animated and picturesque portion of Palermo is the "Passage of the Arches," where the solemnity, derived from the grand and lofty towers that impend over the street, is contrasted with the lively scene of sale and purchase that is continually in progress at their base. The right of the prospect is formed by the west end of the Chiesa Madre, with its lofty, crenated towers, its Saracenic and Norman ornaments, its beautiful pointed door-way, built in the fourteenth century, and four fine colossal statues, that stand out on pedestals in the highway. Within the low balustrade are seen the lateral chapels containing the celebrated porphyry tombs of the Norman kings, the position of each being marked, externally, by distinct cupolas, in front of which are statues of Palermitan saints, or other persons eminent in Sicilian story. Two spacious pointed arches thrown across the street, connect the west end of the Cathedral with the Palace of the Archbishop, a noble pile, and which was originally founded by Simon di Bologna, who died in 1465. Of this prelate's design, some portions still remain at the eastern angle of the building; and a beautiful pointed window, with much tracery in the upper part, and sustained by slender columns, indicates an exquisite taste in the author. The palace of Simon succeeded to a residence still more ancient, in one of the towers of which the archbishop and the chancellor Stephen found an asylum, in 1169, during an insurrection of the Palermitans; this was in the reign of William the Second. The present edifice, less magnificent than that of Simon di Bologna, is yet an elegant and spacious palace. Its doors are always open to the stranger, and hospitality has ever been found to reign within. At the annual celebration of the feast of St. Rosalia, the archbishop generally exceeds all the nobility of Palermo in the splendour of the entertainment afforded at his conversazione; on this occasion the apartments of state and ceremony are richly decorated, the gardens illuminated, and supplied with bands of music; and it has always been observed, that the affability and condescension of the archbishop have uniformly obtained for that dignitary the admiration and respect of the numerous guests that are usually invited to his assemblies.

THE LOGGIA DE LA NZI.

FLORENCE, ITALY.

"Here, Lorenzo, who in Phoebus' train,

Might well of glory the least gifts disdain—
Lorenzo, of the muse the sure report,

Oft held his peaceful hospitable court."

THE term Loggia is consecrated to architectural phraseology, and has acquired a species of respectful application from the great artists with whose names it is so constantly associated. Raphael's loggia in the Vatican is adorned by the hand of that celebrated master, aided, it is believed, by some fifty painters, who never failed to form his train,