A 19th century British winter - it meant at best short, damp days, often shrouded in fog; at worst soot-laden air and bronchial ailments. For the well off, escape to a sunny, coastal winter resort was an option - Nice, Cannes and Menton on the French Riviera were popular destinations although by the mid-1800s they were becoming rather crowded, fairly socially demanding and somewhat more expensive than when they were first established. When John Ruffini's unassuming little book entitled Doctor Antonio was published in Edinburgh in 1855 it must have been exactly what many of its winter-bound readers had been waiting for. As winter closed in, there was comfort and inspiration in reading about an as yet undiscovered place abroad where the climate was milder, the air was so much cleaner, and the surroundings were rural and charmingly rustic. So much so that from 1855 to around 1935 the story of Bordighera's growth and development reads like a Who's Who of the British upper class. More than 150 years since the first winter "settlers" arrived, the town's British heritage is still remembered and commemorated in its tennis courts, its Anglican church, its international library and museum. In How the British came to Bordighera on the Italian Riviera I explore this unusual aspect of Bordighera's history. I have not attempted to write a comprehensive guide to modern Bordighera, but at the end of How the British came to Bordighera on the Italian Riviera I have included some hints to help you plan a visit.
About the Author: I'm a New Zealander, born in Auckland in the 1950s. My expat experience began in 1977 when I travelled to the south of Italy by ship. Since then I have lived in Alba, in Piemonte, northern Italy and since 1997 I've been living in a quirky little flat in the ramparts of Ventimiglia Alta, Liguria, north west Italy. I am the author of "Portraits of the Riviera", Penguin NZ 2004. ISBN 0-14-301911-2. I've travelled widely throughout Italy and France. I love writing, teaching English, translating and proofreading, travelling and gardening - yes, with two Italian friends I rent a piece of campagna where we have an orto (vegetable garden and orchard), barbecues, long, long summer lunches and dinners - and fireflies in spring. Thank you for your interest in "How the British came to Bordighera on the Italian Riviera". In writing this short ebook I would like to thank all my friends in Italy - Italians and expats - for making my life in your country so pleasant. Without you I might just as well have stayed at home. My ebooks are: -Several slightly spooky short stories set on and around the Italian Riviera http: //amzn.to/18RxYgu -How to turn your photos into 3D greeting cards http: //amzn.to/1axBD4k -The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Virtues - a Miracle, a Pilgrimage and an Easter picnic http: //amzn.to/1bu2Oex -An A-Z of Italian street names and the stories they tell of Italian history http: //amzn.to/11I6eZs -How to explore Ventimiglia Alta on the Italian Riviera http: //amzn.to/11I5YcK -How to Get Ready to Live Your Dream as a Happy Expat in Italy http: //amzn.to/12lkh1X I am the publisher of How my Italian adventure began by Eddie Wise http: //amzn.to/1agdgou 1n 2012 I assisted my father, Gordon McKenzie, in the e-publication of his childhood memoirs - testimony that you are never too old to embrace modern technology Blasts from the Past - Tales of a 1930s childhood among Kauri and Kiwi in the far north of New Zealand http: //amzn.to/137F5sI The Gentle Giants - a step back in time in the New Zealand bush to summer 1938 in 3 parts http: //amzn.to/18RAmUl - http: //amzn.to/157tXza and http: //amzn.to/1b5WNpG facebook - Ventimiglia Alta Words from the Ramparts and Beyo