 | Lady Layard’s Journal Go to a Date Search the Journal |
|
Previous Entry
|
Following Entry
| |
8 October 1869 — Rome | |
Friday. 8th [October 1869]. In the morng we went to the Lateran museum and thence to the Capitol– We went into the church close there & then into the museum. Afterwards we went to an old woman in search of lace & then to Nazari’s to lunch. In afternoon we went to the Catacombs of S. Callistus & took Hill with us. Arrived there we found a curious old man who quickly got into a fury & said we must wait for another party. We objected & at last he gave way & opened the door but refused to come down & show us the way till the other party luckily arrived & he brought them down & led the way saying over to himself “Son dispiacente”. At last he warmed to his subject in explaining the Catacombs & tho’ very incoherent & laughing occasionally without point he recovered his spirits and one of the party a German Dr explained to us that poor “Giovanni” was quite mad but that he had been one of the first to begin to excavate there 50 years ago & he knew the way perfectly. Still it was a relief to be up again on terra firma. We went again to the old lace woman & got some old silk hangings. We went to leave cards on the Sermonetas, Miss Hosmer & Baron Visconti & then home. After dinner while writing letters we had a visit from a Genl Christy who is staying in the hotel & knew some of the Layards. Afterwards we had a visit from Monsignor Stonor and told him of poor old Giovanni’s cracky state. | |
|
Previous Entry
|
Following Entry
| |