Authentic Tuscany (Touring Club of Italy)

Paperback - 12 March, 2005 - Touring Club of Italy
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By: Touring Club of Italy
ISBN: 8836532977

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Reviews by readers

Wow!

This may be the best travel guidebook I have ever seen. I've been a fan of the so-called "TCI" books for years; they are very popular among those whose hobby is exploring Italy, because of the tremendous insider's detail and information on the interesting small towns, all written from an Italian tourist's point-of-view.

But, this new format is fantastic. The book is divided into color-coded sections. The red "Heritage" section is similar to a classic Michelin Green Guide description of the major cities in Tuscany - the illustrations and maps are outstanding (less spectacular and slick perhaps than the "Eyewitness Guides" but more to my tastes).

What really sets the guide apart are the other sections however. The "itineraries" section includes detailed descriptions on some really intriguing "industrial museums" including such things as the Salvatore Ferragamo shoe museum in Florence and the Piaggio motor scooter museum in Pisa, tourist attractions that were previously unknown to me.

I would give the book 5 stars for the 40-page food section alone, if that were its only contents. Not only do they list and describe all the different cheeses and sausages of Tuscany, I particularly appreciate the fact that they indicate which towns are especially famous for what type of Pecorino (for example). Next time I'm in Grosseto, I'll know what cheese to look for.

This is incidentally, the first guide to Tuscany (or Italy) that I have seen that goes into any kind of detail on Grosseto as a tourist attraction.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading travel guides, even if you have no specific plans to visit Italy. I am really looking forward to additional TCI guides in this new "authentic" series.

Good Tuscany Guide for General Use

TCI guides are usually superb for serious and independent travelers. Authentic Tuscany is a bit more mainstream than others in the TCI series, which is understandable given the region's popularity. There are more illustrations and photos, all of which are excellent, as well as sections devoted to food and shopping. The book does provide solid historical information, plus hotel and restaurant recommendations, that will satisfy most tourists. However, if you're driving from town to town (which is the best way to get to know Italy), you'll really miss the detailed itineraries and maps that other TCI guides contain. At the very least, you'll need to pick up a separate map, which isn't always necessary with other TCI books (e.g. the excellent Umbria guide). You may also miss the more in-depth descriptions of towns that TCI is known for. Authentic Tuscany is closer to a 5-star book when compared to other Tuscany guides; it only falls short when judged by TCI's high standards.