Lonely Planet Country Guide Italy - Softcover

Lonely Planet Italy

Despite incessant praise, Italy continues to surprise and delight. If you get it right, travelling in the bel paese (beautiful country) is one of those rare experiences in life that cannot be overrated.

Your passport to all the most relevant and up-to-date advice on what to see, what to skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Listen to your gondolier sing sweetly while gliding past centuries-old Venetian palaces, sample olives and wines amid the storybook hills of Tuscany, or lose yourself amid thousands of years of Roman history and art; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Italy and begin your journey now!

In few places do art and life intermingle so effortlessly. This may be the land of Dante, Michelangelo, da Vinci and Botticelli but it’s also the home of Salvatore Ferragamo, Giorgio Armani and Gualtiero Marchesi. Food, fashion, art and architecture – you’ll quickly learn that the root of Italian pathology is an unswerving dedication to living life well.

A surprising number of Italians care deeply about the floral aftertastes of sheep cheese, the correct way to cut marble and the nuances of a Vivaldi concerto. Lurking behind the disinvoltura – the appearance of effortlessness– is a passionate attention to life’s fine print. So slow down, start taking note of life’s details and enjoy your own bella vita.

Then there’s the food. Italy is quite literally a feast of endless courses, but no matter how much you gorge yourself, you’ll always feel as though you haven’t made it past the antipasti. Even the simplest snack can turn into a revelation, whether you’re downing a slice of Slow Food pizza, a paper cone of fritto misto (fried seafood) or pistachio flavored gelato. The secret is an intense, even savage, attention to top-notch ingredients and fresh, seasonal produce.

• Full-color maps and images throughout
• Highlights and itineraries show you the simplest way to tailor your trip to your own personal needs and interests
• Eat and Drink Like a Local
• Coverage of Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples, Sicily, the Italian Riviera and more