1 comments about Florence InsideOut (Insideout City Guide: Florence).

1. These "Inside/Out"books are the best for today's travel - small enough to fit in a carry-on and have pop-up maps that show particular areas of travel. Very useful information inside as to what to see in a particular city/place.

No comments about Knopf Guide: Tuscany (Knopf Guides).

3 comments about The Grand Canal.

1. This book really shows off the beauty of the Grand Canal with all of it's palaces and other buildings. One really gets the feeling of what life was like back during the height of the Serenissima. The interior shots are stunning. And the information given for each building is fascinating. Even the non-descript houses and buildings get page time... A great book.



2. Venice, the floating or the sinking city depending on perception, more than any other city in the world is a bastion of mystery, intrigue, and incomparable richness in history, architecture, and art. Beloved and written about by some of our greatest minds (Shakespeare, Henry James, Thomas Mann, Harold Brodkey, John Berendt to name but a few) Venice is a city that captures the spirit and heart with the first approach - and that approach includes the vistas from the Grand Canal that serves as the main thoroughfare of the city.
   
   Umberto Franzoi's introductory comments for this journey are warmly informative and seductive, blending history with architecture with the special façades that line the banks and invite the visits to the interiors not open to the public eye. In photographs by Mark Smith of brilliant color each element on both banks of the Canal is addressed, noting the history of the reasons for the special architectural details, the families that either built or now live in each palace and grand home, the gondola dockings, the watermarks that time has etched on the faces.
   
   But then we are graciously taken inside these magnificent buildings with sumptuous photographs of interiors, passageways, court gardens, the art and frescoes - all the details that before this fine book have only been the stuff of dreams (or the occasional movie sets as in 'Wings of the Dove'). These are treasure troves of art and antiques and mystery and beauty.
   
   For everyone who either longs to return or plans for a visit to Serenissima, this book is a must. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, November 05



3. For anyone who has ever traveled down the Grand Canal on the Vapporetto #1 or #82 this will bring back a world of memories. It is beautifully photographed and is very informative. You can go back throuth your photos of Venice and identify and caption may of them. It even helped in locating non existing places like the Palazzo that collapsed in the film Casino Royal (It was superimposed over a recess in the buildings near the Ca DaMosto)
   It is a great reference before and after a trip to Venice, and the photographs of the buildings are better than any you could take on your own. I would have given this book a rating of 5 stars but the text was written by an Italian who could have been a little more fluent in English.

No comments about Italy Spiral Guide (Aaa Spiral Guides).

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

5 comments about Within Tuscany: Reflections on a Time and Place (Penguin Travel).

1. Matthew Spender's Within Tuscany was recommended to me by a friend whose family is two generations removed from the Tuscan village of Fiesole. Spender, who is better known as a sculptor whose work was featured in the film Stealing Beauty, writes not to make traveling in Tuscany simpler. In fact, he says, "I loath talking of food, restaurants, hotels, timetables, itineraries." Instead, he seems to be seeking to explain the mysteries and historical complexities of Tuscany to himself and anyone who cares to listen in. Included are ruminations on Michelangelo's struggles to acquire suitable marble, an annual horse race that is at least much cultural ritual as it is a competition, and visits to various churches and offices to marvel at the antiquities which abound in Italy, frequently in the most unlikely places. Spender also captures the Tuscan people in prose which shows respect for them, rather than in the look-how-quaint-they-are caricatures so common in popular travel narratives. As Spender writes to comprehend Tuscany, we are also led to understand, appreciate, and feel the region's daily rhythms as well as its place in Italy's past



2. A wonderful read, especially while traveling in Tuscany. Far greater insights to local customs than several best sellers



3. Influenced by the title alone, I bought this book a few months before travelling through Chianti a couple of years ago. Although it is in no way an ordinary guidebook (i.e., hotel and restaurant recommendations, who slept where and when), it offered more insights into the people and culture of the region than anything else I have ever read. In fact, a highlight of our trip was finding the little church near Radda that contains Spender's crucifix. Also, his speculation on Shelley's death was provocative, to say the least.



4. I found "Within Tuscany" in the travel section of a bookstore and bought it because it was about Italy. I actually ended up enjoying it mostly because of the quirky life of the author-artist -- or perhaps more correctly, the reflections of an artist about his past several years of living in a particularly attractive place.

   He apparently has or had female companions along the way. There's a wife, maybe, and some daughters (pictured in the book in a mid-seventies photo wearing clothes their mother made), and a friend Vittoria with whom he spends a great deal of time. He describes his life style as "alternative" which I take to mean not exactly traditional Italian.

   Mathew Spender is English, and like fellow travlers in Tuscany, he relates amusing cultural incidents. He describes several notable friendships with individuals from various classes and backgrounds, one of whom dies two-thirds through the book. I believe he is a sculpter. His descriptions are physical and three dimensional, but he also plays his clarinet in the village band. Throughout the book he recalls his visits to a few notable places in Tuscany and shares his experiences at those places, but you would have to know the places to follow his writing completely.

   Spender's writing reminds me a bit of John Mortimer's in "Summer Lease" as it's both sweet and sad. His observations about folks in various stages of life's sorrows and joys are touching. Spender also has an artists comprehension, absorbing and conveying what is going on around him.




5. With all the wonderful reviews this book received, I couldn't wait to read Matthew Spender's "Within Tuscany." I am very disappointed. The narrative lacks focus and cohesion - it is not well-written. The reader does not get a true feeling for Tuscany. The author is stuck on relating tales of the sad and macabre. I had hoped that as a sculptor and artist, the author would be able to put into words all the beautiful, singular qualities of Tuscany and the Italian people. Sadly, this is not the case. I guess the best way to sum up this book is to say it lacks joy and warmth, which to me are essential elements of Tuscany. Spare yourself the agony (and the pricey shipping and handling charges).

No comments about Italy 2009 Square Wall Calendar.

3 comments about Michelin the Green Guide Rome (Michelin Green Guides).

1. After living overseas for 6 years I have traveled far and wide. I have purchased several other guide book brands (Fodors, Eyewitness, Knopf), and while they have pretty pictures, they lack substance. If you are visiting Rome and want to know the history and small details The Green Guide is an absolute must. It's divided into logical catagories (take the time to acquaint yourself with the set-up of the book - you'll be glad you did) that are alphabetically listed. Sights are rated one, two and three stars and I've found that most ratings are fairly accurate. There are small, detailed maps in each section. You can also purchase a very detailed map book of Rome by Michelin - it's wonderful!

   The book is lighter than most of the current popular travel guides and chock full of great information. Michelin is always the guide I reach for once I'm disgusted with any other guide book - no matter where I'm visiting!

   Bon Voyage!




2. I bought this book but didn't have time to read it until I was on the plane -- my mistake in buying it in the first place -- there are so many other great guides that do such a better job than this ridiculous guide -- the maps are horrible, the entire book is superficial in it's descriptions and the restaurants it recommends were all recommended by other guides -- as if they had plagarized the lists of places to go. Save your money!



3. I took this book on a recent 8-day trip to Rome. It is an outstanding guide to the historical/cultural sights, probably the best in print if you're limiting yourself to one.

   The city is divided into about 15 regions. For each, the book lays out a walking tour complete with an explicit map. Quite a bit of very helpful info is provided for each sight.

   If you have a lot less than 8 days, the book provides a rating of 1 to 3 stars for each sight, so you can make a bee-line to the 3 star sights and skip the walking tours.

   The book is weak on "the contemporary scene", bus routes, shopping, restaurants, and hotels. The focus is definitely on the cultural and historical sights. I recommend you also get a copy of Fodors or Frommers and xerox the chapters on these important practicalities. Great dining experiences can add a lot to the trip; Rome has plenty of mediocre tourist traps.

   Another book similar in scope and emphasis is "Blue Guide Rome" by Alta Macadam. It's also excellent. This author typically says a little more about each sight than does Michelin, but the city is divided into about 30 walking tours instead of 15 and no map is provided for the individual walks. If you don't mind carrying a small library, and I don't, take this along too and whip it out at the major sights to get an insightful second opinion.

   A big issue in sightseeing Ancient Rome is that there is usually relatively little left to look at, as the sites were used as quarries for more than a thousand years. Neither this Michelin Guide nor the Blue Guide provides sketches of reconstructions of the Ancient sites, and hence your imagination doesn't have much to go on. To rectify this, I recommend whipping out the "Oxford Archeological Guide to Rome" by Amanda Claridge, probably the best guide in English on Ancient Rome, but this book barely mentions any site newer than 500 AD and is not suitable as a general guide.

No comments about Time Out Shortlist Rome 2008 (Time Out Shortlist).

No comments about Time Out Shortlist Rome 2009 (Time Out Shortlist).