Frommer's Italy 2012 (Frommer's Color Complete)

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• Insider advice on avoiding the crowds as you explore some of Italy's greatest gems, from the Uffizi in Florence to the Vatican Museum in Rome, and from the ruins at Pompeii to Venice's St. Mark's basilica. Plus tips for navigating the country's lovely but less-traveled corners, like the Marches, the Dolomites, and even Sardinia.
• Where to find the absolute best seafood in Venice, the loveliest vineyards in Tuscany, the tastiest pizza in Naples, and, of course, the finest gelato that Italy has to offer.
• Insightful commentary on Italy's dazzling array of art and architectural masterpieces, from Michelangelo's statue of David to the glories of St. Peter's in Rome.
• Opinionated reviews. No bland descriptions and lukewarm recommendations. Our expert writers are passionate about their destinations--they tell it like it is in an engaging and helpful way.
• Exact prices listed for every establishment and activity--no other guides offer such detailed, candid reviews of hotels and restaurants. We include the very best, but also emphasize moderately priced choices for real people.
• User-friendly features including star ratings and special icons to point readers to great finds, excellent values, insider tips, best bets for kids, special moments, and overrated experiences.

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Piazza delle Erbe & Piazza dei Signori, Verona The site of the Roman forum is now Verona’s central square, the venue for a daily market; the adjoining Piazza dei Signori was once the scene of assemblies of the medieval citizens’ council. Walking between these two beautiful squares involves a risk -- a whale bone suspended in the Arco della Costa (Arch of the Rib) will fall on anyone who has never told a lie.

St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome at dusk The incomprehensibly voluminous basilica of the Vatican is packed with incalculable riches, from the marble and gold that cover its every surface to such masterpieces as Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s Baldacchino.

Eruptions at night on the isle of Stromboli, Sicily An active but sluggish volcano emits puffs of smoke and lava all the time, and a nighttime trek to the summit provides views of fiery red lava flowing toward the sea.

Valley of the Temples, Agrigento Sicily’s most celebrated archaeological site preserves a proud group of temples from the fifth century BC, as well as houses, streets, and tombs -- all set on a ridge amid olive and almond trees and overlooking the sea.

Villa d’Este, located in Tivoli outside of Rome Whimsical grottoes, rushing flumes, and reflecting pools lace the gardens of the pleasure palace of Renaissance noble and cardinal Ippolito d’Este.

Customer Reviews

 (20 customer reviews)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Useful advice, but one book can't do what this one tries to do, April 8, 2012

Nobody important - See all my reviews
  

This review is from: Frommer's Italy 2012 (Frommer's Color Complete) (Paperback)

Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)

My wife and I recently took a vacation in Italy, focused on Venice, and then the lake country. We took this book with us, and our general reaction was that there is relatively little *bad* advice here, there just isn't enough on any one area. Frommer's has attempted to put together a travel reference for all of Italy, in one volume, by devoting a single chapter to each major city/region. With a place like Italy, that just can't be done.

So, the advice: On restaurants, you don't really need much guidance in most of Italy. It is a food-and-wine country with few peers. Venice, however, is an exception. For whatever reason, finding top-quality food (particularly at a reasonable price), is disproportionately hard there. The restaurants we tried from this book were always good, but going off-recommendation in Venice did not have good results. We were never blown away by the restaurants Frommer's recommended, but we were always happy with our food. The problem with their...Read more

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

The Best of Italy, March 21, 2012

' Groovin' guy "music historian" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frommer's Italy 2012 (Frommer's Color Complete) (Paperback)

Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)

This heavy weight paperback is filled with 966 pages of terrific travel advise for touring Italy.

Everything is researched and very well documented here, including best museums, romantic getaways, best cathedrals,etc.

The chapter Italy in Depth is wonderful and contains history of Italy and books, music, films and how the culture has changed to today.

There is extensive coverage of Rome, Florence, Bologna, Venice and more regions which are most popular.

Another great chapter is Planning Your Trip to Italy, covering the climate and best seasons for travel, money and expenses, crime and safety and so much more.

This book is well worth the cost. If you are planning a trip to Italy, this book is a must-have. A definitive source for all things Italian.Highly recommended!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Outstanding Guide to Italy, March 23, 2012

L. Young "palmtree2000" (West Orange, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
     

This review is from: Frommer's Italy 2012 (Frommer's Color Complete) (Paperback)

Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)

I have used Frommer travel guides for years and have always found them helpful, clearly written and easy to use. This new 2012 guide to Italy is no exception. It thoroughly covers the country, highlighting the best sights, hotels and restaurants, as well as noting the best Italy has to offer as well as practical information and best itineraries. The graphics are clear and easy to read, which is not the case with many other guidebook series. I highly recommend it.