EXPERIENCE ITALY
with Genuine Independence
→Your Italy, Your Way!
FOR DEEPLY CURIOUS TRAVELERS WHO
HATE FOLLOWING THE CROWDS.
Expert-written travel guides with insider knowledge,
hidden gems, cultural and archaeological insights you won't
find anywhere else.
Latest Archaeological Sites
Cool Down: Rooftop Bars & Restaurants
Best Photo Views & Locations
FREE SpiniCity Planning Card Included
BOOKS
ANCIENT ROME AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
The most comprehensive guide to Ancient Rome today.
THE RENAISSANCE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
The best Florence/Renaissance Guide in Travel.
AUTHENTIC VENICE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
The best guide to understanding the mysteries of Venice.
THE FOUNDING STORY OF TRADER JOE'S
A terrific vacation read for your trip.
WHY THESE GUIDES MIGHT BE
BETTER THAN A PHONE?
PHONE vs. GUIDES
PERFECT FOR
TRAVELERS WHO WANT MORE
- Weak Battery/Signal
- Overwhelming Informtion
- Small Easy to Carry
- Generic & Outdated Content
- Focus on Tourist Traps
- Time Consuming Research - LOTS
- Easy to get Distracted
- No Local Expertise
- Works Anywhere, Any Time
- Curated Expert Recommendations
- Fits in Purse or BackPack
- Well-Researched Historical Knowledge
- Avoid Tourist Traps
- Saves Precious Time
- Stay Present, Enjoy the Moment
- Local Knowledge You Can Trust
- Focus on Your Independence
- You Love History, Art & Culture
- You Prefer Professional Advice
- You Want to Explore Independently
- You Hate Following the Tourist Mobs
- You Want to Go Slower - Not Faster
- You Value Expert Research Over Tourist Advice
- You Want to Make the Most of Your Time
Turn indecision into adventure. With our unique SpiniCity Card, you'll always know everything about every cool site around you - no matter where you're standing! That means you'll never miss something because you didn't know it was there. Talk about independence!
WHAT TRAVELERS
ARE SAYING
"I have no words for adequately praising Ms. Civalleri's masterpiece." ~Amazon Verified
"Excellent, many photos and interesting facts, portable."
~ Amazon Verified
"Well organized between the maps and the numbered pages. Fun and often funny!" ~Amazon Verified
Patty Civalleri is an award-winning writer who has studied global archaeology and specializes in Italian history. She has lived in Rome, Florence & Venice and brings unmatched local expertise & insight to every page.
GLOBALLY
AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR
TRUSTED BY TRAVELERS & CORPS
WHY DISCERNING TRAVELERS
CHOOSE THESE GUIDES
WHAT'S INSIDE?
FEATURES
MY GUIDES
OTHER GUIDES
Written by Award-Winning Author & Archaeology Expert
In-depth Cultural & Historical Insights
Hidden Gems & Local Secrets
SpiniCity Card for Easy Planning On-the-Go
Change Direction & Never Get Lost (Pre-planning not necessary)
Always Know What's Around You - Never Miss a Site
Total focus on Avoiding Tourist Traps & Crowds
Independence as a Prime Focus
Go At Your Own Speed
Gorgeous Photos & Easy Layout
Rooftop Lounge Guide (Escape the Crowds & Cool Down)
Best Guide for Return Visitors (Depth)
LOTS OF DIAGRAMS
Ruins can be incredibly confusing to understand. So we give you great visuals all over the city to not only show you what you're looking at, but also what to see and how to see it. And boom! Suddenly all those messy ruins start to make sense to you!
VISUAL SECTION CONTENTS
Tables of Contents' can be lackluster. So we've put one at the beginning of each section and reference both the page number and its space on the SpiniCity card. (Why do people visit the churches? Because that's where so much of the cool art is hiding. We tell you which churches to visit, what to look for and how to 'see' them.)
HOW TO SEE THE ART
Whether or not you're into museums or art, We will take you through the best museums in the city and point out the coolest works of art. Then I'll show you how to 'see' them, and I'll even cover a bit about the artists. Someone once did this for me, and for the first time, I truly fell in love with the art! (Because I finally learned how.)
ANCIENT RUINS START HERE
If you're going to Italy to learn about the Ancient Romans, we will take you on a complete journey through the latest archaeological sites. Once again, not only will I show you where to go, but I'll tell you what to see and how to see it. This is truly Italy beneath the surface, and one that no other travel guide can share with you.
YOUR JOURNEY,
YOUR WAY.
Italy is More Than a Destination -
Satisfaction Guaranteed
Secure Checkout
Independently Owned
Woman Owned
It's a Life Experience!
1. What is the best travel book for Italy?
If you're visiting multiple cities, start with a guide that specializes in the places you'll actually visit. Broad Italy guidebooks provide an overview of the country, while city-specific guides offer much deeper history, practical advice, walking strategies, and local discoveries. Patty Civalleri's books focus exclusively on Rome, Venice, and Florence, allowing travelers to explore each city with far greater confidence and understanding.
- Plenty of Illustrations & Diagrams will simplify the sites
- Focus on avoiding Tourist Traps and Crowds
- Go at your own speed = total independence
- Our SpiniCity card means NEVER MISS SITES that are all around you
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Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
Your Title Goes Here
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
1. What is the best travel guide for Italy?
If you're visiting multiple cities, start with a guide that specializes in the places you'll actually visit. Broad Italy guidebooks provide an overview of the country, while city-specific guides offer much deeper history, practical advice, walking strategies, and local discoveries. Patty Civalleri's books focus exclusively on Rome, Venice, and Florence, allowing travelers to explore each city with far greater confidence and understanding.
- Plenty of Illustrations & Diagrams will simplify the sites
- Focus on avoiding Tourist Traps and Crowds
- Go at your own speed = total independence
- SpiniCity means Never Miss sites that are all around you
2. What is the best time of year to visit Italy?
The "Shoulder" months Spring (April through June) and Autumn (September through October) generally offer pleasant temperatures, beautiful scenery, and smaller crowds than the peak summer months. Late June through early September will commonly exceed 100-degrees in most of Western Europe, and in Italy, many of the shops & restaurants are closed because the owners leave for cooler climantes during this hottest month of the year.
- Late June - Early Sept can exceed 100-degree temps
- Many shops are closed during August
- Families are in school during the 'Shoulder' months
- The Lake District (Northern Italy) can be cool or rainy during the 'Shoulder' months
3. Do I need to speak Italian?
No. Learning a few basic Italian phrases is appreciated by locals, but English is widely understood in major tourist areas throughout Rome, Florence, and Venice. The further you wander away from the tourist centers, however, the fewer people you will find who speak English. Simply ask people if they speak English ("Lei parle englese?" [Lay parlay in-glay-say?]) and you're sure to find someone who will be more than happy to help you out.
- Do you speak english? [Lei parle englese?]
- Excuse me [Mi scusi]
- Please [Per favore]
- Thank you [Grazie]
4. Is Italy safe for travelers?
Italy is generally considered quite a safe destination. As with any major tourist city in the world, visitors should remain aware of their surroundings and protect valuables in crowded areas. As a single female, I have lived alone in Rome, Florence & Venice for extended periods and have never had any issues anywhere in Italy. Following a few safety guidelines is always prudent, however, no matter where you travel.
- Men should not keep their wallet or passport in their back pocket
- Women: slash-proof crossbody purses/bags are the best bet
- Keep valuables in your hotel safe
- Avoid wearing precious jewelry when traveling
5. Should I rent a car?
For Rome, Florence, and Venice, a rental car is usually unnecessary. Italy's trains connect the major cities efficiently and comfortably, while the historic centers are best explored on foot.
- Parking is nearly non-existent in most cities, towns & villages.
- Driving rules & laws vary from city to city. Signage is in Italian.
- In much of Europe, it is common to use traffic fines as fund raisers.
- Public transportation is affordable and convenient all throughout Italy.
1. What is the best travel guide for Italy?
If you're visiting multiple cities, start with a guide that specializes in the places you'll actually visit. Broad Italy guidebooks provide an overview of the country, while city-specific guides offer much deeper history, practical advice, walking strategies, and local discoveries. Patty Civalleri's books focus exclusively on Rome, Venice, and Florence, allowing travelers to explore each city with far greater confidence and understanding.
- Plenty of Illustrations & Diagrams will simplify the sites
- Focus on avoiding Tourist Traps and Crowds
- Go at your own speed = total independence
- SpiniCity means Never Miss sites that are all around you
2. What is the best time of year to visit Italy?
The "Shoulder" months Spring (April through June) and Autumn (September through October) generally offer pleasant temperatures, beautiful scenery, and smaller crowds than the peak summer months. Late June through early September will commonly exceed 100-degrees in most of Western Europe, and in Italy, many of the shops & restaurants are closed because the owners leave for cooler climantes during this hottest month of the year.
- Late June - Early Sept can exceed 100-degree temps
- Many shops are closed during August
- Families are in school during the 'Shoulder' months
- The Lake District (Northern Italy) can be cool or rainy during the 'Shoulder' months
3. Do I need to speak Italian?
No. Learning a few basic Italian phrases is appreciated by locals, but English is widely understood in major tourist areas throughout Rome, Florence, and Venice. The further you wander away from the tourist centers, however, the fewer people you will find who speak English. Simply ask people if they speak English ("Lei parle englese?" [Lay parlay in-glay-say?]) and you're sure to find someone who will be more than happy to help you out.
- Do you speak english? [Lei parle englese?]
- Excuse me [Mi scusi]
- Please [Per favore]
- Thank you [Grazie]
4. Is Italy safe for travelers?
Italy is generally considered quite a safe destination. As with any major tourist city in the world, visitors should remain aware of their surroundings and protect valuables in crowded areas. As a single female, I have lived alone in Rome, Florence & Venice for extended periods and have never had any issues anywhere in Italy. Following a few safety guidelines is always prudent, however, no matter where you travel.
- Men should not keep their wallet or passport in their back pocket
- Women: slash-proof crossbody purses/bags are the best bet
- Keep valuables in your hotel safe
- Avoid wearing precious jewelry when traveling
5. Should I rent a car?
For Rome, Florence, and Venice, a rental car is usually unnecessary. Italy's trains connect the major cities efficiently and comfortably, while the historic centers are best explored on foot.
- Parking is nearly non-existent in most cities, towns & villages.
- Driving rules & laws vary from city to city. Signage is in Italian.
- In much of Europe, it is common to use traffic fines as fund raisers.
- Public transportation is affordable and convenient all throughout Italy.