Italy : handbook for travellers. First part, Northern Italy and Corsica / by K. Baedeker.

  • Karl Baedeker
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Italy : handbook for travellers. First part, Northern Italy and Corsica / by K. Baedeker. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    23/494 (page 17)
    the party, the coupe ('/31'd clearer) should if possible be secured. Regular comiiiuiiicatioii cannot be depended on, except on the principal routes. The importunities of tlie coachmen at the end of each stage should be disregarded. Vetturini, by whom the sole communication between many towns was forzuerly maintained, are now ejitirely superseded by ihe more modern diligences and railways. The ordinary traveller will pro- bably rarely have occasion to submit to this obsolete style of conveyance, except on the route between Savona and Menlone, and Chiavari and La Spezia. The charges of the carriages are stated in the Handbook; the traveller is, however, recommended to make a previous persona! agreement with the vetturino (agents to be avoided). The contract is made 'tutto compreso', and if satisfaction is given , an additional fee may be bestowed at the termination of the journey. A single traveller may also bargain with a vetturino for a place, the charge for which varies. The back-seats are 'i primi posti', which are generally secured by the first comers, who are first consulted with regaid to the arrangement of the journey. Besides the above-mentioned conveyances, carriages may every- where be hired (one-horse about 80 c. per Eng]. M.). Prolonged walking - tours. such as are undertaken in more northern climates, and fatiguing excursions will be found wliolly unsuitable to the Italian climate. Cool and clear weather should if possible be selected and the sirocco carefully avoided. The height of summer is totally adverse to tours of this kind. A /torse (cavallo) or donkey (sommaro), between which the ditfercnce of expen. e is inconsiderable, often affords a pleasant and inexpensive mode of locomotion, especially in mountainous districts, where the attendant (pedonc) acts at once as a servant lor the time being and as a guide. VIII. Hotels. The idea of cleanliness in Italy is in arrear of the age; the brilliancy of the southern climate perhaps, in the opinion of the natives, neutralizes dirt. The traveller will, however, not suffer much annoyance in this respect in hotels and lodgings of the best class. Those who quit the beaten track, on the other hand must be prepared lor pr vations. Insect-powder (poLvere di Persia] or powdered camphor is some antidote to the advances of noc- turnal intruders. The zanzure, or gnats, are a source of great annoyance, and often sufTering, during the autumn months Windows should always be carefully closed before a light is introduced into the room. Light muslin curtains (zanzarieri) round tifi beds, masks for the face, and gloves are employed to ward OM the attacks of tlie.,e pertinacious tormentors. ByKbKKKK. Italy I. 2ncl lidit.