I don't know if Knopf is still producing these guides, but they're great. Glossy pages, beautiful photography and reproductions of artworks, street maps, small sections on the flora and fauna of an area. They're more aimed at the cultural tourist than someone looking for a hotel or restaurant, although there are sections on those too. At $25 (back in 2001) they're more expensive than something like a Frommer's guide, but well worth the money. I went to Italy with a Frommer's, plus one of these Knopf guides for each of Rome, Florence and Venice. I used the Frommer's to reserve hotels. These Knopf guides are so beautiful and informative you'll still be looking at them years later.