I saw a level space seventy paces[1] wide between the first and
second walls. From hence can be seen large palaces, all joined
to the wall of the second circuit in such a manner as to appear
all one palace. Arches run on a level with the middle height
of the palaces, and are continued round the whole ring. There
are galleries for promenading upon these arches, which are
supported from beneath by thick and well-shaped columns, en-
closing arcades like peristyles, or cloisters of an abbey.

But the palaces have no entrances from below, except on the
inner or concave partition, from which one enters directly to
the lower parts of the building. The higher parts, however,
are reached by flights of marble steps, which lead to galleries
for promenading on the inside similar to those on the outside.
From these one enters the higher rooms, which are very beauti-
ful, and have windows on the concave and convex partitions.
These rooms are divided from one another by richly decorated
walls. The convex or outer wall of the ring is about eight
spans thick; the concave, three; the intermediate walls are one,
or perhaps one and a half. Leaving this circle one gets to the
second plain, which is nearly three paces narrower than the
first. Then the first wall of the second ring is seen adorned
above and below with similar galleries for walking, and there
is on the inside of it another interior wall enclosing palaces.
It has also similar peristyles supported by columns in the lower
part, but above are excellent pictures, round the ways into the
upper houses. And so on afterward through similar spaces
and double walls, enclosing palaces, and adorned with galleries
for walking, extending along their outer side, and supported
by columns, till the last circuit is reached, the way being still