Hotels.-The usual times for table d'hôte dinners are 1 and 5 p.m. A plain breakfast may be had of chocolate, bread and butter, and fruit, as grapes, figs, &c. A fair dinner at 3 lire, including vino ordinario. The national siesta after dinner is worth imitation by visitors in hot weather. Cigars being a government monopoly are bad and dear. At an hotel servants are charged in the bill (buona mano) at 1 franc per day. Boots or "facchino,"franc. The waiter is called "cameriere;" at a caffé "bottega" (shop). Table d'hôte is "tavola rotonda.' A cook shop is "trattoria." An inn, "albergo" (plural "alberghi "), "osteria," "locanda." See the Vocabulary at the end of the Special Edition of Bradshaw's Continental Guide. As to making a bargain beforehand with the host, the following is the advice of Mr. T. A. Trollope: "My own long experience of Italian travelling would lead me to say, Never do anything of the kind. It indisposes the people to you. It is contrary to the habits of the country. It will much diminish your comfort; and in nowise profit your purse. Neither imagine that any economy will be achieved (except in the case of the great cities, where accommodation of different degrees of luxury is provided at recognised and avowedly different scales of charges) by limiting your demands to anything less than the best the house can give you in point of rooms and fare. Tell the host good-naturedly and cheerfully to do the best he can for you in both respects; not meaning, of course, to include in this 'best' foreign wines, or such extra articles as are supplied only on special demand. Say nothing about prices. But when the bill is brought in, if it is an extortionate one, just cut it down to a fair charge, taking care that the sum you fix is rather more than less than the absolutely strict rate. If it be done good-humouredly and quietly, and with evident knowledge of what the charges ought to be, the traveller will find that it will always be acceded to with a good grace, and that the operation will not be attended by the disagreeables inseparable from the work of making a bargain for your entertainment on entering the house. The striking off of this tara on the bill ought not to be done as if the objector considered the innkeeper as a rogue, but simply as a matter of course." TROLLOPE'S Lenten Journey. Postage.--Letters to a traveller in Italy should be addressed "Posta Restante," or "Ferma in Posta," that is, to be called for; or else to the care of a banker, or the landlord of an hotel. There is a daily mail from London to Italy. (See Introduction to Bradshaw's Continental Guide.) In Italy the postage on letters is 5c. (d.) the quarter oz. in the towns, and 20c. (2d.) to any part of the country, payable by stamps, sold at the cigar shops. Postage to England, 25c. the 15 grammes (} oz.). Telegraph.-To the United Kingdom, 47c, per word. Weights and Measures ("Pesi e Misure").The metrical system, based on the French, was adopted in Italy in August, 1861. It was made permissive in England (by Act 27, 28, Vic., cap, 117) in 1864. In the Italian names, "ch" takes the place of "k," as chilometro for kilomètre, by which all distances are now measured; and the "h" is dropped, as in ettolittro, for hectolitre. "Km." is, however, used in the Official Railway Guide. ALPHABETICAL TABLE OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, NEW AND OLD. Acre = Chilogramma = 2 lbs. 3 oz. 4.4 drachms. 51 Chilometri=1,000 metri= mile=1,093 yds., 1 foot 10.79 inches. Ettolittro (hectolitre)=2 bushels, 3 pecks, 0.077 pints. Foot 305 metro. Fathom=1.829 metri. Gallon 4.543 littro. Gramma=5644 drachms avoirdupois. Littro (litre)=1.7608 pints=61.028 cubic inches. Metro 1.094 yards, or 3 feet 3:3708 inches, or = 3.281 feet, or 39 37 inches. (To turn metri into yards (nearly), take off 1-11th). 100 metri=328 feet. 1,000 metri (chilom.) 3,281 feet, or about mile. Mile (English) = 1,609.315 metres, or = 1.609 chilometri. = 8 chilom. 5 miles (English) Mile (Italian, or geographical) = 2,025 English yards 1,852 metres 1 1-7th English mile. Mile (Neapolitan)=2,435 yards. (Piedmontese)=2,697 yards. (Roman) = 1,628 yards. (Tuscan) = 1,808 yards. Moggio 4-5ths acre. Ounce (avoirdupois) = 28.35 gramme. (troy)=-31.10 gramme. Palmo 10 inches. Post (old) varies from 4 to 11 English miles Quarter (dry measure)=290.78 littri. lbs. Routes to Italy.-See Itinerary of Routes from England, and lists of railways, steamers, diligences, &c., in Bradshaw's Continental Guide. Through France, via Dover to Calais (three times a day), or Folkestone to Boulogne. By rail, Genoa may be reached through France or Switzerland in 2 to 3 days (or only 37 hours of actual travelling by short route), for about £8, first class. Leghorn, in 3 to 3 days, for £8 to £9. Florence, in 3 to 3 days (or only 48 hours of actual travelling), for £8 to £9. Rome, in 2 to 5 days, for £10 to £11, or 50 hours travelling. Naples, 2 to 5 days, about £12; 54 hours travelling by short route. The direct Land Routes are through France or Switzerland, and through the Tyrol. Sea Routes from London by the London, Italy, and Adriatic Company's boats to Genoa, Leghorn, Naples, &c.-From Southampton to Malta (10 days); thence to Messina, Palermo, &c. Or, from Liverpool to Palermo, &c. Railway Routes are-via France and Mont Cenis or Marseilles; via Switzerland and the St. Gothard or Germany and the Brenner. 1. Through France. To Paris, Dijon, Châlonsur-Saône, to Mâcon; hence, for Mont Cenis, to Ambérieu, Culoz, Chambéry, St. Michel, Modane, Cenis Tunnel, Turin; thence to Milan, Bologna, Genoa, &c. See Skeleton Route, page xxxvi. Or, Paris to Lyons and Marseilles, for Nice, &c., and the Riviera to Genoa. 2. Through Germany. To Brussels, Liége, Verviers, Aix-la-Chapelle, Cologne, Mayence, Aschaffenburg, Munich, Rosenheim, Kufstein, Innsbruck, Brenner Pass, Brixen, Botzen (or Bolzano), Ala, Verona; and thence to Venice, Milan, Padua, Bologna, &c. At Venice the Peninsular and Oriental Steamers may be taken, in connection with Ancona and Brindisi. Or, through Germany and Switzerland, via the new St. Gothard Tunnel. 3. Through Switzerland. To Calais, Basle (direct train avoiding Paris), Lucerne, and the St. Gothard to Milan. Or Steamer to Antwerp, Rail to Brussels, Luxembourg, Strassburg, and Basle, thence as above.-See Bradshaw's Continental Guide. Other Routes are as follow: 4. To Paris, Lyons, Marseilles; and by steamers to Genoa, Leghorn, Civita Vecchia; or Marseilles by rail, to Nice, Genoa, &c. 5. To Paris, Geneva, Martigny, Great Saint Bernard, Aosta, Turin. About 40 hours of actual travelling, to Martigny, under Mont Blanc. 6. To Paris, Geneva, the Simplon, Lake Maggiore, Milan. 7. Up the Rhine, Bâle, Lucerne, the St. Gothard Pass or Tunnel, Lake Maggiore, Milan, or Lake Como and Milan. 8. The Rhine, Bâle, Lucerne, Coire, the Splügen, Como, Milan. 9. Through the Tyrol, by Innsbruck, the Engadine, Stelvio, and other Passes, to Trent, Lake Garda, Verona, Milan, or Veniec. Italian Overland Route to Egypt.-The extension of the Adriatic Coast line (Rete Adriatica) to Brindisi (the ancient Brundisium) made this place the most eligible starting-point for the East, instead of Marseilles. It is 700 to 800 miles nearer to Port Said, and within about 3 days' sea passage of the Suez Canal. A sum of 6 million lire was expended in the improvement of the port. The journey may be performed at through fares by the Mont Cenis, St. Gothard, or Brenner Route, the main line runs on to Ancona, Pescara, Foggia, as above; the three meeting at Bologna; whence Bari, and Brindisi. Across France, the whole distance from Boulogne to Brindisi is about 1,340 miles, as follows: Boulogne to Paris Paris, via Mont Cenis, to Turin, about... Miles 157 497 Turin to Bologna and Ancona 326 The Indian Mail, leaving London on Friday evening, has attached to it a Sleeping Car, from Calais, for Overland travellers holding through tickets; due Monday, at 1-5 a.m. The Mail steamer teaves Brindisi at 4 a.m., and is due at Port Said on Thursday. Parties who do not like night travelling may break the journey here and there by starting a few days earlier. Baggage is examined at Modane. Through fares, first class, a little over £12. Refreshment buffets at most of the places mentioned above. For particulars of either the French or German. Routes see HandBook of Information compiled by the Agents for the South Italian Rail. Baggage on the Brenner Route is examined at Cologne, Kufstein, and Ala. Railways in Italy.-A railway is called "strada ferrata,' and "ferrovia;" or "strade ferrate," and "ferrovie," in the plural. See Bradshaw's Continental Guide for a complete list, with times, distances, fares, &c. Some are single linesas the lines to Susa, Cuneo, Voltri, &c. The oldest is Naples to Castellammare, opened 30th November, 1839. At the end of 1885 there were 6,167 miles open; and 18,135 miles of telegraph. The rails are in the hands of the Government, and are divided unto the Rete Mediterranea, Rete Adriatica, and Rete Sicula. Submarine cables are laid from Otranto to Velona; from Marsala to La Calle, in Africa; Spezia to Corsica; Cagliari to Bône and Malta. In the Italian Railway tables the prices are given in "lire" and "centesimi" ("1." and "c."). The distances in "chilometri," or kilometres ("ch."). "Ant." (a.m.), signifies morning; "pom." (p.m.), afternoon; "arr." arrives; "diret." express; "misti." mixed; "tragetto in ore," time in hours; "diligenze," coaches. Passengers should look after their change at the stations. Luggage, "Effetti di viaggiatore," may be booked and forwarded by rail. There is no free allowance of baggage in Italy. For example, from Modane to Brindisi the charge is 3s. 5d. per 20 lbs. There is, however, no charge for a small hand-bag, weighing not more than 441b., maximum size, 20 x 10 x 12 inches. Revolvers are liable to be confiscated. It is not safe to put valuables among ordinary luggage. Carriage Travelling. A "Vetturino" is the driver of a "vettura," or two-horse carriage. It takes four in and one out, and will do 25 to 30 miles a day, at a cost of about 30 to 40 francs, besides 3 or 4 francs, "buona mano," to driver. A "Calesso," is à véhicle for two persons; charge, about 8d. a mile. "Calessino," "carettino," and "corricolo" are names for a light vehicle. Post Travelling costs about 9d. to 10d. a mile, including postilion and ostler. A post is from 7 to 9 English miles. II.-SKETCH ITALY, OF "L'ITALIA," between lat. 463° N. in the Alps, to 361 in Sicily, and between long. 6° E. at Mont Cenis, to 1810 at Otranto, is a boot-shaped Peninsula, stretching about 500 miles into the Mediterranean Sea, from the basin of the Po; which forms its northern division, and lies between the Alps and Apennines, in a trough, 250 miles by 50. It is bordered on the west by France, or "La Francia," and the Maritime Alps. On the north by Switzerland, or "La Svizzera," and by the Swiss and Tyrolese Alps. On the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea ("Mare Mediterraneo") and the Adriatic Gulf ("Mare Adriatico.") Part of the Mediterranean, between the mainland and Sardinia, is the "Mare Tirreno," or Tyrrhenian Sea; and that part at the mouth of the Adriatic is "Mare Jonio," or Ionian Sea. "Up to mid thigh I stand, nor ever stir, Deep in the water, yet am just as sound; The territories of geographical Italy, as distinguished from political Italy, are encroached upon by its neighbours. The province of Nice was transferred to France, 1860, followed by Savoy, in 1866. Parts of the Swiss Cantons of Tessin, or "Ticino," and the Grisons, or "Grigione," stretch down the Italian slope of the Alps to Lake Maggiore, &c. Tyrol, or "Tirolo," belonging to Austria, comes down to Lake Garda. Corsica, which is geographically a part of Italy, belongs to France; and Malta, to England. Guides-called "Ciceroni" (after Cicero), "servitori de piazza," "commissarj," "facchini," &c. For 5 or 6 lire a day they will show all the sights. Mr. Laing says:-"A valet de place, cicerone, or bear-leader, is a very useful personage, provided he is intelligent, and provided you never take him with you. If you do, you are the party fairly entitled to be paid for the day's work, for you have the fatigue of listening to a rigmarole of names and phrases that would tire the patient ear of any of his marble statues. But consult him in the morning before you sally forth, as a kind of twolegged dictionary; get all the information you can out of him about what you intend to see, and the way to it; pluck him and leave him at home; and the goose is worth his price."-Notes of a Traveller (Traveller's Library). Churches, which are generally the principal objects of notice, are usually shut from 12 to 3. Chiesa," is a church. "Custode," a person in charge. "Pinacoteca," a picture gallery. "Palazzo,' a palace, or family town house. "Piazza," an open place. "Si afitta," means "to let." Turpentine or Condy's Fluid is good for the sting of a wasp, or mosquito bite. Vinegar dropped on a hot poker is good for bad smells. OF ITALY. POLITICAL FEATURES. Before the revolutions of 1859-60, the divisions of the Peninsula were as follow, comprising twelve or thirteen States, and seven principal Governments. -SARDINIAN STATES; LOMBARDO-VENETO Kingdom (from the Ticino eastward); Duchy of PARMA; Duchy of MODENA and MASSA CARRARA; TUSCANY and LUCCA; STATES OF THE CHURCH, including the Romagna, Marches, &c.; Kingdom of NAPLES and SICILY; Principality of MONACO, and Republic of SAN MARINO, both independentthe former now surrounded by French territory. The Austro-Venetian territory, before its cession, 1866, was, by the treaty of Villafranca, confined to the tract from the Mincio eastward to the Adriatic, including Mantua, Verona, Vicenza, and Padua. The four fortresses of Mantua, Peschiera, Verona, and Legnano, lying close together, constituted the famous Quadrilateral. The former Papal States, "Stati Pontifici," were restricted to the Delegations of Rome, Comarca, Viterbo, Civita Vecchia, Velletri, and Frosinone; a space about 100 miles by 40. These, with his old possessions, which the Pope still pretends to claim, viz.:-Umbria, Romagna, and the Marches, made up a total population of three millions. The Kingdom of Italy, now consolidated into one united state, under the constitutional rule of Humbert I., son of Victor Emmanuel, is formed by the union of the Sardinian States, with Lombardy, Parma, Modena, and part of the Papal States, added in 1859; Tuscany, Umbria, the Marches, Naples, and Sicily, added in 1860 Venetia, added 1866; and the rest of the Papal States, added 1870 making about 115,000 square miles, with 26 millions of inhabitants, increased to 284 millions in 1882. It numbers 69 provinces, as below, each under a Préfect, and divided into Circondarii or Circuits, Mandimenti or Delegations, and Communi or Communes. The Italian colours are red, white, and green, with the white cross of Savoy. Colonies.-Italy has for some time been desirous of obtaining colonial possessions, and is believed to entertain designs on Tripoli and Barca, in the event of the dismemberment of the Turkish empire. The practical annexation of Tunis by France in 1881-2 caused great excitement. In 1885 the Italians, favoured by the English government, formally garrisoned Massowah on the Red Sea, they havirg for some years held possession of Asab Bay, in the Danakil country, further to the south. These places cannot as yet be said to have added to the national prosperity or resources. Population.-Including the Islands of Sardinia, Sicily, Elba, &c. (From the Almanach đề Gotha). Population in 1871............ 26,801,854 The estimated population for 1884 was 29,361,030. The ratio of excess of births over deaths and the number of marriages are increasing, and the increase of the population in the great industrial centres is very marked. Besides the resident population there are about 1,000,000 Italians abroad, mostly in America and Europe. From 120,000 to 170,000 (1884, 147,000) annually leave the country, more than half for other European countries, the rest chiefly to South America. The number of persons of both sexes engaged in agriculture, including children over nine years (678,042), was in 1881 9,169,215; in day labour and industrial occupations, including mining, and inclusive of children (318,168), was 4,683,724; prisoners and beggars amounted to 134,800. Those without business, trade, or declared occupation amounted to 9,442,976. Of these, 2,172,440 were between nine and fourteen years. There are no definite statistics as to religious belief. From questions addressed in 1881 to ministers of Reformed churches and rabbis, it would appear that there are only about 62,000 protestants (22,000 in the Vaudois valleys) and 38,000 Jews. A considerable proportion in the large cities profess no religious belief, Income.-Income of the Kingdom of Italy, 1887, about 64 millions sterling; not quite equal to the Expenditure. The former deficit was partly caused by bad tariffs and smuggling at the socalled free ports. The Public Debt amounts to 450 millions. The collection of the revenue absorbs 25 per cent. of the returns. The annual imports and exports between Italy and England amount to about 7 and 2 millions sterling. The maritime trade gives employment to 945,700 tons of shipping, or nearly 7,290 vessels, manned by 189,900 seamen. Army.-The regular army (1887) numbers about 896,470 men; including five regiments of bersaglieri, or light infantry, recruited in the Alpine valleys; and ninety batteries of artillery. "Leva," means the conscription. The war establishment is fixed at 2,590,170 men. A sum of 3 millions sterling is devoted to the construction of new fortifications. Navy.-About 76 steamers and iron-clads, of 42,000 horse power and 480 guns, and manned by 15,100 seamen and marines. Education.-There are twenty Universities, some of which are reduced to colleges. The most important are those of Pisa, Turin, Pavia, and Naples. Other places of education are the Colleges, called Lyceums, the Gymnasiums or High Schools, and the "Scuole Techniche" (Technical Institutions). In 1863, out of 7,730 communes, 7,390 had elementary schools, with 800,000 pupils, the teachers being ecclesiastics and nuns. Out of the whole number, 300,000 were in Piedmont alone, with its population of 3 millions; and only 126,000 in the Neapolitan and Sicilian provinces, with their population of nearly 9 millions. Before the revolution, Naples had hardly any schools, except some indifferent ones at the monasteries; but the people are quick and eager to learn. At Palermo there are about ninety-five schools, where there were only five before. There are forty Normal schools, and a few Asili Infantilli, or infant schools. Rome, to which the government was removed from Florence in June, 1871, is now the capital of the consolidated kingdom of Italy. Here the Houses of Parliament, consisting of a Senate and Chamber of Deputies, now assemble. The Chamber of Deputies numbers about 508 members; the Senate, 270. There are forty-five archbishops, and 153 bishops; or 198 dioceses in all. The peculiar privileges of the clergy were abolished by Statute in 1861. One effect of the consolidation of the different governments, and the removal of the custom-houses, has been a rise in the price of provisions, in consequence of the increased demand. Taxes are high all over the country. House rent, in Rome, Florence, Milan, Turin, &c., has increased, in some instances, as much as one-third. The Income tax is 13 per cent.; property tax, 34 per cent. At the same time new villas are springing up near the towns; oil lamps are giving way to gas; old houses are being repaired and cleaned; and grass is disappearing from the neglected streets. A society for draining the southern provinces has been formed under the Duke della Galliera. Brigandage still prevails in some quarters, but is yielding to the vigorous efforts of the authorities to put it down. A great drawback is the want of roads. In 1861, out of 1,850 communes in the kingdom of Naples, two-thirds were without roads. At Naples, the lazzaroni are made to work on the rail; and the facchini, or porters, here and elsewhere, are put under better regulation. Provision is made for the gradual suppression of all the monasteries and convents, where the inmates are not employed in preaching, education, or the care of the sick. NATURAL FEATURES OF ITALY. Mountains.-The Alps take various names, as the Maritime, Cottian, Pennine, Graian, Rhetian, Carnic, Noric, and Julian Alps, ranging from 4,000 to 15,000 feet high, in a circuit of 600 miles. Heights in round numbers of the chief Alpine passes and peaks:Feet. Col di Tenda, near Nice .................................................. 6,160 |