What are the best, most detailed, pedestrian maps for Rome and Florence? I would like maps that I can purchase in the U.S., so that I can plan routes and make notes in advance. Does anyone use one map for planning and another, perhaps smaller map, for actually walking around?

Hi S,

We use the Streetwise maps, available from www.Amazon.com.

For Rome I found that the free map given out at the tourist kiosks is the best.

It's detailed, the writing is reasonably large, it folds at very good places to then just slid into a back pocket. Then in the evening I threw out the current map and started the next day with a new one.

I have maps that have very small print or you have to turn over at the most popular sights. It's like the person who laid it out for printing never used it.

For Rome, I have a "Pocket Pilot" which is laminated and I purchased same at barnes & Noble. For Florence, I found the map in Rick Steve's Florence to be suffecient for pre-planning an itinery and the free map from the Tourist Board (once in Florence) is excellent with every little alley marked.

Thanks to all for your ideas. I'll check them out.