Product Details

• Actors: Lauren Bacall, Roddy McDowall, Rick Steves
• Directors: Graham Loveridge
• Writers: Deborah Richardson, Lee Grant
• Producers: Tracy R. West
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Questar
• VHS Release Date: April 30, 2002
• Run Time: 55 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1568551789
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,043 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This Travel the World video guide to Italy is a treasure for anyone planning a trip to the hilltowns of Tuscany or the Italian Riviera. Once you get past the incredible geekiness of the host, Rick Steves (who insists on making statements such as "The place is a cultural Easter egg hunt and you're the kid!"), you'll find lots of useful information. Steves takes viewers through all the biggies--cathedrals, ancient tombs, the Leaning Tower of Pisa--but spends the most time walking us through small, relatively untouched villages including his favorite, Civita di Bagnoregio. A 2,500-year-old community tucked among the breathtaking Italian mountainsides, the town only has one restaurant with no menus. You simply eat whatever is being served. The video relies heavily on conversations with friendly and colorful local people, and Steves encourages travelers to search out the hidden by getting tips from the people who live there. He also talks about local wines, coffees, and foods, and he provides useful tips on economical packing, smart dressing, and staying healthy on the road. --Jennifer Vogel

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rick Steves does it again!, February 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Italy: the Hilltowns of Tuscany, the Italian Riviera [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Nothing makes me want to drop everything and hop on a plane to Europe more than watching one of Rick Steves' videos. His attitude to travel is so refreshing -- break down the barriers between you and the culture you traveled so far to see. This video gives good tips on packing light, meeting locals, and searching out small villages not (yet) overrun by the tourist crowds.

As the Amazon reviewer noted, Steves is a bit geeky, but once you've watched him for a while and start to appreciate the depth of his knowledge of European travel it becomes endearing, not annoying.

I'd highly recommend this video to anyone planning a trip to Italy. And if you're not planning a trip there, by the end of the video you will be!

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best travel series available, February 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Italy: the Hilltowns of Tuscany, the Italian Riviera [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Rick Steves is indeed the guru of travel. He offers great pointers as well as great information on his destinations that are not your normal travel video fare. This video gives the nuts and bolts- common sense approach to the Italian Riviera and the Hilltowns of Tuscany. A must if you are planning a trip to this area. His other videos are great as well.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This is not the new video series, December 30, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Italy: the Hilltowns of Tuscany, the Italian Riviera [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is not the current video series now running on public television. This is a very old series. The new series is called Rick Steves Europe.