Italy (AA Touring Club of Italy) [IMPORT] (Paperback)

by Touring Club of Italy (Editor) "A mix of nature's bounty and strategic planning, with olive groves, jutting cliffs, and a historic naval base: in this distant corner of eastern Liguria..." (more)
Key Phrases: nave with two aisles, second walled perimeter, closed may vary, Middle Ages, Museo Civico, Piazza del Duomo (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 524 pages
• Publisher: AA Touring Club of Italy; 2Rev Ed edition (May 30, 2003)
• ISBN-10: 8836527469
• ISBN-13: 978-8836527465
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 4.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #893,346 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Italy a complete giude to 1,000 towns and cities, September 23, 2001

By	[e-mail] (Daytona Beach, Fl United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Italy: A Complete Guide to 1,000 Towns and Cities and Their Landmarks, With 80 Regional Tours (Heritage Guides) (Paperback)

The map that came with the book is far better at locating small villages than some expensive maps I have recently purchased.
The book is written by Italians, not a travel writer who has never left the country, but relies on other previously printed material to make the recommendations.
In reviews of restaurants it also includes the parking facilities. Most travel books will give parking at hotels but not restaurants. In reading the ratings for restaurants I have found many places that I have previously visited, in Italy, and the ratings are very accurate. I have recently purchased 4 books on travel in Italy and find this to be superior, it is the only book I will take on my upcoming trip.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless classic that cannot be beat, March 5, 2002

By	Mike B (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Italy: A Complete Guide to 1,000 Towns and Cities and Their Landmarks, With 80 Regional Tours (Heritage Guides) (Paperback)

Don't be put off by the publishing date: this guidebook is timeless in that has by far the best description and explanation of Italy's immense asset of cultural masterpieces (which, being centuries old, don't change much in a few year's time) and idillic landscapes. It successfully undertakes the task of rating everything including cities and towns on a 3-tier system, which is incredibly useful both when planning the trip and on deciding what to see once there. If you have any interest whatsoever in Italy behind shopping and food, then this translation into English of the top-rated guide written by Italians for Italians cannot be beat. However, if it's your first time traveling to Italy I suggest you also get a guide like Frommer's for its up-to-date and North-American-centric travel planning and practicalities section.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not recommended for independent travelers, June 20, 2006

By	Nancina T (Reno, NV USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Italy: A Complete Guide to 1,000 Towns and Cities and Their Landmarks, With 80 Regional Tours (Heritage Guides) (Paperback)

We took this book with us on our 3-week vacation to Italy last month. While it does contain thorough information about many cities and towns in Italy (including many of those not covered in other guidebooks), I didn't enjoy the format of the book.

The book describes many cities through walking tours, as well as driving tours of various areas. There is a map showing the route and the text goes along with the route of the tour, but lacks a lot of the historical and artistic background that another guide might provide.

If you're the kind of vacationer who wants to explore a new city and see what it has to offer, plus get a few suggestions for hotels and restaurants, this book is for you. If you already know where you're going, what sites to see, and want more historical information, I'd suggest the Rough Guide to Italy instead.