolle). The rind furnishes by distil- lation an essence or oil which is much used in perfumery, and to some extent in medicine. The bergamot tree is a native of the south of Europe, and is particu- larly abundant in the neighborhood of Nice. To obtain 2J ounces of oil, 100 bergamots are consumed. This oil or essence has a very agreeable, sweetish odor, and a bitter, aromatic taste. Its specific gravity is 0'885. In com- position it is not to be distinguished from oil Bergamot (Citrus margarita). of lemons. Alcohol is used to adulterate it, and is not readily detected when added only to the extent of 8 per cent. Bergamot is also the name of a variety of pears, which, like the citron tree of the same name, is said to have originated in Bergamo, Italy. The word is also used to designate a coarse tapestry, gup- posed to have been invented at Bergamo. BERGEN, a N. E. county of New Jersey, bor- dering on New York and bounded E. by the Hudson river; area, 350 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 30,122. On the W. bank of the Hudson, with-