The façade is covered with mosaics representing the Virgin and Child enthroned, surrounded by ten virgins, and on either side the figure of a bishop (Innocent II. and Eugenius III.); above this are palms, the twelve sheep, and the mystic cities, and our Lord enthroned between angels. The interior contains twenty-two columns. The Assumption, on the ceiling, is by Domenichino. Beneath the high altar are the remains of five early popes. In the upper part of the tribune are mosaics of the Saviour and a female figure (representing the Church, the bride of Christ, and not the Virgin, as is generally said) seated on thrones; beneath are lambs, and representations from the life of the Virgin. _Leaving the church, and going down the_ VIA DELLA SCALA, _hence turning to the right into the Via di Ponte Sisto_, the house on the left, a baker's shop, with Gothic upper windows, was the HOUSE OF RAPHAEL'S FORNARINA. RAPHAEL'S HOUSE was at No. 124 Via dei Coronari, near the S. Angelo Bridge. _A short distance, and we reach_ THE PONTE SISTO. The present bridge was built by Pope Sixtus IV., who laid the foundation stone, April 29, 1473, on the site of an older bridge which was destroyed in the flood of A.D. 792, it having been built by Symmachus, prefect of Rome under Valentinian (A.D. 365), "under whose government the most sacred city enjoyed peace and plenty in an unusual degree; being also adorned with a magnificent and solid bridge which he constructed, and opened amid the great joy of his ungrateful fellow-citizens" (Ammianus Marcellinus, xxvii. iii. 3). In 1878, in making the new embankment for the Tiber, the remains of the left arch were found at the bottom of the river, upon which was part of the inscription, one foot seven inches high--VALENTINIAN. Pedestals which formed part of the decorations were also found, and part of an inscription--VALENTINIANI AU COSTI. At the Campus Martius end was a triumphal arch dedicated to Valens and Valentiniani-- DEDICANDI . OPERIS . HONORE . DELATO . INDICIO . PRINCIPUM . MAXIMORUM . LUCIO . AURELIO . AVIANIO . SYMMACHO . VIRO . CLARISSIMO . EX . PREFECTIS . URBI. Remains of a bronze statue were also found. The Via Giulia, _on the left_, and the Via Mascherone, _on the right, lead to_ THE FARNESE PALACE. In the piazza are two fountains, the granite basins of which were found in the baths of Caracalla. The palace is not now to be visited, as it is occupied by the French Embassy. Its architecture is more admired than that of any other palace in Rome; it was built by Pope Paul III. with materials taken from the Colosseum. Its rooms are adorned with frescoes of Annibale Caracci, his finest works, consisting of mythological subjects. The centre piece represents the Triumph of Bacchus and Ariadne. Opening out of the square is the PIAZZA CAMPO DI FIORE. Here every Wednesday is held a fair of curiosities, &c. _At the left corner is_ THE CANCELLERIA PALACE, (_Palazzo della Cancelleria_,)