Venicewalks

This is quite possibly my favorite guidebook for any city in the world. It will take you on detailed walks through the hidden streets of Venice to places you'd never find on your own, such as the only remaining doorway of Marco Polo's childhood home. Now, make no mistake--this should not be the only guidebook you bring to Italy. For one thing, it's been out of print for 20 years, so any copy you buy will be out-of-date when it comes to restaurants, opening times, etc. (That's why I give it only 4 stars.) For another thing, this book's greatest strength is also it's major weakness: it doesn't try to tell you everything about the city; instead, it focuses on fascinating detail on a handful of blocks. For both those reasons, you'll want a more recent and more conventional guidebook to supplement this one. But do take this guide as well--it's like having a private tour of the city with somebody who knows the fascinating story behind every secret corner.