- ISBN13: 9781598802863
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
From the beaches to the Alps, from fine art to fine pasta, Italy has it all. With this book, you’ll trace Italian culture from Rome’s Colosseum to Michelangelo’s David to the bustling elegance of Milan. Experience the art-drenched cities of Venice and Florence, explore the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum, and learn how to avoid the lines at the most popular museums. Discover the villages of Tuscany and Umbria and the lazy rhythms of the Cinque Terre. Shop at … More >>
Rick Steves’ Italy 2010 with map
Tags: ancient ruins, colosseum
#1 by Grain O Sand on May 20, 2010 - 12:25 pm
We went to Italy in 2007 and had the corresponding Steve’s guidebook…as did every other touron in Italy that fall. Don’t get me wrong the guidebook was great but I sure felt like a dork sitting in a restaurant with 20 other people who all had the same guidebook. “Oh what does Rick say I should eat here?” Guidebooks are good for a general plan…but we used it a little too much “to the letter” and frankly the experience lost it’s luster. “Oh, Rick says we should go look at this but gee… I’m not quite as thrilled as he said I should be!”
So in that sense maybe it was user error on my part. Travel should be about adventure, not canned experience IMHO, a guidebook should be bare bones or used as such. On our next trip I’ll probably use a guidebook to lay out the general itinerary and leave it at home to add a little adventure.
Also important to note is that the poularity of this guidebook leads a lot of people to the same places. Obviously most tourists (regardless of the guidebook they own) are going to go to The Sistine Chapel. But I would guess that the subtler attractions that this book suggests will receive A LOT more traffic because of the book. Restaurants, hotels etc. It’s funny this book suggests that the Cinque Terre is a lesser known destination on the Riviera. Well, I’d hate to go to the well known ones then, it was beautiful but it was also expensive and crowded.
With all that said it’s a good book. The maps are accurate, the hotel advice was great as was the restaurant info and recommendation.
Rating: 3 / 5
#2 by Jane S. Hunolt on May 20, 2010 - 12:53 pm
I’m planning a trip to Italy in September and would never attempt it without Rick’s books. The 2007 version is also in my library so I will compare the 2. We looked at a cruise but realized we couldn’t get a real feel for the country that way. He spells out so many of the daily needs and customs, sleeping accommodations, restaurants and sites ranked. My itinerary is done so I’m working on the details. Ciao
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by Mick on May 20, 2010 - 1:00 pm
Very good book for planning ones travels to Italy. Has everything one would expect
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Anne Leslie Saunders on May 20, 2010 - 1:41 pm
I have used Rick Steves’ guidebooks in the past. They are excellent but have little information about World War II sites in Italy. I have just published a travel guidebook on that subject: please look at: A Travel Guide to World War II Sites in Italy: Museums, Monuments, and Battlegrounds. This guidebook describes places that are in or near Rome, Florence, Bologna, and Lucca, but are rarely noted in general travel guides for Italy.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by Thomas W. De Vries on May 20, 2010 - 3:53 pm
Rick’s books always give the sort of information that you need to plan great vacation trips, including economical places to stay and eat. We plan to use the train for our next trip around Italy, and he is especially good in providing data on this subject.
Rating: 5 / 5