Trip Reports Home | My Trip Reports | Create Trip Report | Recent Reports | Search Trip Reports

Report 1396: Roman Holiday

By Doug Phillips from Canada, Fall 2007

The Pincio from Piazza del Popolo

Print Resources - Books and Maps

How many guidebooks are enough? There are likely dozens on Rome alone. The list below includes the ones we found most useful, but you could stop after the first two and be well-prepared for a visit to Rome.

Spiral Guides Rome, Heathrow, FL: AAA Publishing, 2006. My favourite series of guidebooks.
H. V. Morton, A Traveller in Rome, London: Methuen, 1960 (reprint of the original 1957 edition). Literate, wonderfully descriptive and evocative, this is now available in a modern reprint from Amazon.com.
Fodor’s Rome, New York: Fodor’s, 2006. 6th Edition. Includes a pull-out map. A good option.
City Secrets Rome, New York: The Little Bookroom, 1999. Eclectic collection of comments, reviews and recommendations. Some area maps. Small size makes it convenient to bring along. Uninspired, dull layout and presentation.
A.G. MacKinnon, Things Seen in Rome, London: Seeley, Service and Co, 1927. Vintage views and comments. I like this series. I bought my copy on eBay.
Georgina Masson, A Companion Guide to Rome, New York: Harper & Row, 1965. Very detailed walking tours or Rome arranged in 25 chapters. Highly recommended by others, I didn’t finish reading my copy.
We brought two street maps with us to Rome - Street Smart Roma and Streetwise Rome. Both are laminated and easy to use. Both are good choices.