No comments about The Marvels of Rome: Mirabilia Urbis Romae.

No comments about Insight Compact Guide Italian Riviera (Insight Compact Guides Italian Riveria).

2 comments about Turin (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. Since we are planning our trip to Italy and we will be spending some time Torino, this book has been of great help giving a very good description of everything in Torino. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know about Torino especially after the Winter Olympics.



2. Great area of Italy to visit, hopefully the Olympics have shed much needed exposure to an area that has been overlooked. Not many Travel books out about his area, but this book covers the area very well.

No comments about Best of Milan (Best Of).

3 comments about The Families Who Made Rome: A History and a Guide.

1. I love anything Roman: books about the city, photos, travelogues -- and I visit pretty often, usually once or twice a year. This book gives you the insight and family history behind all of the locales you'll see while traveling in Rome: the piazzas, churches, fountains, and pretty much anything of historical significance that you remember from your travels there. It's not a photo-filled armchair-traveler sort of book, it's got a lot of history in it. But it reads surprisingly easily for being the historical book that it is -- I expected it to feel more "dense" but it's very accessible. Is it for the first-time visitor to Rome? No. But if you've found yourself going back time after time, you will recognize the names and locations and the maps in the book, and this will definitely enhance your experience the next time you go.



2. This book brings to life a city I know (or thought I knew) very well, having been a student in Rome for 5 years. Vibrantly written, never short of an interesting insight and delightful detour away from the overknown locations for a vistor in Rome to see. Well done Anthony! What's next?



3. I'm often critical of books about Rome, because so many are full of inaccuracies, or are superficial, or just poorly written. This book has none of those flaws. In terms of the sheer amount of fascinating information conveyed, the readable writing style and the originality of its approach, this book really OUGHT to receive five stars from me.
   
   So what's wrong with the book? It has three flaws, all of which could be corrected if the author is ever able to publish a second edition. One is trivial, but annoying: the author grossly overuses the word "great." I know, I know-- an awful lot of things in Rome seem to require that adjective; so much in Rome IS great. But an editor should red-pencil out about three-quarters of the instances where this word appears.
   
   The second problem is that the book lacks any useful maps. The author shows the buildings discussed in his text against what look like portions of an 18th-century map of Rome. In any case, it's printed very faintly. The map illustrations are therefore difficult to see properly and are pretty much useless if you're actually using this book on-site as a guide in Rome.
   
   The third problem is inexcusable. The author has obviously done an absolutely prodigious amount of research, but doesn't include a bibliography. He casually mentions half a dozen works in his Acknowledgments, and that's all. Clearly he must have consulted dozens, if not hundreds, of other works, but not a word about what they were.
   
   Now that I've gotten these gripes up front, I want to emphasize that this is among the best and most informative books I've ever read about Rome, and I've read a LOT on the subject. Seeing Rome in terms of the families whose building programs-- or random constructions-- have determined the appearance of Rome is a fascinating and useful approach to understanding the Eternal City. Majanlahti is the only author I've ever read who makes the peculiar and seemingly irrational linear arrangement of rooms in Rome's noble palaces comprehensible in terms of the way these rooms were originally used. And despite the huge amount of information conveyed, the writing is never dull or dry and is occasionally enlivened with bits of dry humor.
   
   This isn't a guidebook for the casual tourist-- it's for serious lovers of Rome, the kind of book to bring with you on repeated and extended visits.

5 comments about Stolen Figs: And Other Adventures in Calabria.

1. When you look, you can find priceless information in any travel book and "Stolen Figs" is no exception.  It was nice to finally find out the origin of the word Calabria: From the Greek "kalos-bruo." Mark went into great detail about the various tribes that conquered Calabria throughout the ages and he detailed how the Spanish Bourbons were the ones who stunted Calabria's growth.

   Truth be told, this was not the best piece of travel writing I have ever read but Mark did a great job in laying out present day Calabria and the way its people operate.

   I felt fear when Giuseppe and Mark were driving to Roccaforte del Greco, Reggio di Calabria and encountered a man with a gun who told Giuseppe to pull over, cut the engine, and wait until someone came along to give further instructions.  Only three hours later did they realize that they had probably came upon a robbery (or other crime) and the guy just didn't want them to see what was going on. Same thing goes for when they encountered the blank stares of the natives.

   The book paid for itself on page 132 when Giuseppe and Mark were in the Arberesh village of Spezzano Albanese and heard some guys in the store speaking in dialect.  When Mark asked them if they were speaking Albanian, one of the guys said, "If you want to hear real old-style Albanian, you have to go to Lungro."  One line of my family is from Lungro and, upon reading that, I was so happy.

   That's the best part about this book: How Mark went into detail about the rich cultural history of the Calabrese, a cultural history that is celebrated and revisited even when the young move to the north for work.

   I share Mark's cultural dilemna in that I am also a "half breed": An Italian father and a non-Italian mother (though mine's isn't French Canadian). I, like him identify with the Italian side more than the "other" side.

   Some people may not like this book (especially those who claim to be "award winning writers" yet have no books to their credit), but if they can do a better job, let's see it.




2. Hear the sounds, taste the food, kiss the relatives, explore the terrain, climb the mountains, visit the castles, learn the history (Greeks, Bruttians, Romans, Visigoth conquests) ... experience the adventure of exploring one's family roots in a small village in southern Italy. The village, Gimigilano, is located in Calabria, the region that looks like the foot on a map of Italy, which everyone knows resembles a boot. The author, Mark Rotella, describes his *very* first visit to this village with his father and later subsequent visits either alone or with his wife, who is of English and Dutch heritage. He captivates the reader with descriptions of nostalgia and heart-felt longing when he emotionally connects to the traditions, customs and life of the village. He is befriended by Giuseppe, a photographer, who produces postcards that he sells to regional shops and businesses. Giuseppe becomes his personal driver and tour guide to Calabria ...
   
   The author intersperses memories of growing up, recalling how his grandfather made wine in New Jersey, which he traded with a Portuguese farmer, who raised pigs ... his grandfather slaughtered the pig in the old-fashion way and provided the family with the same cuts of meat that the author saw on his visit to the village. The author includes memories and discussions with his father. One of which is the family story when his grandfather returned to the village to find himself a suitable wife. He married her in the village and took his bride to live in America. Since his grandmother and grandfather practiced old world ways, the author was able to trace many of the family traditons back to the village and culture of the region. Favorite dishes, foods, spices and their preparation, Italian hospitality, the importance of family and the sense of belonging, are all aspects of the Italian culture of which the author is proud.
   
   The continuation of customs and traditions in Calabria persist ... kneading and baking bread in communal fashion, making wine, eating rabbit stew, tending an olive grove, stealing figs from a neighbor's tree. The author wished to be viewed and accepted as the "returning son of the village" ... even sought Italian citizenship. He was disappointed to discover he was seen as "the American visitor". He found out ...one had to be *born* in Calabria, to be viewed as Calabrese. While Calabria has a depressed economy compared to Rome, Venice and Naples, all northern cities ... it has a proud and resilient people who continue to live in the region helping the area to develop. This author recreates the feelings and lifestyle of the village and surrounding towns and cities so well that the reader wants to experience it first hand. The imagination of the reader is captured by the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of Calabria ... one feels and senses this part of Italy is unspoiled in its splendor and beauty. You want to go there before the modern world intrudes and destroys it. Erika Borsos (erikab93)



3. I really enjoyed Mark Rotella's insightful narrative about discovering his family's roots in Calabria. Although my family is Sicilian, I could relate to so many of the stories and reactions he had as a grandchild of Italian immigrants. This book is real. Yes, there are some inacuracies in it, but I could overlook this because I couldn't wait to get back to it when I had to put it down.
   
   I read "Under the Tuscan Sun" years ago (this book has been compared to it a bit), and I did not find it as heartwarming or "salt of the earth" as "Stolen Figs". Oh, and, if you get a chance, pick up some fresh figs. There's nothing like 'em.



4. With such a catchy title and the neglected subject of Calabria, I wanted so much to like this book that I read it twice...the second time was worse than the first. The author, who seems intent on the "yellow journalism" style of sensational writing, defers to the typical stereotypes that are placed on Calabria and Calabrese throughout this book.
   A jab here, an insult there, after a while, even those with thick skin will find this book annoying. Somehow the author wants to convey that it is OK to deprecate and stereotype the Calabrese, Italian men, people from Reggio, Italians in general and so on.
   What was particularly absurd was the assertion that anyone South of his little town was more prone to be a dangerous criminal and spoke a dialect that, "sounds like Arabic." No doubt, an erroneous idea cultivated by his Italian relatives or even perhaps his father.
   What you are left with after you sweep aside all this nonsense, is a not particularly interesting story about someone's vacation where he meets Italian relatives, gets driven around (with a lot of paranoia I might add) and attends a town festival. But I guess one way to make a boring story more interesting would be to cause some waves by being "politically incorrect" as is the rage these days.
   If you would like to read an honest and accurate historical account of this region and an interesting story as well, try "Calabrian Tales."



5. My mother, being of Calabrian decent, loved this book and will read it over again!

2 comments about Umbria: The Heritage Guide.

1. This is a very useful guide when visiting the many hilltowns in Umbria. There are excellent maps of each town, and good written descriptions. Using this guide book it is easy to keep one's bearings. The size of the book makes it easy to carry as well.



2. guidebooks need to have both an overview and detailed descriptions of tourist sights. This guide accomplishes both purposes! In fact we bought one for our son-in-law and one for ourselves!

No comments about The Mont Blanc Range: Classic Snow, Ice, and Mixed Climbs.

1 comments about Authentic Italian Riviera: Genoa - The Cinque Terre - Riviera del Fiori - Riviera delle Palme - Portofino - Sanremo (Authentic Italy).

1. I had purchased this text to prepare for a trip to the Italian Riviera. However, the itineraries and descriptions of cities were not very helpful to me. I would recommend other kinds of travel books when traveling to Italy.

4 comments about Blue Guide Florence, Ninth Edition.

1. This guide was required for a class I am taking. The guide is easy to read, colors are excellent, and the size is perfect for my travel bag. I know it will be an indispensable aid in Florence.



2. If your trip to Florence is motivated by your love for art, history and the developement of the medieval and renaiscance city, this is your guide.
   Buy the book before you go, and you will know what to look for and understand what you are seeing. Keep it after you return for reference.
   IT IS NOT A PRACTICAL GUIDE for finding the cheapest lodging or restaurant. Graphics are not as glossy or convenient as some of the "younger generation" guides.
   Enjoy your trip
   E. Yarhi,Jerusalem. Israel



3. The best guide book available for art, architecture, history and culture of any city, region or country.
   
   Don't leave home without it.



4. On his website, travel guru Rick Steves says that Blue Guides take "a dry and scholarly approach to the countries of Europe. They're ideal if you want to learn as much about history, art, architecture, and culture as you possibly can." This is basically true, though I much prefer a "dry and scholarly" tone to Rick's "nerdy and precious" style. He's great when it comes to practical tips, but he can't touch the historical, artistic and architectural content of the Blue Guides.
   
   Blue Guides pack a tremendous amount of information into their pages, much more than any other guide I've used. They're wonderful for reading before and after your trip, but they're probably too dense to pack and take along for most people. Before leaving on my honeymoon to Italy, I photocopied the relevant pages of the Northern Italy book to avoid having to pack it because I knew I wouldn't be visiting most of the cities it covers. On that trip I field-tested three guides: Rick Steves, Eyewitness, and Blue Guide.
   
   Blue Guides are not good to use as your main guide. They're far too light on practical matters such as maps, directions, hotels and restaurants, and they're not updated every year. I used Eyewitness to plan and get around and then pulled out the Blue Guide once I reached a major site. I used Rick Steves so little and found him so unhelpful that I left his books behind in hotels along the way.
   
   Blue Guides have come a long way over the years. I was given an older edition of the Rome guide many years ago, and I couldn't believe how small the print was; it had a lot of detail but would have been very difficult to use while traveling. The publishers have learned their lesson: the current editions are far easier to use and much more attractive, with colorful maps and an easier-to-read format. They've improved on the practical aspects as well, but you'll probably be in trouble if you rely on this book to get around. I recommend packing a more comprehensive one-volume guide such as Eyewitness and using Blue Guide to learn about specific sites once the other guide gets you to them. Keep Blue Guide on your shelf as an attractive reference and let it inspire you to return to Florence!