VI
PREFACE.
The Editor is indebted to Professor A. Springer for the in¬
troductory article on Art, which has special reference to Nor¬
thern Italy and Florence, and for the art-historical notices pre¬
fixed to the description of the larger towns and principal pic¬
ture-galleries. The admirable works of Messrs. Crowe and Ca-
valcaselle have also been laid extensively under contribution.
The Maps and Plans , upon which special care has been
bestowed, will abundantly suffice for the use of the ordinary
traveller.
Heights are given in English feet (1 Engl. ft. = 0,3048
metre), and Distances in English miles (comp. p. ii). The
Populations are given from the most recent official sources.
Hotels (comp. p. xviii). Besides the modern palatial and
expensive establishments, the Handbook also contains a se¬
lection of modest, old-fashioned inns, which not unfrequently
afford good accommodation at moderate charges. The asterisks
indicate those hotels which the Editor has reason to believe
from his own experience, as well as from information supplied
by numerous travellers, to be respectable, clean, and reason¬
able. The value of these asterisks, it need hardly be observed,
varies according to circumstances, those prefixed to town
hotels and village inns signifying respectively that the
establishments are good of their kind. At the same time the
Editor does not doubt that comfortable quarters may occasion¬
ally be obtained at inns which he has not recommended or
even mentioned. The average charges are stated in accord¬
ance with the Editor's own experience, or from the bills
furnished to him by travellers. Although changes frequently
take place, and prices generally have an upward tendency,
the approximate statement of these items which is thus
supplied will at least enable the traveller to form an estimate
of his probable expenditure.
To hotel-proprietors, tradesmen, and others the Editor
begs to intimate that a character for fair dealing and courtesy
towards travellers forms the sole passport to his commend¬
ation, and that advertisements of every kind are strictly ex¬
cluded from his Handbooks.
Permalink: http://pid.emory.edu/ark:/25593/ks42v
