A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRAVEL GUIDES

Rome, one life is not enough. This was the title Silvio Negro chose in 1962 for the first “guidebook” that described the Italian capital in a different way, not just focusing on its famous monuments, but also on the small hidden stories found among the sampietrini, the alleys, and the residents of the historic city.

This August, in the Eternal City, at Palazzo della Sapienza —one of those hidden places unknown to tourists— the exhibition To Rome! Travel guides, images of the city is being held at the Alessandrina Library. Opened in 1670, the library itself deserves a visit, not only for the monumental hall designed by Francesco Borromini, but also for its frescoes and towering wooden shelves that make it a splendid setting.

What is striking, as the exhibition shows, is that already in the 15th century there were works that could be considered the precursors of modern guidebooks. They were initially meant to guide pilgrims and merchants, later evolving into resources for early “tourists” of Rome. In the Middle Ages, travel was marked by the search for Christian relics and testimonies through the itineraria and indulgentiae —the earliest prototypes of guides, written on parchments or maps, listing sacred sites and stages for the acquisition of indulgences.

Also noteworthy were the Mirabilia Urbis Romae, small manuscripts (later printed) that narrated imperial Rome from a historical perspective, blending truth with legend and leaving ample space for anecdotes and stories of the ancient city.

From these early prototypes, we arrive at what is considered the first modern travel guide: Rheinreise von Mainz bis Köln, published in 1828 by the German Karl Baedeker. The guide was reworked in the 1830s with the subtitle Handbuch für Schnellreisende (“handbook for fast travelers”), a phrase that perfectly sums up the concept of today’s pocket travel guides.

The growth of travel guides in the early 19th century was also driven by the Grand Tour, a long journey across continental Europe undertaken by young aristocrats to refine their knowledge and cultural education, with Italy as the main destination. It was precisely through the Grand Tour that both the word “tourism” and the concept of travel as a mass cultural phenomenon were born.

It was not until the 1960s and 70s, however, that travel guides truly flourished, alongside the rise of mass tourism made possible by more affordable commercial airlines. The Touring Club released its famous red and green guides, while in 1972 Lonely Planet emerged, destined to become a leader thanks to its personalized content. The story of the Michelin Guide, more focused on gastronomy and hospitality, took a different path.

But in the era of digitalization and artificial intelligence, what remains of the “old” paper guidebooks?

By the early 2000s, the market experienced a sharp decline in sales. Guides became smaller, pocket-sized, easier to carry while traveling, but even that was not enough. The arrival of the internet marked a turning point: despite attempts to integrate digital references, the industry faced an undeniable crisis, with printed copies continuing to decline.

And yet, airport bookstores remain filled with printed guides, proving there is still a market—perhaps among those less used to digital tools. Some small, determined publishers continue to produce thematic guides, offering stories from the author’s perspective and personal experiences. These niche, “collectible” editions are still produced in limited runs.

The history of tourism in Mallorca followed a similar path. The first publication dates back to 1891, when Pedro de Alcántara Peña released the Guía Manual de las Baleares. The tradition grew poc a poc with the creation of the Mallorca Tourist Board at the beginning of the 20th century.

Even today, when we come across an old guide to Mallorca, we check if Illetas and Hotel BonSol are mentioned, and we feel a wave of nostalgia flipping through those yellowed pages.

The world moves so fast, but at BonSol we wish all printed guides a long life, hoping they too will enjoy a renaissance —just like vinyl records, film cameras, and all those beautiful vintage treasures that have come back in style.

It will be an honor to see our name, HOTEL BONSOL, once again in their printed pages. All we can say is:
“Long live the guidebooks!”

‍