His
Wardrobe Goes To The Fripier; His Dishes To The Dogs, And Himself
To The Devil, And After His Decease No Vestige Of Him Remains.
A
Genoese, on the other hand, keeps himself and his family at short
allowance, that he may save money
To build palaces and churches,
which remain to after-ages so many monuments of his taste, piety,
and munificence; and in the mean time give employment and bread
to the poor and industrious. There are some Genoese nobles who
have each five or six elegant palaces magnificently furnished,
either in the city, or in different parts of the Riviera. The two
streets called Strada Balbi and Strada Nuova, are continued
double ranges of palaces adorned with gardens and fountains: but
their being painted on the outside has, in my opinion, a poor
effect.
The commerce of this city is, at present, not very considerable;
yet it has the face of business. The streets are crowded with
people; the shops are well furnished; and the markets abound with
all sorts of excellent provision. The wine made in this
neighbourhood is, however, very indifferent; and all that is
consumed must be bought at the public cantine, where it is sold
for the benefit of the state. Their bread is the whitest and the
best I have tasted any where; and the beef, which they have from
Piedmont, is juicy and delicious. The expence of eating in Italy
is nearly the same as in France, about three shillings a head for
every meal.
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