Knopf Guide: Rome

by Alfred A. Knopf Publishing

"You can lose yourself in a guide, but you won't get lost in the city." -- Town & Country

Once the most powerful city in the world, the heart of an empire that stretched from northern Africa to England, the Rome of today stands as an unforgettable reminder of the birth of Western civilization. Rome is a city unsurpassed in its legacy of art and architecture, yet its nightclubs and fantastic restaurants such has Alfredo's (with its signature fettucine) prove there is still plenty of life in this city that sits along the banks of the Tiber.

Everything you want to know about Rome is the Vatican ceremonies, secret gardens from a by-gone era, and walking tours from the breathtaking Piazza Novana to the Forum and Trastevere. Discover the beautifully proportioned piazzas, centuries-old churches, magnificent palazzos, and unsurpassed displays of mosaics, frescoes and statues, as well as the sidewalk cafes and shops along the Via Condotti. Enjoy the city's charm -- palm trees against crumbling ochre-colored walls, the golden vista of obelisks and domes at sunset, cats asleep in the Teatro Pompeii where Julius Caesar met his fate in 44 BC -- and marvel at its modern-day brio.

Genres: Travel, Reference, Nonfiction

560 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. is an American publishing house that was founded by Blanche Knopf and Alfred A. Knopf Sr. in 1915.

From the start, Knopf focused on European translations and high-brow works of literature. During World War I these books were cheap to obtain and helped establish Knopf as an American firm publishing European works.

In 1960, Random House acquired the Alfred A. Knopf publishing house. Knopf published textbooks until 1988, when Random House's schools and colleges division was sold to McGraw Hill.

Reviews

[Lobstergirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent edition from a fantastic series. I just picked up the most recent publication for a trip to Rome this spring...and my only complaint is that they rather reduced one section of the city to a font size a little too small to be convenient. That said, it's a minor quibble as I could find what I wanted in other sections of this exceptionally easy to read & useful travel guide.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are my all-time favorite city guides, with foldout maps and concise info about cultural sites, restaurants, shopping & hotels. Just spent 10 days in Istanbul with the Knopf guide and a street food book. Perfect for carrying in your bag and not getting weighed down. Great design!

[R.Friend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully designed and very functional pocket-sized map guide with fold-out details for each location of interest. Highly recommended for every city.