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7 October 1904 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Friday. 7th [October 1904]. Malagola joined us & we went to the station together—arrived at Padua at 9. There we were met by Signor Scaramella (Sr Arbib’s friend) who is a baritone & sings on the stage. As he often goes to Spain on his professional work he picks up old things & has added the business of an antiquary to his other– He took us to his house & there we spent about 4 hours looking thro’ his queer collection of good & bad things. I saw very little to tempt me but the Count bought for abt 1000 lire & Malagola did the bargaining part for us. While they were at work I sat & rested for some time in the best parlour wh was a terrible example of bad taste. The room was hung round with the trophies of the singer’s successes on the stage—half faded wreaths with ribbons & inscriptions he had received. The effect on one’s mind was that one was sitting in a tomb. After having concluded our bargain we parted with Sr Scaramella—& went to the “Santo” for a look round. The recent restorations have rather spoilt the old church—but the chapel is still very picturesque. We then went to lunch at the Restaurant Aquila nera—excellent risotto & Italian food well & promptly served with a german maitre d’hotel to whom the Count talked. We went to the station & left by 1.36 train for Cittadella—& arrived at 2.45—walked to the town wh is close by & found a most picturesque place—a little town standing on its own medieval walls & surrounded by its moat—a most fascinating place. The Count at once set to work to make a sketch of the Paduan gate– Malagola & I got a little carriage & drove round the walls– The 4 gates are perfect & the crenelated walls almost so– We looked into the cathedral wh is well proportioned– We went in search of old furniture & were taken to a house where 2 small things were offered us at exhorbitant prices—but we declined them & returned to the station & left for Venice by 4.30 train. At the Padua station Sr Scaramella met us with some of our purchases. We got back to Venice tired & having been 6 hours in the train altogether. | |
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