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The Grand Tour started in the 17th century when
young men were sent off after leaving university to gain experience. In
1668, an "Italian Voyage" by Richard Lassels was published. He wrote about
his grand tour of France and about his "Giro of Italy".
During this period Italy was seen as the land of Renaissance and the home
of the most civilized peoples. Here were the monuments of ancient Rome,
where the travellers discovered the heroic days of the Republic and the
days of the Empire. Where the poems by Virgil, Horace, and Ovid, they had
learnt at university were born.
The Giro of Italy usually started in September when they reached Turin,
then continued towards Florence, Siena, Rome, and Naples. They returned to
Rome for Christmas and then set out for Venice, Padua, Vicenza, Verona,
and Milan.
To reach Italy the travellers needed a passport that specified destination,
purpose and duration of the travel, as well as local permits and a health
certificate at every frontier. Travelling in Italy was dangerous
especially for the heat and bandits. As for money, they carried bills of
exchange or letters of credit to avoid theft. These bills of exchange were
sent ahead by post or messengers to the Italian correspondent in the city
where they wished to collect the money, while the letters of credit could
be taken to the overseas correspondent of the English bank. The British
tourists thought that the heat of the Italian summer was worse than the
bandits for, not being used to it, they wore unsuitable clothes, followed
an English diet and did exercises in the sun, whereas the Italians stayed
indoors during the hottest hours of the day.
The travellers reached Italy by hiring a private carriage or horses or by
making arrangements with a "vetturino" a kind of travel agency that
organised an itinerary.
As for lodgings, good inns could be found only in large cities, otherwise
they were generally dirty and uncomfortable. |