. . . . The popes' palace is contiguous to the church, and
just below it, on the hillside. It is now occupied as barracks by some
regiments of soldiers, a number of whom were lounging before the
entrance; but we passed the sentinel without being challenged, and
addressed ourselves to the concierge, who readily assented to our request
to be shown through the edifice. A French gentleman and lady, likewise,
came with similar purpose, and went the rounds along with us. The palace
is such a confused heap and conglomeration of buildings, that it is
impossible to get within any sort of a regular description. It is a
huge, shapeless mass of architecture; and if it ever had any pretence to
a plan, it has lost it in the modern alterations. For instance, an
immense and lofty chapel, or rather church, has had two floors, one above
the other, laid at different stages of its height; and the upper one of
these floors, which extends just where the arches of the vaulted root
begin to spring from the pillars, is ranged round with the beds of one of
the regiments of soldiers.
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