Rome Books

Streetwise Rome Map - Laminated City Street Map of Rome, Italy - with integrated metro map including subway and railway lines, stations

Streetwise Maps

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The only map you need 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Just returned from eight days of walking in Rome. This is the only map we needed to find our way to everything that was of interest to us. It seems that just about every street and alleyway is listed and shown to scale (which is not the case with the free "tourist" maps). Experienced the joy of just wandering around following our noses to one interesting area after another, always knowing that our trusty "Streetwise Rome" would come to the rescue when we wanted to reach a particular destination. We ventured to the Borghese Gallery, the Vatican, to Trastevere, Palatine Hill, the Colosseum, Piazza del Popolo, Spanish Steps, Via Veneto, the Baths of Diocletian and from and back to the Termini Train Station. Including having the map out in the rain on several occassions, it still looks like new. The best thing is, it is only 4" X 8.5" when folded in your pocket and so easy to flip open to use (unlike so many other maps that you must unfold in several directions).
The map also has sketches of many of the sights you will be looking for to help you quickly find them. While we only used the Metro once, all the stations are clearly marked. If you want to spend less time folding and unfolding the map and more time enjoying the sights, you may find this product very much to your liking.

Editorial Review:

Streetwise Rome Map - Laminated Center City Street Map of Rome, Italy - Folding pocket size travel map with integrated metro map including subway & railway lines, stations

This map covers the following areas:
Main Rome Map 1:17,000
Rome Historic District Map 1:8,700
Rome Metro Map

Rick Steves' Rome 2009 (Rick Steves)

Rick Steves, Gene Openshaw

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Editorial Review:

Rick Steves’ Rome 2009 allows any traveler to enjoy the sights and appreciate the lively culture of Italy’s capital and the center of the ancient world, from the architectural wonder of the Colosseum to a great cappuccino at a local café. Rick offers expert advice on all of the must-see destinations, including the Pantheon, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. With detailed tours of Rome’s best museums and historic sights as well as unique walks through local neighborhoods, Rick Steves’ Rome 2009 is the definitive guide to this world-class city.

Rome (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE)

DK Publishing

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 69 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Too bad the essence of Rome can't be bottled and exported to a corner store near you. If it could, you could pick up a weekend's worth of Rome along with your pint of milk and Snickers bar, and you'd probably never get to repainting the stairs, doing the laundry, or watching that new video release. Instead you'd be gawking at St. Peter's, ogling the Temple of Vesta, devouring saltimbocca in a trattoria, and sipping Sangiovese at a wine bar. You might not even get to the Snickers bar. Okay, DK never said they're trying to bottle Rome. But they do a stand-up job of imbuing their guidebook with the spirit, attitude, and élan of Rome. They don't just provide information about where to stay and what to do when you're there (though they do, in fact, provide all those necessary details), they go beyond the pragmatic and mundane to revel in Rome's glory. They stimulate the appetite for a Roman holiday. The gorgeous pictures and engaging text draw you in. They inspire you to read and dream, set your travel date, and visit Rome for real. --Stephanie Gold

Top 10 Rome (EYEWITNESS TOP 10 TRAVEL GUIDE)

Reid Bramblett, Jeffrey Kennedy

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A bargain at thrice the price 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I've read numerous travel guides, most of which I've dragged with me throughout the duration of my trips (often times, two or three books and various website printouts and lists). These have included the Lonely Planet, Fodor's and Rough Guide books. All are decent, but tend to be long and tedious to thumb through quickly.

But when you factor in size, weight, cost, and coverage, I don't think you can beat the Top 10 series. They are ideal for a few days' stay, but might be a bit lacking if you're in a particular city for a week or more. It has been all we've needed for the basis of our Rome and Venice trip planning. The hotel recommendations are a bit outdated and bare-bones, but there's always TripAdvisor and Venere for more up-to-date and detailed info. The maps are also outstanding--they've made my StreetWise maps basically obsolete (for comparison, StreetWise maps cost almost as much as this book).

Detractors may quickly scoff at the whole idea of boiling everything down to "just a top 10", but keep in mind that there are numerous "top 10 lists" throughout the book, covering many categories. The idea here is to give tourists--especially first-timers--an overview of the major sights and to provide them a basis for which to explore further, based on specific interests. Used as such, I don't think you'll find a better travel guide.

Rome with Kids: An Insider's Guide

J.M. Pasquesi

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Must have book for families in Rome! 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I was amazed at this book! If you are planning a trip to Rome this book is for you! I think it is great for Kids of all ages, that includes Moms Dads and Grandparents, I loved the format. Rome can be a little daunting at times, And this book can help in keeping everyone happy intertained and well fed! Just a great book!

Rome with Kids is enthusiastically recommended to parents for its attention to detail and ease of use. 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Rome With Kids is a guide to making the most of one's visit to Rome, the great seat of Western civilization, written especially for parents with children in tow. Color photographs and maps enhance the step-by-step itineraries, recommendations for kid-friendly activities, advice on viewing the finest museum collections before the kids burn out, tips on where to shop or rent bikes, and much more. Written by mother and former Rome resident J.M. Pasquesi, Rome with Kids is enthusiastically recommended to parents for its attention to detail and ease of use.

Editorial Review:

Scrambling around ruins; exploring underground excavations; searching for gladiators, secret passageways, and creepy skeletons; feasting on pizza and gelato-Rome with Kids is a dream. Revel in the glory of Roman Civilization without hearing 'I'm bored!' as an insider guides you through Rome with field-tested tours that tell you what to see and how to see it with children.

Fodor's Rome, 7th Edition (Full-Color Gold Guides)

Fodor's

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Editorial Review:

Rome is one of Europe's most resplendent cities, so it is no wonder that Fodor's selected it to be published in full color. The Eternal City now shines with newly unleashed vitality, and here to reveal it all is Fodor's Rome 2008---packed with photos that vividly capture the whole scenic festa Italiana.

● An all-new, illustrated, "Experience Rome" chapter is loaded with valuable advice, including tips on exploring Rome like a local and getting the most for your money

● In-focus features use graphics and photos to cover Rome's top sights, including "Heaven's Above: The Sistine Ceiling" and "Campo dei Fiori: 24 Hours in the Life of a Roman Square"

● Expanded coverage of the "new Rome"---the hot locales and avant-garde sites popping up are proof that Romans are switching gears into the fast lane, along with maintaining their incredible heritage

● "Roaming Holiday" is Fodor's first step-by-step chapter, immersing the reader through three especially evocative stretches of the city

● A revamped dining chapter provides a sampling of Rome's culinary flavors through detailed portraits of the neighborhood restaurant scene

Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide (Oxford Archaeological Guides)

Amanda Claridge

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The city of Rome is the largest archeological site in the world. If your idea of a good Roman holiday is uncovering the archeological mysteries of the Roman Empire, then Oxford Archeological Guides: Rome is your ideal guidebook.

For such a detailed guide, this book is remarkably readable. Of the Field of Mars (Campus Martius), Claridge writes,

It is the one part of Rome which continued to be quite densely inhabited after the C9 AD, becoming the center of the late medieval and Renaissance city, and is still densely inhabited today, an extraordinary blend of past and present even for Rome. The Stock Exchange occupies a Roman temple, the boiler-rooms of the offices of the Senate are set in the ruins of Roman thermal baths, a modern theatre nestles in the shell of a Roman theatre. Many of the streets are on the lines of ancient streets, and the walls of the buildings on either side of them are often balanced directly on top of Roman walls.

Among this Oxford guide's special features are 200 site plans, maps, diagrams, and photographs; a cultural and historical overview; a chronological overview; and a glossary of essential terms. It uses star ratings to help you plan your days and divides Rome into 12 main areas: the Roman Forum, Upper Via Sacra, Palatine Hill, Imperial Forums, Campus Martius, Capitoline Hill, Circus Flaminius to Circus Maximus, Colosseum Valley and Esquiline Hill, Caelian Hill and the Via Appia, other sites, museums, and catacombs.

Shaded sidebars add anecdotal interest, covering issues such as the Seven Hills, Jupiter's Dining Room, Tomb of Bibulus, the "Province" Reliefs, Madam Lucretia, Nero's New Palace, and Gladiatorial Shows. --Kathryn True

Rick Steves' Rome 2008 (Rick Steves)

Rick Steves, Gene Openshaw

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great guide, but beware of it's success 4 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

This book was tremendously helpful during a May 2008 trip to Rome. It wasn't perfect but provided lots of good travel information.

The good:
- Covers most of the popular sites, and goes into the more detail for the important sites.
- Ranks each site with a level of importance/significance - this is very useful when deciding what sites are worthwhile and/or important. I agree with most site rankings.

The bad:
- Many prices are incorrect (add 1-2 euros to many museum and ticket prices).
- Some time information is incorrect (double check via phone if you are on or near holidays, weekends, or beginning/end of day).
- Overview maps (b/w hand drawn appearance) lack street level detail making them difficult to use for navigation.
- Street maps (color, in front of book) also lack sufficient street level detail. You may need a more detailed map from your hotel to navigate the complex city streets.

The worst problem with the 2008 edition may be its success. Every restaurant (and also the hotels) were mobbed by people with a Rick Steves guide. I've never seen so many people with the same book all trying to go to the same place. It kind of spoiled some of the magic since we were often surrounded by American travelers and not the eclectic mix of people you would expect on such a trip.

Editorial Review:

Who but Rick Steves can tell travelers the best ways to see St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Colosseum? With Rick Steves’ Rome 2008, travelers can experience the best of everything Rome has to offer — economically and hassle-free. Completely revised and updated, this guide includes opinionated coverage of both famous and lesser-known sights, friendly places to eat and sleep, suggested day plans, walking tours and trip itineraries, and clear instructions for smooth travel anywhere by car, train, or foot. America’s number one authority on travel to Europe, Steves' time-tested recommendations for safe and enjoyable travel in Europe have been used by millions of Americans in search of their own unique European travel experience.

Lonely Planet: Rome City Guide

Duncan Garwood, Abigail Hole

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 2.0 of 5

Disappointing guide 2 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This guide is, sadly to say, disappointing considering it is a Lonely Planet publication. In planning my next trip to Rome, I thought that this might be a great book to work from, but I found it to be poorly organized and overcrowded. The authors of this book crammed way too much information into this book that it borders on unusable. There are also very few photos and what photos are provided are not very helpful.

Other Lonely Planet Guides to Rome would be a better choice than this. National Geographic Traveler Rome Guide is more insightful and will orientate the reader much better than this book will.

It does come with a decent map that can be torn out, but it's paper. My only concern with that is being caught out in the rain. The map doesn't seem durable, and I wonder if it would even survive the trip. So if you're in the market for a guidebook to Rome, check out Lonely Planet's other options (besides this book), Nat'l Geographic Travelers Rome Guide, or Rome for Dummies.

Editorial Review:

Discover Rome

Bathe in the Pantheon's spotlight and admire the most singular architectural achievement of Ancient Rome

Coax your inner cook into the kitchen at the Citta del Gusto, the City of Taste

Find your bella figura at Femme Sistina, and then sashay forth with confidence

Know your giallorossi from yourbiancazzuri and make sure you get your seat right at the Stadio Olimpico

In This Guide:

Two resident authors, 840 hours of research, 26 maps, four near misses on a Vespa!

A full-color festivals section gives you the lowdown on summer culture fests, music gigs and the widely acclaimed Rome Film Fest

Locals tell it how it is, from the culture editor at La Republica to expert art restorers and designers

Content updated daily - visit lonelyplanet.com for up-to-the-minute reviews, updates, and traveller suggestions

Waterproof Map of Rome by Rough Guide Maps (Rough Guide Country/Region Map)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Accurate and Durable 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Used the Rough Guide maps for Venice, Florence, and Rome and found them to be top notch. They have far more detail and accuracy than the maps handed out by hotels and local TI offices. The paper is coated so that it withstands serious abuse, fold, refold, stuff it in your pocket in a wad, it always comes out with all the print intact. The coating adds negligible bulk, more than worth it for the durability.

Rough Guide Map - Rome 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This was an excellent map of Rome. Like the other Rough Guide maps, it is extremely durable. After 4 days in Rome, it still looks brand new.

Perfect Map of Rome 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Rough Guide maps make other maps look like child drawings. Do not leave home without one. The extras, like the "time map" with all the opening hours of major museums and churches, in addition to just the quality of the map itself (everything being to scale, the nice color scheme, etc.), make this map perfect. The fact that it's indestructible (plastic) is an added bonus!

Best Map of Rome 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I have been in Rome now for almost four months with this map and it is simply fantastic. Not only does it include Rome's center with very good detail, its also has held up incredibly well, and has bus, train and tram routes. I've looked at all the other maps while I've been here but this map is simply the very best. If you are going to go to Rome, get one of these maps. The only potential drawback is that it does not have the outlying areas but most people traveling to Rome will not need a map with a larger area. It you need a broader area map with bus routs, then you can buy the ATAC map at a tourist info station for I think about 4 euros.