Italian Prisons St. Angelo; the Piombi; the Vicaria; Prisons of the Roman Inquisition

Growth of Venetian Republic--The famous Council of Ten--Its methods of administration--The Pozzi or “Wells,” under the Grand Ducal Palace--The prison of the Piombi or “Leads” of...

Popes having consolidated their spiritual dominion in Christendom aim at complete temporal power--Inquisition originated by Pope Innocent III--His character--Inquisition grows i...

The most remarkable of Popes--State of Rome under Gregory XIII--Murders, thefts and robberies openly perpetrated in the streets--Brigandage rife up to the very gates of the city...

Francesco Cenci succeeds to the wealth amassed by his father, the papal treasurer--A man of vicious habits and ignoble passion--Hated by his family and his servants--Maltreats h...

St. Angelo a living part of the history of Rome--Its origin and uses--Preceded in date by the Mamertine Prison--Mausoleum of Hadrian--Other ancient monuments in Rome--Descriptio...

Growth of the Papacy--Popes gain territory and wealth--Gregory the Great--Boniface subsequently erected the chapel of St. Angelo--Rome the centre of conflict--The Leonine city a...

Cellini favoured by Clement VII and receives an important commission--Paul III succeeds Clement and is no friend to Cellini--Benvenuto slays a rival jeweller, Pompeo--Pier Luigi...

Leo X--The Castle witnesses many foul deeds--It is beautified and state apartments added--Clement VII improves and embellishes it--The Castle attacked by Charles of Bourbon on b...

Crime very prevalent in Rome under later popes--Repressive edicts--Gambling carried to great excess--Atrocious murders committed by persons of high rank--Presentation of the Chi...

Origin of the Camorra--Its operation in the Vicaria of Naples--Diego Zezza Organisation of the Camorra--Its vocabulary--The leader Salvatore Crescenzo--Origin of the Mafia unkno...

Prisons of the Two Sicilies--Castel Capuano called the Vicaria--Notorious reputation--Ill-treatment of political prisoners--British indignation--Mr. Gladstone’s open letter to L...