Rating: 
Summary: If it's not in this book -- it's not worth seeing!
Review: Just kidding! But it is certainly applicable to say that if it is in the book, then it is worth seeing. My wife and I have conquered the Louvre, Venice's palace and basilica, Versailles, and most of Florence (minus the Ufizi) with this book. We were very disheartened to learn that we forgot to pack it for our trip to London. The section on Westminister Abbey would have been great. At least we would have been laughing in such a somber place!!!We've lived in Europe for the past three years, and if we can visit someplace Rick recommends in this book -- we do. He takes a very lighthearted tone throughout, but still gets the important points across. And these are frequently interspersed with poignant and funny vignettes. And when I said above that we "conquered" the Louvre, I meant it! Anyone that has spent four or six hours on their feet, gazing upwards at paintings that are magnificent, keeps getting lost and coming back to the Mona Lisa and her crowd will understand how frustrating an experience it can be. And can identify with our feeling of success after walking through the Louvre in a short span of time (2-3 hours) and coming away with a sense of accomplishment. While visiting the Louvre broadened our perspective, Rick's narrative put it in a context and in a voice we could understand and enjoy. I heartily recommend you take the ripped up pieces your neighbor just brought back from Europe, and get over there yourself! This book is a must if you are going to any of the "big sites"! There's four books you need if you're planing a trip to a European country: 1) This book 2) The Dorling-Kindersly guide for your particular country 3) The D-K guide for your major city of interest 4) A Rick Steves guide for that country, if available. You're already spending thousands for that European vacation -- spring for another $100 in guide books that will help you enjoy it more!
Rating:
Summary: If it's not in this book -- it's not worth seeing!
Review: Just kidding! But it is certainly applicable to say that if it is in the book, then it is worth seeing. My wife and I have conquered the Louvre, Venice's palace and basilica, Versailles, and most of Florence (minus the Ufizi) with this book. We were very disheartened to learn that we forgot to pack it for our trip to London. The section on Westminister Abbey would have been great. At least we would have been laughing in such a somber place!!! We've lived in Europe for the past three years, and if we can visit someplace Rick recommends in this book -- we do. He takes a very lighthearted tone throughout, but still gets the important points across. And these are frequently interspersed with poignant and funny vignettes. And when I said above that we "conquered" the Louvre, I meant it! Anyone that has spent four or six hours on their feet, gazing upwards at paintings that are magnificent, keeps getting lost and coming back to the Mona Lisa and her crowd will understand how frustrating an experience it can be. And can identify with our feeling of success after walking through the Louvre in a short span of time (2-3 hours) and coming away with a sense of accomplishment. While visiting the Louvre broadened our perspective, Rick's narrative put it in a context and in a voice we could understand and enjoy. I heartily recommend you take the ripped up pieces your neighbor just brought back from Europe, and get over there yourself! This book is a must if you are going to any of the "big sites"! There's four books you need if you're planing a trip to a European country: 1) This book 2) The Dorling-Kindersly guide for your particular country 3) The D-K guide for your major city of interest 4) A Rick Steves guide for that country, if available. You're already spending thousands for that European vacation -- spring for another $100 in guide books that will help you enjoy it more!
Rating:
Summary: Now I'm Fired Up and Ready To Go
Review: Let's get this out right from the beginning, I'm a Rick Steves fan. I love his show on PBS. I tend to disagree with his complete travel philosophy, especially about "inexpensive" hotels. With that said, let me tell you about this book. It's GREAT!!!! With a trip to Italy pending, I decided to read the sections that applied, and WOW! The Vatican Museum, it ain't so bad, the Uffizi, HA, bring it on. The development of Medievel to Renaissance art, a piece of cake. This is the way to learn Art History, fast, easy, and entertaining. And St. Peter's, well now I'm ready. Rick has this great way of telling stories, and relating facts. He made me laugh. But boy the information that's related. The inner meanings of the art is related is a simple down-to-earth fashion that I wish I had experienced in college. He very casually tells the stories of the artists and how they were influenced to create the works you'll enjoy. You'll even be told where to look in the room, how to get to the room, and where to take a seat and rest "your Uffizis". Well, not all the jokes are very funny..... Anyway, if you're planning on going to any of the great museums in Europe, then ABSOLUTELY get this book. Don't leave home without it, or at least photocopies of the pages. I like my books too much to rip the pages out as Rick recommends. We plan on carrying it with us into the museums and reading it while standing in front of the work. It's also very easy to read 3 or 4 times. He just doesn't get boring or dull. One last thing. Kudos to Gene Openshaw. He has to be the brains behind the Art History. I'd take a class from him in a heartbeat. Buy this book NOW, even if you're not going to Europe. Once again, history is where you find it, and the love of Art can be enjoyed even if not in it's presence.
Rating:
Summary: Subtle Humor Kept Us Laughing through Italy
Review: My sister and I travelled Italy with "Mona Winks." By the end of our trip this book was like an old friend to us. Rick is not only informative but has a quirky kind of humor that is priceless. The book was filled with little extras about many of the beautiful works of art that we saw. And the reading was never boring! The second we stepped into a museum, gallery or church, we immediately pulled out Rick. Along with his Rick Steves' Italy book, we were the most informed tourists in all of Italy.
Rating:
Summary: Your hip, cool, oh-so-smart personal tourguide
Review: My wife and I used the "Rome" and "Florence" chapters of this amazing book during our recent trip to Italy. (As the authors instructed, we literally tore those chapters from the book and took only them with us.) Neither of us will ever forget sitting on a piece of broken column in the center of the Forum in Rome, reading the applicable descriptions as we gazed around us at the epicenter of the Roman Empire. We've each read a lot of "travel" books -- guides, travelogues, etc. -- and this is the best hands-on guide to art and history that we've found. This book was recommended to us by friends who had traveled around the world with it; we are really looking forward to tearing ALL of the chapters out as we take future trips with the authors as our guides.
Rating:
Summary: Fun facts for the entire family
Review: Our family used this on our month-long trip to Spain and France. Dad made photocopies of the sections on certain museums and distributed to each of us. The interesting facts, sometimes quirky, about the art and artists engaged all of us -- ranging in age from 12 to 45. In the Prado, I discovered a couple who were reading the book aloud, so I followed them and was able to listen to Rick's comments on the history of a painting or sculpture while actually looking at the object. So nice to know that others appreciate Rick as much as us.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific guide.
Review: Quick, easy, painless guide to museums in Europe. Forget the drawn out and expensive audio guides. Great book.
Rating:
Summary: Best travel book ever!
Review: Rick Steves is right on in his selections of what to see and do at the various museums listed in this book. Definatly tear out only the sections you will need on your trip.
Rating:
Summary: A Must-Have for Budget Travellers
Review: This gem of a resource book will save you time and money (you won't be spending it on tour guides!) in the major European sights. We didn't buy it in time for our trip to France in 1999, but did have it for our Italian adventure in 2001. What a difference!! First of all, the suggestion is to tear out only the chapters that pertain to where you'll be visiting and what you'll be seeing. My partner wasn't enthusiastic about doing that, even though readers are assured they can get a brand new book for just $5 from Rick Steves' company, so we lugged the whole book to Italy. Finally, however, I got frustrated carrying it and tore out only the pages we were using that day. HUGE improvement. Very convenient, great suggestion. Don't be afraid, just RIP. Now to content - the self-guided tours are GREAT. You'd obviously get more out of a real human being (in that you could ask questions about stuff that's left out), but what's included in the book is really quite thorough. In St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, we followed our tour guide through (after a paid-for tour of the Museums - highly recommended) and then went back with Mona Winks. There were some differences of content, but all the major points of interest were included - and some of the things I found most interesting I got from Mona Winks, not the live human guide. And one final piece of advice - if possible, skim through the places you'll be visiting before you get there. We missed something in Venice because we didn't do that, and didn't realize it was there. Better to glance ahead than be saying, "DOGGONIT!" later... BUON VIAGGIO!!
Rating:
Summary: Mona Winks
Review: This is one guide book that is user friendly. You just take out the section that you will be using and carry that. I have used this guide book through almost all of the museums that are listed. I still have 4 more to go. If you follow the times to go that are given, it will save you time and trouble. I still remember looking out in the courtyard of the Louvre and seeing the long line of people waiting to enter on a Sunday afternoon. My husband and I just walked in from the other entrance with no wait.
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