Rick Steves' Italy 2011 with map [Paperback]

Rick Steves (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2010 | Series: Rick Steves

You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in Italy. From the beaches to the Alps, from fine art to fine pasta, Italy has it all. With this book, you’ll trace Italian culture from Rome’s Colosseum to Michelangelo’s David to the bustling elegance of Milan. Experience the art-drenched cities of Venice and Florence, explore the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum, and learn how to avoid the lines at the most popular museums. Discover the villages of Tuscany and Umbria and the lazy rhythms of the Cinque Terre. Shop at local market stalls, sip a cappuccino at an outdoor café, and pick up a picknic lunch at an allimentari. Relax and enjoy the life of Bella Italia!

Rick’s candid, humorous advice will guide you to good-value hotels and restaurants. He’ll help you plan where to go and what to see, depending on the length of your trip. You’ll get up-to-date recommendations about what is worth your time and money. More than just reviews and directions, a Rick Steves guidebook is a tour guide in your pocket.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1048 pages
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; 2011 Edition edition (September 28, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598806602
• ISBN-13: 978-1598806601
• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 1.1 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #210,855 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rick Steves advocates smart, affordable, perspective-broadening travel. As host and writer of the popular public television series Rick Steves' Europe, and best-selling author of 40 European travel books, he encourages Americans to travel as "temporary locals." He helps American travelers connect much more intimately and authentically with Europe -- and Europeans -- for a fraction of what mainstream tourists pay.

Over the past 20 years, Rick has hosted over 100 travel shows for public television, and numerous pledge specials (raising millions of dollars for local stations). His Rick Steves' Europe TV series is carried by over 300 stations, reaching 95 percent of U.S. markets. Rick has also created two award-winning specials for public television: Rick Steves' European Christmas and the ground-breaking Rick Steves' Iran. Rick writes and co-produces his television programs through his company, Back Door Productions.

Rick Steves also hosts a weekly public radio program, Travel with Rick Steves. With a broader approach to travel everywhere, in each hour-long program Rick interviews guest travel expert, followed by listener call-ins. Travel with Rick Steves airs across the country and has spawned a popular podcast. Rick has also created a series of audio walking tour podcasts for museums and neighborhoods in Paris, Rome, Florence and Venice (with more tours, including London, coming in 2010).

Rick self-published the first edition of his travel skills book, Europe Through the Back Door (now updated annually), in 1980. He has also written more than 40 other country, city and regional guidebooks, phrase books, and "snapshot" guides. For several years, Rick Steves' Italy has been the bestselling international guidebook sold in the U.S. In 2009, Rick tackled a new genre of travel writing with Travel as a Political Act, reflecting on how a life of travel has broadened his own perspectives, and travel can be a significant force for peace and understanding in the world. Rick's books are published by Avalon Travel, a member of the Perseus Books Group.

In addition to his guidebooks, TV and radio work, Rick is a syndicated newspaper columnist with the Tribune Media Services. He appears frequently on television, radio, and online as the leading authority on European travel.

Rick took his first trip to Europe in 1969, visiting piano factories with his father, a piano importer. By the time he reached 18, Rick jokes, "I realized I didn't need my parents to travel!" He began traveling on his own, funding his trips by teaching piano lessons. In 1976, he started Europe Through the Back Door (ETBD), a business which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a well-traveled staff of 70 full-time employees. ETBD offers free travel information through its travel center, website (www.ricksteves.com), European Railpass Guide, and free travel newsletters. ETBD also runs a successful European tour program with more than 300 departures -- attracting around 10,000 travelers -- annually.

Rick is outspoken on the need for Americans to fit better into our planet by broadening their perspectives through travel. He is also committed to his own neighborhood. He's an active member of the Lutheran church (and has hosted the ELCA's national video productions). He's a board member of NORML (working to reform marijuana laws in the USA). And Rick has provided his local YWCA with a 24-unit apartment building with which to house homeless mothers.

Rick Steves spends about a third of every year in Europe, researching guidebooks, filming TV shows, and making new discoveries for travelers. He lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington, where his office window overlooks his old junior high school.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 75 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Guide filled with Secrets! November 22, 2010

By J. Rivera

Format:Paperback

I went on my honeymoon to Italy and this book was the only thing I used to guide me around Rome. Rick Steves is simply AWESOME! One example I remember was following his tip about buying the Colosseum tickets on the Colina Palatina booth, in order to skip the HUGE lines on the Colosseum! I did just that and me and my wife went laughing ALL the way from the back of a 200 person line to the entrance and into the Colosseum! AMAZING! This book is filled with MANY, MANY secrets like this and I couldn't find any situation on which Mr. Steves was wrong. If you are going to Italy, take this book with you and SAVE a TON of money! Highly Recommended!

89 of 93 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Kindle version not complete! March 20, 2011

By Rachel Cohen

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I don't know how to rate this, since I can't find a place to review only the Kindle version.

I've been using Rick Steves' guidebooks for many years, and feel as if he's one of my favorite travel companions. So as I'm planning a trip with some friends, I bought them the "dead tree book" version of the 2011 guide. I bought myself the kindle version. And the books are not the same! There are big hunks of restaurant and sleeping versions that are missing in the Kindle version. And unlike the Frommer's kindle versions of travel guides, there's no place to go online that allows you to print out the maps.

Quite a disappointment.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Cyclists: take this book with you! March 10, 2011

By Dennis Ketterling

Format:Paperback

I took this book (and "Let's Go-Italy") on my 3-week solo cycling tour of Northern Italy and Tuscany. Rick has so much useful information for the independent traveller.
My itinerary was from Florence to Siena, then back up to San Gimignano, Volterra, back through Siena to Montalcino, Pienza, and Montepulciano. I then rode down to Orvieto and the short ride to Civita di Bagnoregio. A train to Venice, then my ride through the Dolomites and Alto Adige from Cortina d'Ampezzo to Brunico,Bressanone, and Bolzano. From there I went west to Passo di Tonale, the Gavia Pass (a couple of days before the Giro d'Italia), then to Bormio, Tirano, and over to Lake Como. I wrapped things up in Milano.
Rick's guide was invaluable, not only for the information about these places, but also for the fact that he opens up the wonders of the hill towns that most guidebooks ignore (you can't enjoy "discovering" places that you can't find in other guides!). The hill towns were definitely a highlight of the trip.
Rick's sensitivity to the more adventurous, independent tourist results in the feeling that you're travelling with a friend who knows the place.
Cyclists: don't buy a map in the States. Get situated in whatever country you're going to, and chances are the book stores in the foreign airport, and even service stations, will have a much better selection, which you can tailor to your itinerary. One personal caveat about riding in the Italian Alps and Dolomites is to be prepared to skirt tunnels. Unlike France, many tunnels in Italy are off-limits to cyclists. It was so confusing trying to find alternate routes around the tunnels, that I finally saw the need for a Garmin GPS for my bicycle, after 20 years of cycling in foreign countries! As a lifelong resident of the area around Bormio (and serious cyclist) told me (after the carabinieri politely told me to stay out of the tunnels), the locals are also confused by bad road signage! Don't feel you need to buy a GPS just to cycle in northern Italy, but it IS a big help.
All in all, Rick is head and shoulders above most in his European guides. Highest recommendation.