Too bad the essence of Rome can't be bottled and exported to a corner store near you. If it could, you could pick up a weekend's worth of Rome along with your pint of milk and Snickers bar, and you'd probably never get to repainting the stairs, doing the laundry, or watching that new video release. Instead you'd be gawking at St. Peter's, ogling the Temple of Vesta, devouring saltimbocca in a trattoria, and sipping Sangiovese at a wine bar. You might not even get to the Snickers bar. Okay, DK never said they're trying to bottle Rome. But they do a stand-up job of imbuing their guidebook with the spirit, attitude, and élan of Rome. They don't just provide information about where to stay and what to do when you're there (though they do, in fact, provide all those necessary details), they go beyond the pragmatic and mundane to revel in Rome's glory. They stimulate the appetite for a Roman holiday. The gorgeous pictures and engaging text draw you in. They inspire you to read and dream, set your travel date, and visit Rome for real. --Stephanie Gold

From Book News, Inc.
Dorling Kindersley is gaining a disproportionate share of the US market in the broad category of illustrated books. Rome epitomizes their products and explains their popularity. Lucid drawings--bird's eye views, cutaways of buildings, plans--some 1,200 color photos, and a little text. Useful overview. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A fully indexed, virtually indestructible, folding street guide to the ancient city of Rome — a must for every traveler!

When in Rome, navigate the city streets like the Romans do —whether you're on your way to St. Peter's or curious about the Coliseum, the Rome City Map will take you there! The team that brought you the best-selling, ground-breaking Dorling Kindersley Travel Guides and the new Dorling Kindersley Travel Planners introduces a new series — the Dorling Kindersley City Maps. Designed as a companion to the guides and planners, each sturdy, weather-proof, laminated but lightweight map features a detailed street grid of a major city keyed to a user-friendly Street Finder index, as well as information about transportation, sightseeing, museums, and shopping. Easily folded to show any section of the city, this map is both easy-to-carry and inconspicuous.