Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and this beautiful, useful volume is an ideal reminder for those who have been there and fallen in love with the country, as well as a book to stir the expectations of those who plan to travel there. Lavishly illustrated with photographs, this collection captures the local color of every remarkable corner of this richly diverse land-the clamor and vitality of Naples, the idyllic enchantment of Lago Maggiore, the intriguing cultural contradictions of Genova, the breathtaking (if terrifying) cliffside trails in Cinqueterre.

Contributors include Oliver Bernier, Rachel Billington, Frank Bruni, Shirley Hazzard, Paul Hofmann, Alison Lurie, Malachi Martin, Alastair McEwen, Michael Mewshaw, Jan Morris, Francine Prose, Barry Unsworth, Muriel Spark, and William Weaver. Essays full of history, philosophical ruminations, humorous anecdotes, cultural musings, and useful travel information-in short the best of The New York Times talent-will make you want to drop everything and fly to this land that continues to inspire writers, artists, and casual visitors alike. AUTHOR BIO: Umberto Eco is the author of four novels as well as numerous works of criticism, philosophy, and literary theory. His fifth novel, The Mysterious Flame, will be published in June. He is professor of semiotics at the University of Bologna.

A well-organized, logical, pocketable guide.
I travel alot both for business and pleasure. I usually buy four to six guides per trip but the guide that I relied on for my trip to Madrid last month made my trip very, very enjoyable. The new Knopf City Guides are nicely organized and color coded to meet the travelers most sought after needs. Where to stay, eat, shop, see sights, enjoy night life are cross referenced and expertly mapped. Not only do they stick to their view of the highlights but each of the sections make it easy to find other attractions outside the section of interest. For instance, the micro map views in the shopping section also contained numbered,colored references to the after hours and eating sections. I would highly recommend these guides to anyone visiting the cities covered.

Who but Rick Steves can tell you the best way to see Rome, Venice, Florence, the hill towns of central Italy, the Dolomites, and the Amalfi Coast? With Rick Steves' Italy 2005, you can experience the best of everything Italy has to offer-economically and hassle-free. Completely revised and updated, Rick Steves' Italy 2005 includes color maps and photographs, opinionated coverage of both famous and lesser-known sights; friendly places to eat and sleep; suggested day plans; walking tours and trip itineraries; clear instructions for smooth travel anywhere by car, train, or foot; and Rick's newest "back door" discoveries. America's number one authority on travel to Europe, Rick's time-tested recommendations for safe and enjoyable travel in Italy have been used by millions of Americans in search of their own unique travel experience.