3-008-943 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Garibaldi's quarters at Varignano, Spezia - from a sketch by M. Beaucé, 1862. 'Varignano [the gaol of "The Prisoner of Italy"] is situated on an inlet of the Gulf of Spezia...Fort Castellane, which stands on the mountains behind the buildings shown in our Engraving...is still preserved...The house...is that of the military Governor, Colonel Santa Rosa...The Governor's residence is the building on the extreme right...and the windows of Garibaldi's apartment are those on the first floor, at the corner...Extremely few persons, beyond relatives and personal attendants, have been allowed access to Garibaldi, a severity due in some respect to the state of health to the illustrious patriot...However, many curious or enthusiastic visitors have boated up from the town of La Spezia to Varignano, but they were not permitted to approach the house, and were compelled to satisfy themselves by saluting, in their barques, the temporary habitation of the patriot, who, of course, from the painful nature of his foot-wound, was prevented from showing himself...Beyond the Governor's house and the fort the batch of buildings stretching away to the left comprises the lazaretto...and a small barrack, at present occupied by the troops sent as a precaution...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.