May 9th, 1873. Fine.

The Italian government had appointed Count [Alessandro] Fé d'Ostiani, one-time minister at the Italian legation in Japan, to accompany us and he came to meet us in Florence, extending to us a courteous welcome.

In terms of prosperity, Florence ranks sixth among the cities of Italy, but in terms of its beauty and its bountiful countryside it surpasses even the city of Milan. The clear waters of the river Arno tumble through the centre of the city, while serried ranks of roof-tiles climb the hills. The valley is ringed with hills, and smoke from kitchen fires gathers there. The valley floor is broad and the river-waters clean and fast-flowing. In places weirs have been made to stem the current, and water splashes down over the edges of them. The hotel where our party stayed was right beside one of the weirs. All night long we could hear the sound of the wind soughing through the pine-trees, a sound pleasant to our ears both in the daytime and in the evening. Five bridges have been built across the river, and here and there lofty palaces and magnificent towers rise above the city. On the summits of the hills are some old forts and fortifications. Great churches soar above the roofs of the city, and even the smaller ones thrust tall towers above their surroundings. There are, it is said, 250 churches in the city.