ent Cathedral of St. Mark,
decorated with almost oriental splendor. The building dates back
to the tenth and eleventh centuries, and portions of the materials
used in its construction have been brought from almost every country
in Europe. The ceiling of the interior is richly adorned with mosaics
in the form of various noted paintings. Behind the High Altar repose
the remains of St. Mark, while further back stand four spiral columns
said to have belonged to the Temple of Solomon. The building to
the right is the Ducal Palace.]

[Illustration: VENICE, ITALY.--The capital of the Province of Venice,
is situated on the lagoons, a long breast of lowlands in the Adriatic.
For a time it was the first maritime and commercial power of the
world, and one of the finest cities in Europe, but now it is nothing
but a vast museum. The eighty islands on which Venice is built,
are divided by wide and narrow canals, while small foot-paths wind
throughout the city, occasionally crossing a canal, as is seen
by the bridge in the above picture. Venice is popularly known as
the "Queen of the Adriatic."]

[Illustration: THE RIALTO, VENICE, ITALY.--This famous bridge,
one hundred and fifty-eight feet long and forty-six feet wide,
rests on twelve hundred posts. It was erected from 1588 to 1591.
Its sides are lined with little shops, extending from a fish-market
at one end, past jewelry-shops in the centre of the structure, down
to a fruit-market at the other side. It always presents a busy
appearance, and is considered a marvel of engineering skill, and
one of the finest bridges in the world. The picture represents the
annual parade on the Grand Canal, with the Rialto in the background,
which is always the rallying centre on such occasions.]

[Illustration: THE CATHEDRAL, FLORENCE, ITALY.--This stately edifice,
erected from 1294 to 1462, on the site of the earlier church of
St. Reparata, is a striking example of Italian architecture. The
church was finally consecrated in 1436, but the lantern on the
top of the dome was not completed until 1462. The building is one
hundred and eighty-five and one-half yards long, and one hundred
and fourteen yards wide; the dome is three hundred feet high. The
bell-tower, a square structure adjoining the cathedral, two hundred
and ninety-two feet in height, is regarded as one of the finest
existing works of its kind. It consists of four stories of richly
decorated and colored marbles.]

[Illustration: VECCH