This title is now in full color. It offers insider advice on avoiding the crowds as you explore some of Italy's greatest gems, from the Uffizi in Florence to the Vatican Museum in Rome, and from the ruins at Pompeii to Venice's St. Mark's basilica. It also includes tips for navigating the country's lovely but less-traveled corners, like the Marches, the Dolomites, and even Sardinia. It shows where to find the absolute best seafood in Venice, the loveliest vineyards in Tuscany, the tastiest pizza in Naples, and, of course, the finest gelato that Italy has to offer. It features insightful commentary on Italy's dazzling array of art and architectural masterpieces, from Michelangelo's statue of David to the glories of St. Peter's in Rome. It features opinionated write-ups. There are no bland descriptions and lukewarm recommendations. Our expert writers are passionate about their destinations - they tell it like it is in an engaging and helpful way. Exact prices are listed for every establishment and activity - no other guides offer such detailed, candid reviews of hotels and restaurants. We include the very best, but also emphasize moderately priced choices for real people. All Complete guides offer user-friendly features including star ratings and special icons to point readers to great finds, excellent values, insider tips, best bets for kids, special moments, and overrated experiences.

Table of Contents

List of Maps. 1 THE BEST OF ITALY. The Best Travel Experiences. The Most Romantic Getaways. The Best Museums. The Best Cathedrals. The Best Ruins. The Best Winegrowing Regions. The Best Luxury Hotels. The Best Moderately Priced Hotels. The Best Restaurants. The Best Buys. 2 ITALY IN DEPTH. Italy Today. Looking Back at Italy. Art & Architecture. Italy in Popular Culture: Books, Films & Music. A Taste of Italy. 3 PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO ITALY. When to Go. ITALY CALENDAR OF EVENTS. Entry Requirements. Getting There & Getting Around. Money & Costs. THE VALUE OF THE EURO VS. OTHER POPULAR CURRENCIES. Health. Safety. Specialized Travel Resources. Sustainable Tourism / Ecotourism. Special-Interest & General-Interest Tours. GO GREEN. RESOURCES FOR GREEN TRAVEL. Staying Connected. Tips on Accommodations. Tips on Dining. 4 SUGGESTED ITALY ITINERARIES. The Regions in Brief. TRAVEL LOCAL-VESPA-STYLE. Italy in 1 Week. Italy in 2 Weeks. Italy for Families. Tuscany for Art & Architecture Lovers. 5 SETTLING INTO ROME. Essentials. Getting Around. FAST FACTS: ROME. Where to Stay. Where to Dine. 6 EXPLORING ROME. St. Peter's & the Vatican. PAPAL AUDIENCES. The Colosseum, the Roman Forum & Highlights of Ancient Rome. The Pantheon & Attractions near Piazza Navona & Campo de' Fiori. The Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain & Attractions Nearby. In the Villa Borghese. The Appian Way & the Catacombs. More Attractions. Organized Tours. Shopping. Rome After Dark. Side Trips from Rome: Tivoli, Ostia Antica & More. 7 FLORENCE. Essentials. Getting Around. FAST FACTS: FLORENCE. Where to Stay. Where to Dine. What to See & Do. Shopping. HIGH FASHION AT A DISCOUNT. Florence After Dark. A Side Trip to Fiesole. 8 TUSCANY, UMBRIA & THE MARCHES. The Chianti Road. TUSCAN TOURS: BIKING, HORSEBACK RIDING & MORE. Lucca. Pisa. San Gimignano. Siena. Arezzo. Gubbio. Perugia. Assisi. Spoleto. The Marches (Le Marche). Elba. 9 BOLOGNA & EMILIA-ROMAGNA. Bologna. FACTORY OF THE ARTS. THE WORLD'S GREATEST CHINA SHOP. Ferrara. Ravenna & Its Dazzling Mosaics. Modena. Parma. 10 VENICE. Essentials. Getting Around. FAST FACTS: VENICE. Where to Stay. CARNEVALE. Where to Dine. Seeing the Sights. Shopping. Venice After Dark. FUELED BY CICCHETTI. Murano, Burano & Torcello. 11 THE VENETO & THE DOLOMITES. The Riviera del Brenta. WINE TASTING. Padua. Palladio's Vicenza. LA CITTA DEL PALLADIO. Verona. Treviso. THE WINE ROADS FROM TREVISO. Bassano del Grappa. Trieste. Cortina d'Ampezzo: Gateway to the Dolomites. Trent. 12 MILAN, LOMBARDY & THE LAKE DISTRICT. Milan. FAST FACTS: MILAN. GET THEE TO A RENAISSANCE MONASTERY. TOP DESIGNER FASHIONS ON THE CHEAP. Bergamo. Mantua. Lake Garda. Lake Como. Lake Maggiore. 13 PIEDMONT & VALLE D'AOSTA. Turin. THE MYSTERY OF TURIN'S HOLY SHROUD. Aosta. Courmayeur & Entreves: Skiing & Alpine Beauty. 14 GENOA & THE ITALIAN RIVIERA. San Remo. Genoa. FAST FACTS: GENOA. Rapallo. Santa Margherita Ligure. Portofi no. The Cinque Terre. 15 CAMPANIA: NAPLES, POMPEII & THE AMALFI COAST. Naples. FAST FACTS: NAPLES. The Phlegrean Fields & Herculaneum. TREADING LIGHTLY ON MOUNT VESUVIUS. Pompeii. The Emerald Island of Ischia. Sorrento. Capri. Positano. Amalfi. Ravello. Paestum & Its Glorious Greek Temples. The Pontine Islands. 16 APULIA. Foggia: A Base for Exploring the Gargano. The Gargano Peninsula. Alberobello & the Trulli District. Monopoli. Lecce. Taranto. 17 SICILY. Taormina. MEET MIGHTY MOUNT ETNA. Syracuse & Ortygia Island. Agrigento & the Valley of the Temples. Lampedusa. Selinunte. Palermo. MEN OF DISHONOR. Side Trips from Palermo. The Aeolian Islands. 18 SARDINIA. Essentials. Cagliari. Alghero. Dorgali. Costa Smeralda. 19 FAST FACTS: ITALY. Airline, Hotel & Car-Rental Websites. 20 MOLTO ITALIANO. Basics 928 A Shopper's Phrase Finder. Architectural Terms. Italian Menu Terms. Index.