ly called the
Porta dal Palio, which is in no way inferior to that described above,
but equally beautiful, grand, and magnificent, or even more so, and
designed excellently well. And, in truth, in these two gates the
Signori of Venice may be seen to have equalled, by means of the genius
of this architect, the edifices and fabrics of the ancient Romans.

[Footnote 10: Any kind of stone that is easily split.]

This last gate, then, is on the outer side of the Doric Order, with
immense projecting columns, all fluted according to the manner of that
Order; and these columns, which are eight in all, are placed in pairs.
Four serve to enclose the gate, with the arms of the Rectors of the
city, between one and another, on either side, and the other four,
likewise in pairs, make a finish to the angles of the gate, the facade
of which is very wide and all of bosses, or rather, blocks, not rough,
but made smooth, with very beautiful ornamentation; and the opening,
or rather passage, through the gate, is left quadrangular, but of an
architecture that is new, bizarre, and most beautiful. Above it is a
great and very rich Doric cornice, with all its appurtenances, over
which, as may be seen from the model, was to go a fronton with all its
ornaments, forming a parapet for the artillery, since this gate, like
the other, was to serve as a cavalier. Within the gate are very large
rooms for the soldiers, with other apartments and conveniences. On the
front that faces towards the city, San Michele made a most beautiful
loggia, all of the Dorico-rustic Order on the outer side, and on the
inner all in rustic work, with very large piers. that have as
ornaments columns round on the outside and on the inside square and
projecting to the half of their thickness, and all made of pieces in
rustic masonry, with Doric capitals without bases; and at the top is a
great cornice, likewise Doric, and carved, passing along the whole
loggia, which is of great length, both within and without. In a word,
this work is marvellous; wherefore it was well and truly spoken by the
most illustrious Signor Sforza Pallavicino, Captain General of the
Venetian forces, when he said that there was not to be found in all
Europe any structure that could in any way compare with it. This was
the last of Michele's marvels, for the reason that he had scarcely
erected the whole of the first range described above, when he finished
the course of his life. Wherefore the w