BRINDISI, a fortified city and seaport of Italy, in the province of Otranto, is situated at the head of a bay of the Adriatic in 40° 39' 27" N. lat. and 17° 28' 44" E. long. The streets are for the most part narrow and crooked, and the town in general is in a somewhat ruinous condition. Since the restoration of its maritime importance, which is mainly due to the fact that it forms the great transit station in the overland route to Asia by the Mont Cenis Railway and the Suez Canal, some improvement has taken place, and it bids fair to become one of the most flourishing cities in the country. The progress, however, has hitherto been comparatively slow, and the only extensive addition which has been effected is a new street leading from the railway station to the harbour. A cathedral in rather a dilapidated state, a citadel with huge round towers (founded by Frederick II. and completed by Charles V.), and a seminary (containing a library bequeathed to the town by archbishop Leo), are the only public buildings worthy of notice. The ruins of the circular church of St Giovanni, which was destroyed by earthquake, are not without interest; an ancient building of uncertain date is popularly regarded as the house where Virgil died; and there is a remarkable column supposed by some to have marked the termination of the Appian Way, but more probably belonging to an ancient temple. There are ten public schools in the town. The trade was represented in 1873 by imports to the value of £344,000, and exports to £325,000. The former consist mainly of raw silk, wheat and flour, coals, manufactured cottons, and petroleum; and the latter of manufactured coral, corn, dried fruits, and olive oil. The number of vessels that arrived at the port in 1873 was 709, of which 422 were steamships. ...