Fodor's Essential Italy: Rome, Florence, Venice & the Top Spots in Between

by Fodor's Travel Publications Inc.

Unforgettable art, heavenly villages, dream cities--there are so many reasons to visit Italy that deciding where to go and what to do can be a bit overwhelming. Fodor's Essential Italy takes the guesswork out of choosing the perfect Italian experiences by compiling the top choices chosen by Fodor's Italy-based experts.
EXPANDED COVERAGE: Fodor's Essential Italy provides thorough, insightful coverage of the highlights of this beloved European destination. Dozens of scintillating new reviews are sure to entice first-time and even repeat visitors to hotels and restaurants scattered throughout Rome, Venice, and Florence.
ILLUSTRATED FEATURES: The visual impact of hundreds of lively images throughout the guide is doubly enhanced by ten in-depth, magazine-style articles highlighting Italy's top attractions, including Rome's imperial ruins; Tuscan wine country; Venice's Grand Canal; a Who's Who of Renaissance Art in Florence; the Sistine Chapel Ceiling; the frescoes at the Basilica of St. Francis; villas by the great Palladio; and more.
INDISPENSABLE TRIP PLANNING TOOLS:  The major attractions of the big three---Rome, Venice, and Florence---are given at-a-glance treatment, alongside top itineraries, "Best Bets" for restaurants and lodging, and what to do whether on your own or with the kids. Our user-friendly "Experience" chapter helps travelers plan the most memorable trip, cueing them in to "Top Attractions," "Top Experiences," "Italy Today," "What's New," and a multitude of useful information. Easy-to-scan recommendations run the gamut from alfresco dining in Venice to the art treasures of Florence; how to trek the Cinque Terre; and where to find the best beaches along the Amalfi Coast.
DISCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS: Fodor's Essential Italy offers savvy advice and recommendations from local writers to help travelers make the most of their time. Fodor's Choice designates our best picks, from hotels to nightlife.
INCLUDES: Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, Umbria.
PULLOUT MAP: Handy take-along maps of Rome and Venice provide added value, giving travelers essential information about top attractions, walking tours, and nearby dining so they can travel with confidence.
ABOUT FODOR'S AUTHORS: Each Fodor's Travel Guide is researched and written by local experts.

Genres: Travel, Italy, Nonfiction, Reference, Guidebook, Italian Literature, Ebooks

496 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Fodor's Travel Publications is a United States-based producer of English-language travel guides and online tourism information. It was founded by Hungarian Eugene Fodor in 1936.
Fodor’s was acquired by Random House in 1986 and sold to Internet Brands in 2016.

Reviews

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

never thought i’d be writing a review for a travel book LOL

i would’ve liked to see images next to the activities proposed or even images of all the cities and towns mentioned. that’s the main downfall i can think of.

other than that i find it gives great advice, an extensive idea of activities, gives culinary tips and is a good, compacted guide for anyone who wishes to visit multiple regions in italy at once. will def bring with me on board!

[Shanelle]

i did not read this whole thing bc i’m not going to every city in italy. i’ll lyk if it was helpful post-trip but i definitely learned things lol

[Bob H · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has made two extended trips to Italy in recent years, and planning future trips there, I was interested to see how Fodor covered places I had seen, as well as future destinations. The book is comprehensive, accurate, and full of background information, history and tips on the destinations, particularly major ones like Rome, Florence and Venice. Indeed, this guide gets to the essentials, and provides information in proportion to the attractions and interests of given locations (more, say, on Florence than the Valle d'Aosta, though it does touch on the latter more than some "best of" guidebooks). It does cover pretty much all the places of interest to tourists, and provides current information on local accommodations, transit and cuisine.

It's a bulky work, but given its main focus -- what a traveler should plan for and look for, before-the-fact -- it's highly useful and informative. It can help a traveler decide what destinations to see, and what places to seek out once there, and how to get to them. It has an insider's knowledge, sometimes gossipy, sometimes insightful, as to how best to experience it. (It's amusing to read, for instance, "Florence's popularity with tourists means that, unfortunately, there's a higher percentage of mediocre restaurants here," before Fodor goes on with an insider's tips on which restaurants a visitor should try).

The book is well-organized, colorful, well-illustrated with maps and pictures, has a nice pull-out map of Rome in back, and has readable and interesting prose. In all, it's a worthwhile guide to plan a trip, or several trips.

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first Fodor's. A little intimidating after some of the smaller, more concise travel books I'd used before. 440 pages. But Italy, for me required a lot of depth before I went to make sure I understood the history (very complex) and the relevance of the art treasures and the gifted creators who made everything we wanted to see. Even after two trips, we haven't even begun to scratch the surface.

[Danni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me so hungry. It is a good thing I don't drive or I would have left for Italy all ready. It was so fun to read about all the things that are so Interesting to me. I am Italian and I always wanted to go, but reading a travel guide is as close as I am going to get at this point. The pictures were so beautiful.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this book for travelers visiting the Vatican. This section of the book is very comprehensive. It includes tips on wait times, various collections (i.e., Egyptian art), appropriate dress, and items to bring with you (i.e., binoculars to view the Sistine Chapel).

[Ashley Rangel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great tool in planning our trip to the three main cities that this book focuses on. Each night we would plan out the things we wanted to do the next day and because this helped us plan so well we always had time left over to do more things!

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

good practical advice in very broad overview--

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I downloaded this on my Nook so I would not have to carry books on our trip to Italy. I found this to be the most helpful in reading about the sights we were seeing--both before and after.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for planning my upcoming trip to Italy.

[E G Melby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh - I’ve seen better

[Nancy Higgs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for lots of locations. Good tips

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has helped me plan my trip to Italy!!