Customer Reviews

National Geographic Traveler: Venice

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I liked National Geographic guide to Venice - it is colourful and cheerful; and it reads like it is written by someone who actually spent quite a while in the magnificient city. I appreciate the writing style which betrays an experienced travel writer rather than a bland-and-inoffensive travel book producer. This is a very good book and worth the money.

However, the market of Venice guides is incredibly crowded, and with such formidable all-rounders as DK Eyewitness guide I would find it difficult to recommend National Geographic as the first choice.

Nevertheless, if you are willing to do extensive reading-in before your trip and are willing to buy more than one guide, this is definitely one to consider (I would also recommed City Secrets). Pictorial part is superb and it is evident they pull all the stops when commissioning original and fresh location photography - you don't get tired shots of St Mark's square and black gondolas that seem to adorn every travel brochure or ticket booking website.

In addition, it is obvious that the writer went through all the trouble of finding off-beat, rarely-quoted facts that make reading rewarding and enjoyable. Just as well, because who needs another guide quoting Napoleon's words about "most elegant drawing room of Europe"?

The National Geographic is not particularly notable for practicalities - but then again, it could be just the job for a second-time traveller who is familiar with all the intricacies of airport transfers and avoiding overpriced eateries near St Mark's Square.

Overall - firm four stars, and a definite recommendation as a supplementary guide.

I don't know why National Geographic hasn't updated this bookguide as it has done with many others because, in my opinion, this is the best Venice bookguide there is.

The maps are quite good, considering Venice, with all its narrow and winding alleys, is hard to map. Besides, maps, at the beginning of each chapter, feature a draw of the highlights of each neighboorhood, which makes them easy to find when you're looking for a sight. It features five easy walks (commercial hearts of San Marco, San Polo & Cannaregio; the waterfronts of Castello & Dorsoduro), interesting articles (the construction of Venice, venetian crafts, mosaics, convents & monasteries, the scuole, festivals and the carnival, the Redentore festival, glass crafting, the venetian lagoon), daytrip options (the coastline, Chioggia, the Brenta Villas, Padua, Vincenza & Verona), descrptive draws of main sights (St. Mark's Basilica, Palazzo Ducale, Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari & Galleria della Accademia) and off-the-beaten path islands (Sant'Erasmo, San Francesco nel Deserto, San Giorgio Maggiore & San Lazaro degli Armeni).

The information doesn't limit to a simple description and it offers historical background for each sight. It includes chapters about its current situation, history, art and food and boxes scattered all over the bookguide concerning curious and off-the-beaten path facts about Venice.

However, this book isn't for travelers on a budget. Most hotels and restaurants listed here can be very expensive (except for a few interesting and inexpensive options).

All in all, I think is a great option to consider when it comes to Venice bookguides.