Venice is a city beyond description and compare. Or as the English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning put it in 1851: “Nothing is like it; nothing is equal to it, not a second Venice in the world.” – Reprinted from National Geographic Traveler
Pages: 272
Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
Weight: 1.1 pounds
Maps: Regional Venice, Italy maps, limited number of street maps. Since the book is too heavy to carry with you there is not really a need for street maps
Pictures: Excellent pictures printed on glossy paper
What I like about the National Geographic Traveler Venice, Italy:
- This guide provides excellent background information on Florence and Tuscany – the history, culture, food, literature, cinema, architecture, etc.
- These books are geared towards people who want more than just information on where to stay and eat. The writing is excellent and the book is packed full of facts about cities and sites. The book is written in the style of the National Geographic Traveler magazine, meaning it reads more like it is written by a travel writer than most other guidebooks
- National Geographic does not gear these books to travelers on either end of the budget spectrum i.e. they are not for the budget conscious nor are they for the luxury traveler
- One of the things I like best about the National Geographic Traveler series are the 3-D architectural drawings
- Contact information for the tourist information centers is provided
- Addresses, phone numbers and a cost guide are included for popular sites. Days closed is given, however, hours of operation are not provided for most sites
- Little pieces of regional trivia are scattered throughout the books
- There is a very short section on practical information to help you get around
- If you are only going to Venice, it is nice to have a book that focuses on that area only
What I Don’t Like about the National Geographic Traveler Venice, Italy:
- This book is definitely too heavy to carry with you every day
- Although there is information on accommodations, restaurants and shopping other guides are more useful for this type of information
- I would not recommend this book if it is the only guidebook you are buying because it is lacking in the practicalities of getting around cities and regions. It is the perfect book if it is your second trip to the region.
