Rome Guidebooks
 

Other than Fodors, Which Guidebooks would you recommend for Rome?

I used the Eyewitness (Top 10) which was very nice..especially for a relatively short stay. fits nicely in the back pocket as well

If you have a serious, or even semi-serious, interest in the archaeological sites, the Oxford Archaeological Guide to Rome by Amanda Claridge is indispensable.

I bought more books for Rome than I have for anywhere else but of course didn't take them all with me.
For being there, Michelin Green for art and architecture details, and good walking routes, plus Fodors for practical information, restaurants, and briefer overviews of walks and sites.

There is also a book, I believe the title is Companion Guide to Rome. IMO it is dry reading, but good for research before the trip. My other indispensable book isn't just good for Rome, but lots of places: Oxford Guide to Christian Art and Architecture. I went through it before I went and I still refer to it a lot. Helps identify religious figures, separates one saint from another so you can learn to identify them in paintings, discusses church architecture, etc.

I agree that the Eyewitness guides are very good (in some areas, you may see them as "DK"). They are usually what I get. They have lots of illustrations.

SOME of the Rich Steves guides are good, depending on just what you are looking for.

--Marv

I use the same ones as elaine, in fact she may have put me on to them long ago.

I have been reading H. V. Morton's A Traveller in Italy:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...l/-/0306810786

This is really excellent for historical background. I haven't read his book which focuses on Rome, but I suspect it's also excellent.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...l/-/0306811316

The book I'm reading is from the early 1960s, but since I am reading this for historical background, it hardly matters. It looks like Amazon has later editions.

The Blue Guide, Rome has lots and lots of detail.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...l/-/0393324737

I'm also reading Kate Simon's Rome: Places and Pleasures.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...l/-/0394468244
This is from 1972, but as I said it doesn't really matter.

My main problem is that there is no way I can take all of these books with me. How will I pick which one to take?

On my first trip to Rome I took the Eyewitness Guide,but found the maps to be inadequate. I have quite a library of Rome guidebooks and have found the Frommer's book to be great,very good restaurant recs., reliable information.
The National Geographic is also very good. I bought a wonderful book,Fodor's Holy Rome,which is the most extensive guide to churches and lots of other sites,but I believe it is out of print now.

For the ancient sites and museums in general, the 'Blue Guide-Rome' is good.
But for the ancient sites especially you can't beat the 'Oxford Arch. Guide-Rome'. Regards, Walter

This post is a bit premature, as we don't leave for Rome until Sunday, but the guide which has most impressed us as we've planned our trip is *City Secrets:Rome* by Robert Kahn. It doesn't have the practical information of Fodor's, but the recommendations and descriptions of the attractions are fabulous.