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BEST OF 2011

Wild Coast

John Gimlette

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To the Arctic

Florian Schultz

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Arctic Dreams

Barry Lopez

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GLOBES

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Replogle

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READING AND TRAVEL GUIDE

Sites of Antiquity, From Ancient Egypt to the Fall of Rome

Sites of Antiquity, From Ancient Egypt to the Fall of Rome

by Charles Freeman

  • ARCHAEOLOGY
  • 2009
  • HARD COVER
  • 248 PAGES

Enticing aerial shots, detailed site plans, glorious modern photographs and illustrations illuminate 50 key monuments, cities or sites of the Mediterranean world, from Giza, Luxor and Karnak to the Parthenon, Ephesus, Pergamon, Petra and Constantinople. (MED150, $50.00)

The Great Cities in History

The Great Cities in History

by John Julius Norwich

  • HISTORY
  • 2009
  • HARD COVER
  • 304 PAGES

Each city magnificently illustrated in color and with an essay by diverse dignitaries, including Jan Morris (New York), Colin Thubron (Samarkand), Simon Schama (Amsterdam) and Michael Coe (Angkor). this inspired book depicts the rise and fall of cities from Mesopotamia through ancient trading centers to Medieval Europe and today. (WLD171, $45.00)

World Heritage Sites

World Heritage Sites

by UNESCO Publishing

  • ARCHAEOLOGY
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 856 PAGES
  • NEW

How many have you visited? This beautifully illustrated compendium includes color photographs, a map and succinct description of each of the 911 archaeological sites, monuments, cities or parks inscribed by UNESCO from 1978 to 1911. (CON53, $29.95)

Cities of the World

Cities of the World

by George Braun

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2011
  • HARD COVER
  • 501 PAGES

This dazzling portrait of the 16th-century world is a sumptuous reprint of the 363 stunning color plates from Braun and Hogenberg's survey of town maps, city views, and plans of Europe, Africa, Asia and Central America, first published in Cologne in 1572-1617. With dozens of unusual details, two folding maps, as well as selected extracts from the original text and an in-depth commentary. (WLD194, $200.00)

Venice 697-1797: A City, a Republic, an Empire

Venice 697-1797: A City, a Republic, an Empire

by Aluise Zorzi

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2002
  • HARD COVER
  • 303 PAGES

Zorzi reveals the growth of Venice from a small fishing village to a bustling metropolis whose cultural, political, and economic dominance extended over the entire Mediterranean world with this sumptuous collection of 340 color paintings, photographs and drawings. (MED186, $75.00)

Rome

Rome

by Robert Hughes

  • HISTORY
  • 2011
  • HARD COVER
  • 528 PAGES

Opening with his arrival in Rome in 1958 as a wide-eyed young Australian, Hughes takes in the art, architecture, sculpture and life of Rome, past and present, in this splendidly written, sweeping tale of the beloved city, including memorable portraits of important characters from Caesar to Cicero, Mussolini and Fellini. (ITA267, $35.00)

Jerusalem, The Biography

Jerusalem, The Biography

by Simon Sebag Montefiore

  • HISTORY
  • 2011
  • HARD COVER
  • 650 PAGES

Montefiore tells the history of a Holy City, focus of struggle between the Abrahamic religions, the place of prophets and patriarchs, Abraham, David, Jesus and Muhammad, with grace and balance, tracing the story of Jerusalem through the lives of men and women. (ISR99, $35.00)

 
Blue Guide Florence

Blue Guide Florence


by Alta Macadam

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 408 PAGES

A comprehensive guide to Florence, heavily focused on art and architecture. This edition also includes practical information on hotels, restaurants and shops. Tenth Edition (ITL137, $24.95)

Kyoto, 29 Walks in Japan's Ancient Capital

Kyoto, 29 Walks in Japan's Ancient Capital


by John H. Martin

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 376 PAGES

This is the one book to take along to Kyoto. With 29 easy-to-follow walking tours, organized by neighborhood, 100 color photos and 40 maps and site diagrams, this expanded edition of the classic guide by John and Phyllis Martin includes both well-known temples and shrines and lesser known districts and sites. (JPN25, $24.95)

The Encyclopedia of New York City

The Encyclopedia of New York City


by Kenneth T. Jackson | New York Historical Society

  • REFERENCE
  • 2010
  • HARD COVER
  • 1600 PAGES

The more than 5,000 alphabetical entries and 700 illustrations of the second edition of this fantastic reference has everything you've ever wanted to know about New York City. (NYC12, $65.00)

City Between Worlds, My Hong Kong

City Between Worlds, My Hong Kong


by Leo Ou-Fan Lee

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 322 PAGES

Lee draws on his experience of Hong Kong as well as literature, film and popular culture. The result is a multi-layered portrait of a city on the fault line between China and the West. (HKG35, $18.95)

The Cities Book, A Journey Through The Best Cities In The World

The Cities Book, A Journey Through The Best Cities In The World


by Lonely Planet Publications

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 432 PAGES

An eclectic roundup of 200 cities from London, Paris and New York to Bamako, Chiang Mai, and Nuuk. (WLD83, $24.99)

The Taste of Conquest, The Rise and Fall of the Three Great Cities of Spice

The Taste of Conquest, The Rise and Fall of the Three Great Cities of Spice


by Michael Krondl

  • HISTORY
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

Weaving travel and history, Michael Krondl a world where pepper, cinnamon and cloves were as valuable as gold -- and Venice, Lison and Amsterdam jockeyed for global control. (EUR279, $16.00)

Time Out the World's Greatest Cities

Time Out the World's Greatest Cities


by Time Out

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2009
  • HARD COVER
  • 350 PAGES

The travel-savvy editors of TimeOut profile and rank 75 great cities, from New York (number one) to Bogata, Sydney, Tokyo and Venice. (WLD179, $29.95)

Ancient Greece, A Very Short Introduction

Ancient Greece, A Very Short Introduction


by Paul Cartledge

  • ARCHAEOLOGY
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 152 PAGES

Athens and Sparta but also Argos, Thebes, Syracuse, Alexandria, Miletus and Massalia (AKA Marseilles), Knossos and Constantinople are all included in this introuction to Ancient Greece though the role of 11 major cities. (GRE398, $11.95)

Cities of the World, A History in Maps

Cities of the World, A History in Maps


by Peter Whitfield

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2010
  • HARD COVER
  • 208 PAGES

This handsome A-to-Z illuminates the development of great cities from Amsterdam and Cuzco to New York and Venice through stunning maps, plans and paintings from the British Library. (MAP21, $50.00)

High Line, The Inside Story of New York City's Park in the Sky

High Line, The Inside Story of New York City's Park in the Sky


by Robert Hammond | Joshua David

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 352 PAGES

The creators of the High Line tell the story of the transformation of a grandly decaying ruin into the phenomenally popular a half-mile expanse of plants, paths, staircases and framed vistas through the revitalized far west side. (NYC241, $29.95)

Temples of Cambodia, The Heart of Angkor

Temples of Cambodia, The Heart of Angkor


by Helen Ibbitson Jessup | Barry Brukoff

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2011
  • HARD COVER
  • 256 PAGES

Jessup (Art and Architecture of Cambodia) provides the accompanying essays to this oversized portfolio of dazzling color images by Barry Brukoff, who has been photographing the monuments of Cambodia since 1963. (CBD73, $65.00)

City of Silver, A Mystery

City of Silver, A Mystery


by Annamaria Alfieri

  • LITERATURE
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 317 PAGES

Mother Maria Santa Hilda, Abess of the convent of Santa Isabella de los Santos Milagros in Potosi is at the center of this satisfying, suspenseful tale, richly set in the 17th-century Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru. The source of Spanish silver, Potosi was once the largest and wealthiest city in the Americas. (BOL27, $14.95)

Istanbul, The Collected Traveler

Istanbul, The Collected Traveler


by Barrie Kerper

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 594 PAGES

Barrie Kerper raided her file cabinets and cajoled many friends (interviews included) for this rich anthology on Turkey, its history, culture and allure. Her treasure trove includes thoughtful commentaries on everything from Turkish cuisine and Istanbul's monuments to Whirling Dervishes and famous personalities. (TKY202, $19.00)

More Recommendations

Here are some other groups of books that might be of interest

Longitude provides recommended reading for travelers in partnership with the leading tour operators and travel programs for hundreds of destinations worldwide. We've got the classic, new and hard-to-find books and maps to help you get the most out of your adventures.