The Companion Guide to Rome (Companion Guides) [Paperback]

Tim Jepson (Adapter, Author), Georgina Masson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2001 | Series: Companion Guides

(The author) has an observant and enthusiastic eye, she writes elegantly and with warmth, and knows her subject inside out. SUNDAY TELEGRAPH The best guide to Rome published for many a long year SUNDAY TIMES Rome is a city with over 2,500 years of history, with buildings and art treasures representative of much of that time; as Augustus Hare wrote, the fascination lies in the discovery of 'ancient cloister and sculptured fountain, of mouldering fresco and medieval tomb - of mosaic-crowned gateway and palm-shadowed garden - and the gradually acquired knowledge of the wondrous story which clings around each of these ancient things'. Georgina Masson's book provides the perfect companion to this voyage of discovery, including both the great sights - the Colosseum, the Forum, the Vatican Palace and many more - and the smaller corners of Rome's squares and streets; she guides the visitor equally skilfully though the maze of the Roman past. And she evokes the reactions of earlier travellers to Rome, who, like the author of the twelfth-century pilgrims' guide to the marvels of the city, have been equally entranced by the city's classical monuments and its Christian heritage. Her book has long been recognised as a classic, and is now presented in a fully revised and updated edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Can rightly be called a classic... the definitive historical and cultural account of the city... it inspires complete faith SUNDAY TELEGRAPH (4/00) The best guide to Rome SEAN SWALLOW, TRAVEL BOOKSHOP (7/98) The best guide to Rome published for many a long year SUNDAY TIMES Masson writes elegantly and with warmth, and knows her subject inside out SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Companion Guides; Revised edition (July 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1900639211
• ISBN-13: 978-1900639217
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,412,239 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Possibly "too" good?, May 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Companion Guide to Rome (Companion Guides) (Paperback)

As a self-professed 'Roma-holic', I was thoroughly absorbed by this book. It is probably the most comprehensive English-language walking reference for the city of Rome available. The authors truly love their subject and seem to be fully informed -- not just on facts and history, but also on the colorful side of myth, legend and hearsay that swirls through so much of this ancient city, like a sirocco wind. I'm very glad that I found it and will use it as a resource on my repeated visits to the city. But a word to the casual tourist: you would do better on your first trip to Rome to carry a less erudite guide; possibly the Eyewitness or Lonely Planet versions. Then if you find yourself hooked on Rome and return to explore its deeper layers, turn to Georgina Masson.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars incredible; utter poetry; magnificent, July 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Companion Guide to Rome (Companion Guides) (Paperback)

saying this is the best guidebook around doesn't do it justice, because quite simply it exists on a higher plane. consider yourself fortunate to have found this here; the book has long been out of print. snatch up this revised edition while you can--if you're heading to Roma you won't regret it.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A top companion that gives a lot and requires some care, March 29, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Companion Guide to Rome (Companion Guides) (Paperback)

I have used this book during a visit to Rome that has lasted several months. The late Ms Masson (and now Mr Fort, the gentleman who revised the latest edition) have done a tremendous job in distilling the complex history, art, and geography of Rome in 27 walks, each of which can be accomplished in a day (albeit a full day). The walks take up most (600+ pages)of the book, which is completed by further information on other sites, opening hours and so on.
This guide is excellent for the thoughtful traveler. I found it among the best (in English -- if you read Italian you have other choices). The beauty of the book is in the way the sites are both described and discussed. Most guide books do well one (usually the former) or the other. The sections on the Pantheon, Santa Maria in Aracoeli, or Santa Maria sopra Minerva are a few of many examples of such beautifully rendered writing. The sections on several baroque churches (which are, I believe, largely the precious contribution of Mr Fort) are a welcome addition to the previous edition.
This book gives you a lot. However, for best results (at least in my case) a little investement in your time will work wonders. Ideally, one would read the book leasurely before leaving for Rome, and then read again each walk the day before the actual walk. This will leave you time to look at the sights, study them, enjoy them during the visit, with the occasional scan to the text.
It is also important to note that this is a companion guide to Rome and that for items such as finding a hotel, a restaurant, or an internet point you will need another tourist guide, of which there are several good ones available.
I highly recommend this book.