A Hand-book for Travellers in Spain and Readers at Home

From Preface: "Of the many misrepresentations regarding Spain, few have been more systematically circulated than the dangers and difficulties which are there supposed to beset the traveller. This, the most romantic and peculiar country in Europe, may in reality be visited throughout its length and breadth with ease and safety, for travelling there is no worse than it was in France or Italy in 1814, before English example forced improvements. Still the great desideratum is a practical Hand-book, as the national Guias are unsatisfactory, since few Spaniards travel in their own country, and fewer travel out of it; thus, with limited means of comparison, they cannot appreciate differences, nor know what are the wants and wishes of a foreigner. Accordingly in their Guides, usages, ceremonies, &c., which are familiar to themselves from childhood, are often passed over without notice, although, from their novelty to the stranger, they are exactly what he most desires to have pointed out and explained. Nay, the natives frequently despise or are ashamed of those very things which the most interest and charm the foreigner, for whose observation they select the new rather than the old, and especially their poor pale copies of Europe, in preference to their own rich and racy originals. Again, the oral information which is to be obtained from the parties on the spot is generally still more meagre; and as these incurious semi-orientals look with jealousy on the foreigner who observes or questions, they either fence with him in their answers, raise difficulties, or, being highly imaginative, magnify or diminish everything as best suits their own views and suspicions. The national expressions "Quien sabe? no se sabe,"—"who knows? I do not know," will often be the prelude to "No se puede,"—"it can't be done." This Hand-book attempts to show what may be known and what may be done in Spain, with the least difficulty and the most satisfaction. With this view, the different modes of travelling by land or water, and the precautions necessary to be taken to insure comfort and security, are first pointed out in the Introduction. The Provinces are then described one after another. The principal lines of high roads, cross-communications, names of inns, and quality of accommodation, are detailed, and the best seasons of the year for exploring each route suggested. Plans of tours, {2}general and special, are drawn up, and the best lines laid down for specific and specified objects. The peculiarities of every district and town are noticed, and a short account given of the local antiquities, religion, art, scenery, and manners. Thus this work, the fruit of many years' wandering in the Peninsula, is an humble attempt to furnish in the smallest compass the greatest quantity of useful and entertaining information, whether for the traveller in the country itself or for the reader at home. Those things which every one when on the spot can see with his own eyes, such as scenery, pictures, &c., are seldom described minutely; stress is laid upon what to observe, leaving it to the spectator to draw his own conclusions; nor is everything that can be seen set down, but only what is really worth seeing,—nec omnia dicentur (as Pliny says, 'N. H.' xiv. 2), sed maxime insignia."