Romance

This a renown food writer’s highly selective guide-of-reference to Liguria’s restaurants, culinary traditions, wine, wineries, food artisans, and gourmet shops. Learn More

Food Wine Rome is a tightly focused guidebook and traveler’s companion to the culinary delights of Rome. For each neighborhood, listings are in three categories: 1) dining: restaurants, trattorie, osterie; 2) gourmet shopping: bakeries, markets, salami makers, cheesemongers, and more; 3) wine: shops and wine bars. A dozen or more sidebars add entertaining and informative bits of city lore, culture, customs, quotes, and anecdotes to bring alive the city’s historic culinary richness: the Roman love affair with artichokes; the watermelon festival held for years on August 24, when giant, ripe watermelons would be released into the river upstream and Roman kids would dive into the river to grab them; Lucullus’ Kitchen Garden; the Cacio e Pepe Family of Pastas; the cult of the strawberries of Nemi; Papal cuisine; the Renaissance of Rome’s wines; Holy Water and the Aqueducts; Spring Fever (lamb, favas, artichokes, zucchini flowers); and dozens more. Learn More

With this small and discriminating book as their guide, visitors find themselves strolling down cobblestone back streets that only native Romans know well. Nine walks direct shoppers to unique stores—jewelers, stationers, clothiers, grocers—that uphold the Italian standards of quality, craftsmanship, and creativity. The nine walks purport to be neither comprehensive nor direct. Rather, they afford an opportunity for the curious and confident shopper to stroll quiet and picturesque streets, sometimes in out-of-the-way areas. Cafes and restaurants dot each walk. Practical information, including size conversion charts and how to file for a tax refund, is also included. Learn More

Where do Florentines go to for the finest handmade shoes, leather gloves, jewelry inspired by Renaissance paintings, artisanal chocolates, exquisite lingerie, and more? This discriminating guide of eight walks will take you to shops of legendary quality and fine craftsmanship. Also featured are dozens of dining recommendations, from where to find cioccolata da bere (“drinkable” chocolate) to a sumptuous meal served in a former convent. There are more than seventy shops included in The Civilized Shopper’s Guide to Florence. Dining options include 37 venues, including cafes, restaurants, gelaterias, wine bars, and pastry shops. Learn More

Italy Dish by Dish describes more than 3,000 dishes you’ll find throughout every region of Italy. Even if you speak fluent Italian, regional terms for food and dishes can be confusing. No longer—with this translator you’ll know exactly what’s on the menu, how it’s cooked, what ingredients it contains, and how it fits into la cucina italiana. Lovers of good food and Italian culture will find this guide an irresistible and indispensable stew of culinary information, definitions, and local lore. And any cook will soon realize that the detailed descriptions of hundreds of dishes also serve as mini recipes that can easily be followed to create hundreds of authentic meals at home. Learn More

Italianissimo (literally, very very Italian) profiles fifty enticing Italian contributions to culture high and low, from the lofty realm of great ideas to the delicious realities of cuisine, fashion, cinema, and much more—an eclectic mix of the customs, culture, and concepts that embody the essence of Italy. This intimate guide will enlighten and enrich all journeys to Italy, both real and imaginary, and holds a wealth of sophisticated information about such icons as:hand gestures, patron saints, pasta, parmesan, the piazza, the Fiat 500, ex votos, fashion, Neo-realist cinema, authority figures, Pinocchio, the Italian male, the mezzaluna, shoes, opera, the Vespa, the Ferrari, gelato, gondolas, and more. Learn More

Italy, the birthplace of the Slow movement and the home of Slow Food, is a natural as the second destination in our new Slow series. Alastair Sawday has handpicked forty-six exceptional places to stay–places where attention is lavished on some of the most important things in life: convivial meals, community, a respect for the environment, and a celebration of regional distinctiveness. From the mountainous north, through cypressdotted Tuscany, and on down to the gutsy, colorful south, you’ll discover innkeepers and cooks that have an unmatched passion for Slow Travel and Slow Food, and whose hospitality embody their commitment to the finest accommodations and food. Go Slow Italy celebrates fascinating people, fine architecture, history, landscape, and real food. Learn More

The second in the highly-acclaimed City Secrets series, this volume brings together the recommendations of more than 200 experts, including curators, composers, artists, journalists, architects, and historians. Topics covered include art, architecture, museums, restaurants, shopping, flea markets, monasteries, churches, wineries, gardens, and day-long excursions. Learn More