eBooks Base 2000

At any rate, the Catholic priests will insure it to him, and take the
price. The sculpture within the beautifully decorated niches, on the
outside of the church, is very curious and interesting. The statues of
those old saints seem to have that charm of earnestness which so attracts
the admirers of the Pre-Raphaelite painters.
It appears that a picture of the Virgin used to hang against one of the
pillars of the market-place while it was still a market, and in the year
1291 several miracles were wrought by it, insomuch that a chapel was
consecrated for it. So many worshippers came to the shrine that the
business of the market was impeded, and ultimately the Virgin and St.
Michael won the whole space for themselves. The upper part of the
edifice was at that time a granary, and is still used for other than
religious purposes. This church was one spot to which the inhabitants
betook themselves much for refuge and divine assistance during the great
plague described by Boccaccio.

July 2d.


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