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Letter from Gertrude Bell to her stepmother, Dame Florence Bell

Summary
In which Bell writes from Italy providing an overview of her recent activities with fellow traveller, Alice Stopford Green, including a visit to the Church of Saint Sebastian. She also discusses her future travel plans and ends by noting that the King of Italy has arrived that day with the Emperor following tomorrow.
Reference code
GB/1/1/1/1/5/19
Recipient
Bell, Dame Florence Eveleen Eleanore
Creator
Bell, Gertrude Margaret Lowthian
Person(s) mentioned
Green, Alice Stopford
Creation Date
Extent and medium
1 letter plus envelope
Language
English
Location
Italy » Venice

45.4408474, 12.3155151

Palazzo Gritti Friday. Dearest Mother. Papa asked me to send you on this letter from Mrs Ritchie. I enclose also one from Janet. It is very delicious here today. Mrs Green and I have been out this morning to see the church of St Sebastian where Veronese is buried and which is full of his picures. Very spendid it looks, roof and walls and altars all painted by him. She has gone out to lunch with Lady Galloway and I have just lunched at home off an egg and some bread and milk, which I was very glad to do because my inside is still not very well. The Signora Gründle has just been having a long conversation with me about Papa who she says has such a beautiful face that she at once began to adore him and it has made her tanto male that he has gone so soon. She doesn't like Mrs Green! she says she is not simpatica. You see Papa had a great success amongst the ladies of Venice [Venezia]. Tell him I was so delighted to find 3 letters from him when I came in to my frugal lunch, and 2 Timeses and my Murray for Central Italy; the other hasn't arrived yet. I miss him dreadfully, it isn't really a good plan to try travelling with anyone else after travelling with him. I am so grateful for the photographs; the Brera is a lovely place. It was 700 lire he gave me, not 300 as he writes.
These are our plans: we sleep on Monday. Stella d'oro. Ferrara

on Tuesday. Grand Hotel Byron. Ravenna.

on Wednesday. No address, perhaps Ravenna, perhaps Rimini.

on Thursday/Friday Hotel Pellegrino. Bologna.

Saturday: hope to be at the Hotel de Russie, Lung 'Arno, Florence [Firenze]. I haven't heard from Caroline today, but I shall know at any rate tomorrow. By the bye, let me know what wage you wish to give our Italian maid if I succeed in getting her.

I have just had a telegram from Caroline saying they go to Perugia on the 16th and that she will await me there and come home with me to England via Florence. So all is for the best! I shall go to Perugia on the 18th. The Murray for North Italy has come. Ever your affectionate daughter Gertrude.

The King of Italy arrives today and the Emperor tomorrow. There are to be processions galore.

https://cdm21051.contentdm.oclc.org/iiif/info/p21051coll46/7054/manifest.json
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