He long sought the Capitol without being able to discover it; he had to take his bearings, and ended by convincing himself that the square tower, modestly lost among surrounding house-roofs, which he saw in front of Sta.

Maria Maggiore was its campanile.

Next, on the left, came the Quirinal, recognisable by the long facade of the royal palace, a barrack or hospital-like facade, flat, crudely yellow in hue, and pierced by an infinite number of regularly disposed windows.

However, as Pierre was completing the circuit, a sudden vision made him stop short.

Without the city, above the trees of the Botanical Garden, the dome of St.Peter's appeared to him.