The Companion Guide to Rome

Rating:
Summary: Possibly "too" good?
Review: As a self-professed 'Roma-holic', I was thoroughly absorbed by this book. It is probably the most comprehensive English-language walking reference for the city of Rome available. The authors truly love their subject and seem to be fully informed -- not just on facts and history, but also on the colorful side of myth, legend and hearsay that swirls through so much of this ancient city, like a sirocco wind. I'm very glad that I found it and will use it as a resource on my repeated visits to the city. But a word to the casual tourist: you would do better on your first trip to Rome to carry a less erudite guide; possibly the Eyewitness or Lonely Planet versions. Then if you find yourself hooked on Rome and return to explore its deeper layers, turn to Georgina Masson.

Rating:
Summary: A top companion that gives a lot and requires some care
Review: I have used this book during a visit to Rome that has lasted several months. The late Ms Masson (and now Mr Fort, the gentleman who revised the latest edition) have done a tremendous job in distilling the complex history, art, and geography of Rome in 27 walks, each of which can be accomplished in a day (albeit a full day). The walks take up most (600+ pages)of the book, which is completed by further information on other sites, opening hours and so on.
This guide is excellent for the thoughtful traveler. I found it among the best (in English -- if you read Italian you have other choices). The beauty of the book is in the way the sites are both described and discussed. Most guide books do well one (usually the former) or the other. The sections on the Pantheon, Santa Maria in Aracoeli, or Santa Maria sopra Minerva are a few of many examples of such beautifully rendered writing. The sections on several baroque churches (which are, I believe, largely the precious contribution of Mr Fort) are a welcome addition to the previous edition.
This book gives you a lot. However, for best results (at least in my case) a little investement in your time will work wonders. Ideally, one would read the book leasurely before leaving for Rome, and then read again each walk the day before the actual walk. This will leave you time to look at the sights, study them, enjoy them during the visit, with the occasional scan to the text.
It is also important to note that this is a companion guide to Rome and that for items such as finding a hotel, a restaurant, or an internet point you will need another tourist guide, of which there are several good ones available.
I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: A superlative guide book.
Review: I highlighted my copy of this and plan to use it as my walking tour guide when I visit Rome this fall. This is a glorious, delightful, magnificent book, and if I could pick only one guide this would be it. I only wish THE COMPANION GUIDE TO PARIS was still in print

Rating:
Summary: the best
Review: I lived 11 years in Rome, and have been in and out of Rome for the past 33 years, and this is hands down the best guide to the city for english speaking travellers

Rating:
Summary: incredible; utter poetry; magnificent
Review: saying this is the best guidebook around doesn't do it justice, because quite simply it exists on a higher plane. consider yourself fortunate to have found this here; the book has long been out of print. snatch up this revised edition while you can--if you're heading to Roma you won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: a supreme guidebook
Review: Thus book remains a great achievement of travel writing, head and shoulders about other "walking" travel guides. The walks are thoughtfully designed to comprehensively cover the city; Georgina Masson's writing is cultured, individual and excellent, and the book is chock full of interesting background detail to bring the city alive. Rome is a unique and fascinating place and she definitely gets it! Wore out one copy of this book (earlier edition purchased in '78) and am now working on the second, unfortunately much heavier edition, also not the current one.

Not a book for the short-stay or casual visitor who just wants to hit the top sites, but if you want to do some in depth exploration, a tremendous resource (definitely a read ahead resource). Buy this book while you can - its gone out of print a couple of times so far!

Rating:
Summary: a supreme guidebook
Review: Thus book remains a great achievement of travel writing, head and shoulders about other "walking" travel guides. The walks are thoughtfully designed to comprehensively cover the city; Georgina Masson's writing is cultured, individual and excellent, and the book is chock full of interesting background detail to bring the city alive. Rome is a unique and fascinating place and she definitely gets it! Wore out one copy of this book (earlier edition purchased in '78) and am now working on the second, unfortunately much heavier edition, also not the current one.

Not a book for the short-stay or casual visitor who just wants to hit the top sites, but if you want to do some in depth exploration, a tremendous resource (definitely a read ahead resource). Buy this book while you can - its gone out of print a couple of times so far!

Rating:
Summary: Not very helpful
Review: We purchased this book after reading reviews that made it sound like it had the most in-depth coverage of Rome, even though we knew it wouldn't be good for carrying around with us as a guide. Unfortunately, after a week in Rome we decided this book was fairly worthless. If it provided deep history on the sites we saw, I'd be thrilled. Unfortunately, the book comes with maps printed so small it's hard to read them even after you've seen the things they portray in person. And the guide has only a tiny amount of history and background on things... mostly it provides inane comments like "to the left of XYZ, you'll see ABC" which a guide like the Eyewitness Guide does more clearly with pictures. (Not to mention its descriptions say things like "from the entrance you can see..." without acknowledging that there are 6 separate entrances to the site or clarifying which one it's referring to.) It also provides distinctly un-insightful history saying things like "[name] was the person who gave real meaning to the abbreviation S.P.Q.R" but without actually telling you what SPQR stands for or how the person gave it meaning. Perhaps the book is a decent refresher for people who don't need one, but don't expect any insight into things you don't already know. And it's definitely not a guide to carry with you--the maps are tiny and illegible with 3-point type, and the information too dense to find things quickly--it's laid out and reads like a 400 page novel.