From the publishers of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World "A Tourist's Best Friend!" --Chicago Sun-Times "Indispensable" --The New York Times Five Great Features and Benefits offered ONLY by The Unofficial Guide: * A complete planner to Florence, Rome, and the highlights of Tuscany, Umbria, Latium, and the Marches * Honest advice that lets you feel safe and comfortable in the heart of Italy--whether you speak Italian or not * Insider tips on finding the most charming hotels for the best price * Hundreds of restaurants reviewed and ranked for quality and value * A complete guide to the region's cultural and historic sights--with helpful hints for making the most of your time Sample Rating The Leaning Tower (Torre Pendente) Appeal by Age Preschool Grade school Teens Young adults Over 30 Seniors Campo dei Miracoli; # 050 560 547; www.torre.duomo.pisa.it Type of attraction Icon of Pisa. Admission ¿15 at ticket office; ¿17 for online bookings. Hours Daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., guided tours every 40 minutes. When to go This site is always mobbed. Reservations Required. Special comments Local superstition has it that seeing the Leaning Tower before an exam will guarantee a bad grade. How much time to allow 30 minutes. Author's rating

The Unofficial Guides® are the "Consumer Reports" of travel guides, offering candid evaluations of their destinations' attractions, hotels, restaurants, shopping, nightlife, sports, and more, all rated and ranked by a team of unbiased inspectors so even the most compulsive planners can be sure they're spending their time and money wisely. Each guide addresses the needs of everyone from families to business travelers, with handy charts that demonstrate how each place stacks up against the competition. Plus, all the details are pulled out so they're extremely easy to scan. Get the unbiased truth on hundreds of hotels, restaurants, attractions, and more in The Unofficial Guide to Central Italy--the resource that helps you save money, save time, and make your trip the best it can be. It includes: Information that's candid, critical, and relentlessly objective A complete planner to Florence, Rome, and the highlights of Tuscany, Umbria, Latium, and the Marches Honest advice that lets you feel safe and comfortable in the heart of Italy--whether you speak Italian or not Insider tips on finding the most charming hotels for the best price Hundreds of restaurants reviewed and ranked for quality and value Tips for saving money and feeling at home with the Euro Expert advice on how to get around the region like a local The inside story on shopping--where to get the best for less Everything you need to know for a worry-free vacation

The Unofficial Guides® are the "Consumer Reports" of travel guides, offering candid evaluations of their destinations' attractions, hotels, restaurants, shopping, nightlife, sports, and more, all rated and ranked by a team of unbiased inspectors so even the most compulsive planners can be sure they're spending their time and money wisely. Each guide addresses the needs of everyone from families to business travelers, with handy charts that demonstrate how each place stacks up against the competition. Plus, all the details are pulled out so they're extremely easy to scan. Get the unbiased truth on hundreds of hotels, restaurants, attractions, and more in The Unofficial Guide to Central Italy--the resource that helps you save money, save time, and make your trip the best it can be. It includes: Information that's candid, critical, and relentlessly objective A complete planner to Florence, Rome, and the highlights of Tuscany, Umbria, Latium, and the Marches Honest advice that lets you feel safe and comfortable in the heart of Italy--whether you speak Italian or not Insider tips on finding the most charming hotels for the best price Hundreds of restaurants reviewed and ranked for quality and value Tips for saving money and feeling at home with the Euro Expert advice on how to get around the region like a local The inside story on shopping--where to get the best for less Everything you need to know for a worry-free vacation

A new Blue Guide completes the series’ unparalleled coverage of Italy, complementing recently revised guides to northern Italy, Sicily, and southern Italy. The first Blue Guide to include in the same book two of Italy’s biggest destinations, Rome and Florence, Blue Guide Central Italy also explores the bucolic countryside and towns in between them. Along with the legendary depth of research and up-to-date scholarship that readers have come to expect, this guide features “Blue Guides Recommended” dining and accommodation suggestions.

You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in the hill towns of central Italy. In this compact guide, Rick Steves covers the essentials of the hill towns, including San Gimignano, Volterra, Montepulciano, and Cortona. Explore the Galgano Monastery, Volterra's Etruscan Gate, Orvieto's Duomo, or relax while wine tasting in Montalcino. You'll get Rick's firsthand advice on the best sights, eating, sleeping, and nightlife, and the maps and self-guided tours will ensure you make the most of your experience. More than just reviews and directions, a Rick Steves Snapshot guide is a tour guide in your pocket. Rick Steves Snapshot guides consist of excerpted chapters from Rick Steves European country guidebooks. Snapshot guides are a great choice for travelers visiting a specific city or region, rather than multiple European destinations. These slim guides offer all of Rick's up-to-date advice on what sights are worth your time and money. They include good-value hotel and restaurant recommendations, with no introductory information (such as overall trip planning, when to go, and travel practicalities).