INTRODUCTION. XIII 



a greater number of sunny days, and of a smaller rainfall. 

 This is due to the height of the mountains which shelter it. 

 Along the Riviera di Ponente the loftv chain of the Mari- 

 time Alps rises abruptly from the coast, and the north wind 

 which prevails in winter deposits the greater part of its mois- 

 ture on them. The Apennines, which shelter the Riviera di 

 Levante, are not sufficientlv high to have this effect. On 

 the Eastern Riviera Genoa and Spezia have the greatest 

 number of rainy days during the ^vinter, while Nervi has 

 the fewest. The rainfall increases far more rapidly from Nervi 

 to Genoa than it does from Nervi to Spezia. In point of 

 shelter Nervi is cquallv favoured. As a rule the less pro- 

 tection there is from the north the more brisk and bracing 

 is the air; this should be favourable to such invalids as are 

 not consumptive. The dust is not so troublesome on the 

 Eastern as on the Western Riviera, owing to the different 

 nature of the material used in making the roads. The lime- 

 stone used for this purjjoes on the Ponente is soon ground 

 into fine dust which is easilv stirred up, while the shale of 

 the Levante crumbles into coarser and heavier particles. 



Many who are not the:Tiselves consumptive hesitate to 

 sojourn in a place \vhich harbours many invalids. It is to 

 the distinct advantage of Mentone that a Sanatorium has 

 been built in the Gorbio valley which takes in such cases. 

 So that hotels can no'w, without inflicting hardship, refuse 

 admittance to them. 



The whole coast bet^yeen Mentone and Nice is ad- 

 mirabh' sheltered from the north. Unfortunately the land 

 bordering the sea at this spot is largely in the hands of 

 private owners, so that the onh- means of communication re- 

 maining open are the railway and the high road. Motor 

 cars monopolise this latter, making it intolerable to invalids 

 and interfering with the enjoyment of healthy people. 

 Beaulieu, which is included in this district, is specially fav- 

 oured, since it possesses a path, free from dust, along the 



