“Italy is for Romantics.” - Rick
Rick Steves Italy is both a practical travel guide book and a magical inspiration tempting tourists to become temporary locals.
This book, like all of Rick's other Europe Through the Back Door travel guide books, teaches the lively art of becoming a free, open, and independent traveler, using the tricks of traveling as a "temporary local".
Rick shows the independent traveler how to have a fabulous, genuine, custom-made experience for less. And, this book gives info about using guides for those who want an in depth experience. This is a great book for people on a tour (to read beforehand), traveling with a friend, or traveling solo.
Rick Steves Italy - A Common Sense Italian Travel Guide Book:
Rick Steves and his staff have spent years uncovering the best and most authentic value for the money. And, his book is written so that any travel novice can follow his steps to figure out their vacation planning.
This (almost) 900 page book is packed with practical info. Here are a few examples:
- Best times to visit Italy: May, June, September, and October.
- Sightseeing priorities: (4 day trip) Florence and Venice, (6 days) add Rome, (8 days) add Cinque Terra…and on.
- Double rooms (price for two) from $50 (with bathroom down the hall) to $300, though most are around $100 with private bathrooms.
- Don’t eat in a ristorante with signs in English, eat at a trattoria or osteria and order from a fixed-price turistico to get a cheap, but good, 3-4 course meal.
The cities and regions covered in Rick Steves Italy travel guide book are all presented in an easy-to-find format. Each chapter has these sections: Planning Your Time, Orientation, Sights, Sleeping, Eating, and Transportation Connections.
Tourist Info for Italian Cities
The following cities and regions are covered in this travel guide book. One important tip out of hundreds is included as an example of the gems included in Rick Steves Italy.
- Venice: A cheap self-guided canal cruise: Take the #2 “San Marco via Rialto” public boat.
- Milan: Two very popular flea markets are Fiera di Sinigallia and Papiniano. Times and directions in book.
- Florence: A few of the free sights include: Duomo, Palazzo Davanzatti, the leather school at Santa Croce church, perfumery near the church of Santa Maria Novella.
- Rome: “The Metro (subway) is handy but it won’t get you anywhere.” Use Rome's cute bus system. Tourist Information booths don’t have bus maps, but this book or a tabacci shop will (in Italian).
- Naples: The Spanish Quarter is the featured background for movies where the cobble stone streets are narrow, and clothes lines hang above. A great ham & mozzarella sandwich from a small grocery there is about 4EU.
Also covered: Assisi, Pisa and Lucca, and Sienna.
Regions, like Cinque Terra, in Italy
- The Dolomites (Italian Alps): A good home base is Castelrotto. It's cheaper than the more ritzy resorts a bit north.
- The Lakes (Como and Maggiore): A good place to eat on the water is Ristorante la Vista (Lake Como) with a reasonably-priced menu and the freshest fish.
- The Cinque Terra: If Cinque Terra is first or last stop of trip – use the Pisa, Genoa, or Florence airport instead of Milan.
Also covered: The Hill Towns, Sorrento and Capri, and Amalfi Coast.
The information is useful and extensive, and the Rick Steves Italy travel guide book is like having a friend in every city. This book gives any independent traveler or group of travelers enough information to become a "temporary local".
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Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
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