Mediterranean winter resorts : a practical handbook to the principal health and pleasure resorts on the shores of the Mediterranean, with special articles on the principal invalid stations by resident English physicians / by Eustace A. Reynolds-Ball.

  • Reynolds-Ball, Eustace A. (Eustace Alfred), 1858-1928.
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mediterranean winter resorts : a practical handbook to the principal health and pleasure resorts on the shores of the Mediterranean, with special articles on the principal invalid stations by resident English physicians / by Eustace A. Reynolds-Ball. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/484 (page 2)
    There is no doubt that the Riviera possesses a climate which, at any rate, if not the best in the South of Europe, is certainly the nearest approach to a perfect climate within a day and a quarter of London. Taking the climate of the whole Riviera, its main features are abundance of sunshine, a large proportion of rainless days, fairly mild temperature, and a moderately dry and stimulating atmosphere. There is not nearly as much difference in the climatic conditions of the various resorts on this strip of coast as might be imagined from the imposing array of comparative meteorological statistics and climatological records which are to be found in the guide books. Any peculiar climatic advantage possessed by one particular winter station is due to local conditions—mainly to some natural protection afforded by the configuration of the mountain chain run- ning along the coast, which serves as a barrier—more or less imperfect at the different resorts—to ward off the winds. In short, the amount of shelter from the winds is the one standard by which these winter stations should be classified in order of merit as invalid quarters. The strong point of the climate is, of course, the large proportion of sunny days. Thus, comparing Nice with London, we find that during the six winter and spring months Nice has an average of ninety-seven clear and cloudless days, while London has only twelve. With regard to rain, it is important to make a distinction be- tween the number of rainy days and the actual rainfall. An inquirer may, perhaps, be confronted with elaborate tables of statistics which prove that the rainfall of Nice from November to April is much greater than that of London. Though this fact is indisputable, it need not daunt the searcher after sunshine. The high average of the Nice rainfall is chiefly made up of a few days’ steady downpour, generally in the spring, so that the tables for the period from October to April give 17 in. to Nice, and 9'5 hi,