The Porta Veneta is mentioned by Procopius in his History of the Persian War; who, speaking of some military Officer, tells us, that when he came to the Porta Veneta, which stands on the Right Hand of the Palace, he halted and determin’d to march to Hypalium. This Gate seems to take its Name from the Suburbs call’d in Venetis, probably because the Venetian Faction, a Company of Chariot-Racers dress’d in Sky-colour’d Cloths, dwelt there.
Procopius also takes Notice of the Pontichium by the Ferry, and also of the Rusiniana, as two other Parts of the Suburbs. These Places he mentions in his 1ˢᵗ Book of the Persian War; as does also Sozomen in the 21ˢᵗ Chap. Book the 8ᵗʰ.
Of the present Buildings of Constantinople.
Gyllius assures us, that the whole City, at present, is under a visible Decay, as to its Buildings; that the Houses are low and mean, and that there’s little or nothing to be seen of its ancient Beauty and Magnificence, except in a few of their Basha’s Houses, their Mosques, their Bagnio’s, and their Caravansera’s, which are all very noble Buildings, and are as follows.
There are at least three hundred Mosques built with Marble, cover’d with Lead, and shining with glossy marble Pillars.
There are above a hundred publick Bagnio’s, both for Men and Women, which are very spacious.
There are also about the same Number of Caravansera’s; the most eminent of which are adorn’d with Fountains, which are constantly supply’d with Water from the Fields adjoining the Suburbs, and which also supply the whole City.
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