The Unofficial Guides are the "Consumer Reports" of travel guides, offering candid evaluations of their destinations' attractions, hotels, restaurants, shopping, nightlife, sports, and more, all rated and ranked by a team of unbiased inspectors so even the most compulsive planners can be sure they're spending their time and money wisely. Each guide addresses the needs of everyone from families to business travelers, with handy charts that demonstrate how each place stacks up against the competition. Plus, all the details are pulled out so they're extremely easy to scan. Get the unbiased truth on hundreds of hotels, restaurants, attractions, and more in The Unofficial Guide to Central Italy - the resource that helps you save money, save time, and make your trip the best it can be. It includes: - Information that's candid, critical, and relentlessly objective - A complete planner to Florence, Rome, and the highlights of Tuscany, Umbria, Latium, and the Marches - Honest advice that lets you feel safe and comfortable in the heart of Italy - whether you speak Italian or not - Insider tips on finding the most charming hotels for the best price - Hundreds of restaurants reviewed and ranked for quality and value - Tips for saving money and feeling at home with the Euro - Expert advice on how to get around the region like a local - The inside story on shopping - where to get the best for less - Everything you need to know for a worry-free vacation

Table of Contents

List of Maps. Acknowledgments. About the Author. Introduction. Welcome to Central Italy. About This Guide. How Come "Unofficial"? How This Guide Was Researched and Written. Letters, Comments, and Questions from Readers. How This Guide Is Organized: By Subject and by Geographic Area. On Being a "Tourist". Part One: Understanding Central Italy. A Brief History of the Region. Early History: The Etruscans and Other Peoples of Central Italy. The Roman Republic and the Roots of Empire. The Caesars. From Empire to Christianity. Medieval Times. The Renaissance. The Sack of Rome and the Counter-Reformation. A Timeline of Italian History. Il Risorgimento. Fascism and World War II. Modern History. The Language: Italiano. Getting Linguistically Equipped. Survival Italian. Numbers and Prices: The Euro. Further Reading about Central Italy. Part Two: Planning Your Visit to Central Italy. How Far in Advance Should You Plan? When to Go. Pricing. Weather. Airfare Deals and Package Tours. Start with Your Local Travel Agent. Check the Travel Section of Your Local Newspaper. Surf the Web. Contact the Airlines Directly. Suggested Tour Operators. Italian Government Tourist Office (ENIT). Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad. What to Pack. Travel Security Restrictions. Passports and Visas. Italian Consular Offices. How to Dress. A Word on Tourist Garb. Part Three: Arriving, Getting Oriented, and Departing. Arriving and Departing. Beating Jet Lag. Airports in Central Italy. Changing Money at the Airport. Departing. Confirming Your Flight: Reaching the Airlines. Getting to the Airport on Time. Claiming Your VAT Refund on Purchases. Arriving and Departing by Train. Arriving and Departing by Car. Understanding Those First Signs and Getting Directions. Talking Transportation. Telephone, E-mail, and Postal Services. That First Phone Call. Come Prepared. Using Italian Telephones. Using E-mail and the Internet. Using the Poste Italiane. Money Matters. Estimating Your Budget. Understanding the Euro. Changing Money. Banking in Italy. Using Credit Cards. Traveler's Checks. Tipping. Things the Locals Already Know. Getting an English-language Newspaper. Everything You Need Is at the Tabacchi Bar. Public Toilets. Health. Travelers with Disabilities. Safety and Security. If You're a Victim of Theft. Part Four: Hotels in Central Italy. The Hotel Scene. Understanding Your Options. Location. Types of Lodging. Italian and European Hotel Chains. Italian Star-rating System. Specialized and Unusual Accommodations. Convents and Monasteries. Agriturismo: Farm Holidays. Villas and Furnished Apartments. Camping. Hostels in Central Italy. Hotels for Business Travelers. Hotels for Disabled Travelers. The Italian Hotel Room. Central Italy Hotels Rated and Ranked. Our Star System and Price Ranges. Cream of the Crop. Hotel Profiles Florence. Hotel Profiles The Rest of Tuscany. The Province of Florence. The Province of Siena. The Province of Arezzo. The Province of Lucca. The Province of Pisa. Hotel P

About the Author

Never a coffee drinker until she lived in Rome, Melanie Mize Renzulli is now a cappuccino connoisseur and a fan of black truffles, Bernini, and Italian pop. She is the author of Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Rome, a contributor to The Unofficial Guide to the Southeast with Kids, and has written shopping, dining, and travel articles for Bell'Italia, AOL Digital Cities, the Washington Post, and Epicurious.com. She currently lives with her husband Anthony in Washington, DC.