Edward Lear (London 1812-1888 San Remo)

Lear visited Monte Generoso in the summer of 1878 where he was amazed by the far-reaching views. In a letter to his nephew he commented that 'the views near the Hotel are wonderful. There is one point from which you may (perhaps) see all the plains & lakes of Italy, besides the rivers Jordan, Mississippi & Amazon, the whole course of the Nile, - as well as the cities of Peking, St. Petersburg & Copenhagen, not to speak of the straits of Jamaica & Joppa with the adjacent islands of Cappadocia, Ceylon and Islington' (27 July 1878).