What was, the Grand Tour? The Grand Tour, from the English perspective, was a trip the aristocratic young were expected to take, partly to keep them out of trouble, and to be inspired by the ruins of Classical Civilization.
The tourist would reach France, usually at Calais, which had a largely Anglo-origin, though French speaking population. They would take a coach, usually with no suspension, trying to reach Paris as quickly as possible without staying at too may questionable inns. He would then visit Versailles, tour cities of the south, and cross into Switzerland to reach Italy, avoiding the possibility of Corsair pirates if he took a sea journey.
The classically minded did not appreciate the mountain passes of Switzerland until the romantic era of the 1800s. He would marvel at the North Italian ciites with especial attention paid to Florence and Venice. The goal however was Rome, and many English settled there. Italian aristocrats would make a business out of entertaining English aristocrats, showing them rooms full up to the ceiling of paintings they might wish to purchase as a momento. It was also seen as necessary to have their portrait painted with Roman ruins as a backdrop.
From there it was usually necessary to see Naples, which was the most thriving and energetic and interesting of the Italian cities. They would then attempt to climb Vesuvius, sometimes getting their clothes smoky or burnt.
That was as far south as most of them went. Travelling in Italy was troublesome as the country was full of bandits and customs officers (legal bandits), and the gentle English often failed to negotiate price, paying what was asked, earning them the disrespect of the locals. They then ventured north again, often through Germany and then the low countries, and back to England.
Charles Kos
What was, the Grand Tour? The Grand Tour, from the English perspective, was a trip the aristocratic young were expected to take, partly to keep them out of trouble, and to be inspired by the ruins of Classical Civilization.
The tourist would reach France, usually at Calais, which had a largely Anglo-origin, though French speaking population. They would take a coach, usually with no suspension, trying to reach Paris as quickly as possible without staying at too may questionable inns. He would then visit Versailles, tour cities of the south, and cross into Switzerland to reach Italy, avoiding the possibility of Corsair pirates if he took a sea journey.
The classically minded did not appreciate the mountain passes of Switzerland until the romantic era of the 1800s. He would marvel at the North Italian ciites with especial attention paid to Florence and Venice. The goal however was Rome, and many English settled there. Italian aristocrats would make a business out of entertaining English aristocrats, showing them rooms full up to the ceiling of paintings they might wish to purchase as a momento. It was also seen as necessary to have their portrait painted with Roman ruins as a backdrop.
From there it was usually necessary to see Naples, which was the most thriving and energetic and interesting of the Italian cities. They would then attempt to climb Vesuvius, sometimes getting their clothes smoky or burnt.
That was as far south as most of them went. Travelling in Italy was troublesome as the country was full of bandits and customs officers (legal bandits), and the gentle English often failed to negotiate price, paying what was asked, earning them the disrespect of the locals. They then ventured north again, often through Germany and then the low countries, and back to England.
That was the grand tour.
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