Key to Rome

I highly recommend Key to Rome by Vanessa and Frederick Vreeland, two of Rome's most knowledgable and stylish residents. The book is a treasure trove of historical and anecdotal information arranged by period - ancient, christian, renaissance and baroque. Their impeccable taste is also reflected in the dining and shopping tips which are always spot on. Key to Rome is a beloved travelling companion which one can continue to enjoy long after the Roman holiday has ended.

KEY TO ROME, while interesting and informative a good part of the time, is a guidebook that does not take the reader through Rome very smoothly. Not as well laid out as the Eyewitness Guide to Rome, but it does have some fascinating asides about various attractions.

Key To Rome by Frederick and Vanessa Vreeland is one of the most beautiful travel books we have seen. It is a complete guide to this Eternal City written by residents of 25 years.... the Vreelands, one an American and one a British citizen, have been in the positions in Rome as Counselor at the U.S. Embassy, Director General of Aspen Institute Italy, and VP of John Cabot University in Rome. Italy and decided to stay. They loved Rome and decided to stay. They have divided the book into sections by historic periods: Ancient Rome, Christian Rome, Renaissance & Baroque Era, and Grand Tour & Shopping, telling their favorite places for each period and also describing many more. The book contains maps, fees & times of opening for all the points of interest, history, and much more than just listing restaurants, hotels, transportation and points of interest, all of which they describe well. The only problem with it is that some travelers tear pages out of their travel guide to take in their purse on various days to mark the route of each daily venture, and you will not want to do that with this one. The book is far more than just a travel guide: it is also your Rome souvenir because the photographs and drawings in it make it a wonderful book to keep and display as a coffee table book so you can really share your trip with your friends after returning

This book is an excellent overview of Rome in all its glory, from anecdotal stories, to historical perspectives and unique presentation. Full of beautiful graphics and maps. A must read as a travel guide, but also for the lover of Italian culture.