A Tour through Italy

1791

de Beer Eb 1791 M

London: Printed for C. and G. Kearsley

In 1778 Thomas Martyn (1735–1825) travelled to Italy, spending two years there. His diary formed the basis of his successful guide A Tour through Italy (1791). Martyn’s interest was in botany, but he did take time out to offer useful details on currency differences between regions, habitable inns, mileage, and include a colourful map of the then road system. The map excludes all Italy south of Naples, perhaps reflecting the traditional limits of what constituted ‘Italy’; the area outside that consisted of banditti (i.e. outlaws, robbers) and continuous unrest.