Customer Reviews
Fantastic Guidebook for Architecture, Art and Cultural History - By: Pillowtail, 30 May 2008 
I used this book for a four day visit to Rome. It is excellent. It does not have photos, the plans are small & it is quite dense. However, its virtues far outweigh any deficiencies. It fits snugly into one's pocket & has a wealth of interesting & useful information. One can turn any street cornerin Rome & see something one wants to know about; & nine times out of ten, this guide book has it there with all the relevant facts & anecdotes.
Not for tourist - By: Lamberti Sara, 20 Jun 2007 This is an indispensable, unique, brilliant book. I have livedin Rome three years, & I guarantee that Georgina Masson captures the hidden powerful essence of the Eternal city like no one else: she succeedsin putting on paper the soul of Rome, which cannot but delight people who have been livingin the City for long like me.Still, for this very reason, I would not recommend the book to tourists. This is not a Kleenex-book, this is not a book to spot out the best restaurant, to find out at what time the latest art exhibition opens,or to make the best of a 7-day-tourin Italy. This book is written for the ones who have time, who want to taste, not just to bite & go. This is why I like the book:this is The book for the ones who arein tune with the soul of Rome, which,in a nutshell, is filled with "Pazienza" (patience). Enjoy the book, I wish you all a happy strollingin Rome.
Not for the average tourist - By: , 29 Oct 2002 
I was extremely disappointedin this book. Although undoubtedly a great literary work, it is necessary to appreciate the difficulty that an average tourist (like myself) would havein using the book. With massive amounts of inordinately detailed text on every entry, with no sub-headings or pointers for the wandering visitor, this book would be much more appropriate as an audio guide. It is next to impossible to fully appreciate your surroundings whilst reading the book as it is necessary to constantly refer to the textin order to maintain your bearings during the walks.
The lack of pictures is appreciated since it gives the opportunity to really see things for the first time (so rare these days) however this does not compensate with the difficulty of keeping track with where you are.
Be aware that you are buying a history book, rather than a travel guide & be prepared to work hardin order to derive the full value of this hefty tome.
Complete and in depth knowledge - By: pfcraig@lineone.net, 11 Jan 2002 As someone who relies heavily on travel guides.I can say that this, for me is the best I have ever read. If you are interestedin the history of the city & want to know more that the locals, this is the book for you. The books format is to divide the city up into two weeks worth of walks through the different parts of the city. It is not the usual guide book & you will need to buy both this & a DK eyewitness guide or something similar if you want the full benifit.
The eternal guide book of the Eternal City - By: , 20 Mar 2001 I live & workin Rome & Georgina Masson's guide is the best I have read - no other guide book on Rome matches it. Written by someone who knows the city well & has lived here for a number of years, the book sets out,in chapters, a number of walks around Rome & has small, simple to use maps. The walks are not exhausting & each area is explainedin considerable detail. The text is enlightened, excellently researched, entertaining & infomative. In addition, there is a comprehensive index from which you can find the appropriate piece of text for the site you are in. If you are a discerning traveller rather than an ignorant tourist you should be carrying a copy of this book on your next visit to the eternal city.
