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.

    27/494 (page 21)
    lets are exclusively performed; the first act of an opera is usu- ally succeeded by a ballet of 3 or more acts. Verdi is the most popular composer. The pit (platea) is the usual resort of the men. A box (palco) must always be secured in advance. — A visit to the smaller theatres, where dramas and comedies are acted, is especially recommended for the sake of habituating the ear to the language. Representations in summer take place in the open air, in which case smoking is allowed. The charming co- medies of Goldoni are still among the most popular. — The theatre is a favourite evening-resort of the Italians, by whom during the performance of the music profound silence is never observed. Shops rarely have fixed prices. As a rule two-thirds or three- quarters of the price demanded should be offered. The same rule applies to artizans, drivers and others. 'Non volete?' (tlien you will not?) is a remark which generally has the effect of bringing the matter to a speedy termination. Purchases should never be made by the traveller when accompanied by a valet- de-place. These individuals, by tacit agreement, receive at least 10 per cent of the purchase-money, which naturally comes out of the pocket of the purchaser. This system of extortion is carried so far that, when a member of the above class observes a stranger enter a shop, he presents himself at the door and afterwards claims his percentage under the pretext that by his recommendation the purchase has been made. In such cases it is by no means superfluous to call the attention of the shopkeeper to the imposition (no??, conosco quest' uomo'). Cigarn in Italy, France and Austria are a monopoly of Go- vernment; those under 7—10 soldi scarcely smokable. Passers-by freely avail themselves of the light which burns in every cigar- .shop, V. ifliout making any purchase. ' , XI. Postal Arrangements. The address of letters (whether posle. restdnle or to the tra- veller's hotel) should, as a rule, be in the Italian or French language. Postage - stamps are sold at all the tobacco - shops Letters to England cost 60 c., France 40 c, Germany 40 c Swity.erland_ :!() c. , Belgium 40, Holland (via France) HO c' Denmark ;)() c. , Norway and Hweden (via Austria) Tf) c ' Russia (via Austria] 70 c, America (Fnited - States) via Knt;'- land 80 c, via France I fr. 20 c. Letters by town-post f) c. ; throughout the kiiiRdoiu of Italy 20 c. prepaid, liO c. iin])aid. Letters to liome must be prepaid as far as tlie frontier (20 c.j, also vice versA. In the larger towns the post-oflice is open the whole day from I) a. in. to 10 p. ni. (also on Sundays and holidays).