City Secrets Rome: The Essential Insider's Guide, Revised and Updated

by Robert Kahn (Editor)

City Secrets Rome: The Essential Insider's Guide brings together the recommendations of artists, writers, historians, architects, chefs, and other experts whose passionate opinions and highly informed perspectives illuminate well-known sites as well as overlooked treasures. These expert travel companions share with you their favorite little-known places including restaurants, cafés, art, architecture, shops, outdoor markets, strolls, daytrips, as well all manner of cultural and historic landmarks. Clothbound, elegant, and pocket-sized, City Secrets Rome features a subtle, non-guidebook design and detailed maps. With over 250 contributors and 400 entries, this curated travel guide is a valuable supplement to any book more devoted to travel basics. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to The American Academy in Rome, a center for independent study and advanced research in the arts and humanities.

Genres: Travel, Italy, Nonfiction

384 pages, Hardcover

First published April 26, 2011

Reviews

[Geoff O'Donoghue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an anthology guidebook written by mostly American artists, writers, architects, etc. who know Rome and whose taste I admire. My wife and I visited Rome for five days as part of our honeymoon and this book (the 2011 edition) was the only guide book we needed. We used it to plan where to go and we also carried it with us every day to look up sites and monuments as we stumbled upon them. All of the major sites - the Pantheon, the Coliseum, etc. - are described with real passion, but the real strength of the book lay in describing and recommending lesser known attractions. I would give examples, but I don’t want to ruin the thrill of the chase! We did use other sources to find restaurants and bars, but this book seemed to do a good job in that area, too.

[Sally Edsall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last time I went to Rome I packed this delightful volume. As it says "This is a highly subjective guidebook, reflecting the personal visions of our respondents. "
It is highly successful in that. Agree or disagree with points of view, they are thought provoking and a joy to read.
The only slight difficulty I have with the book is that I need a very strong light to read it in, what with middle aged eyesight. The sepia like print, whilst adding to the aesthetics of the book, is not as distinct as a clearer print might be.

[Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I brought this little gem with me to Rome to highlight various locations and sites as I visited them. It adds additional perspectives from a variety of sources and helps you make some sort of sense of the cacophony known as Rome. Use it to accompany your guide book to supplement it.

[Bret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting tips for the more erudite traveler. But on the Kindle and Kindle Fire the formatting is sloppy and the maps are just about impossible to read, the resolution is so poor.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best travel guide we used in Rome, and a beautiful addition to the bookshelf when we got back.

[Stormy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing collection of observations of the city from artists, architects, poets and others. I read this before my trip to Rome, lent it to my friend, and am reading it again with new interest.