Place unknown, 1823

From Chur to Milan in only 36 hours! When the roads crossing the Splügen and San Bernardino passes were made accessible for vehicles, the duration of the journey to the south was massively shortened. Before the Post Office took over the stagecoach lines in 1849, they were run by private firms. The express stagecoach connection by «Abys and Bauer» promised a particularly fast transportation, reducing travel time by about half a day, compared to other stagecoaches. The ticket prices were accordingly high: the ride cost more than the average monthly salary of a craftsman. Only few could afford the luxury of a coach trip. Most people were still travelling on foot.