Welcome!

Enrich Your Travels with Longitude

We've got the classic, new and hard-to-find books and maps to help you get the most out of your adventures.

SIGN UP FOR

Longitude News

Get our monthly e-mail update

GET A

Catalog

BEST OF 2011

Wild Coast

John Gimlette

SEE ALL >

FOR THE HOLIDAYS

To the Arctic

Florian Schultz

SEE ALL >

OUR FAVORITES

Arctic Dreams

Barry Lopez

SEE ALL >

GLOBES

The Pioneer

Replogle

SEE ALL >

NAPLES, SORRENTO & ROME

More Books

Al Dente, The Adventures of a Gastronome in Italy

Al Dente, The Adventures of a Gastronome in Italy


by William Black

  • FOOD
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 368 PAGES

William Black tosses a few receipts into this mix of travel, gastronomy and family history. (ITL548, $13.95)

The Ancient Mediterranean

The Ancient Mediterranean


by Michael Grant

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1990
  • PAPER
  • 374 PAGES

Grant explores the realms of archaeology, geography, art and economics to sketch this classic portrait of the ancient world, from prehistory through the Roman Imperium, and the influence on western civilization. (MED10, $20.00)

The Birth of Venus, A Novel

The Birth of Venus, A Novel


by Sarah Dunant

  • LITERATURE
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 397 PAGES

A rich novel of art, passion and patronage, memorably set in late 15th-century Florence and prominently featuring the famously pious reformer Savonarola. (ITL532, $15.00)

Blue Guide Sicily

Blue Guide Sicily


by Ellen Grady

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 479 PAGES

This in-depth guide to Sicily's ancient history and archaeology features detailed maps and site plans. (ITL125, $26.95)

Cadogan Guide Sicily

Cadogan Guide Sicily


by Dana Facaros

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 352 PAGES

A comprehensive look at the region from the excellent British guidebook series. (ITL115, $18.95)

Casa Rossa

Casa Rossa


by Francesca Marciano

  • LITERATURE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 340 PAGES

A vivid novel following the lives of a mother, daughter, and granddaughter from Puglia over the course of the 20th century, opening as the narrator prepares to sell Casa Rossa, the family farm. (ITL534, $14.95)

Celebrating Homer's Landscapes, Troy and Ithaca Revisited

Celebrating Homer's Landscapes, Troy and Ithaca Revisited


by John Victor Luce

  • ARCHAEOLOGY
  • 1998
  • HARD COVER
  • 224 PAGES

This study examines the Greek landscape with reference to Homer's poetic descriptions. The author recreated the voyage of Odysseus, illustrating Troy, Ithaca and other sites with gorgeous color photographs. (GRE80, $50.00)

Christ Stopped at Eboli, The Story of a Year

Christ Stopped at Eboli, The Story of a Year


by Carlo Levi | Frances Frenaye

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 268 PAGES

An affecting memoir of southern Italy, originally published in 1947, it stems from the author's forced relocation to the region as punishment for anti-fascist political activity. (ITL09, $15.00)

A Concise History of Italy

A Concise History of Italy


by Christopher Duggan

  • HISTORY
  • 1994
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

A history of Italy from the fall of the Roman Empire to the present day. (ITL35, $30.99)

D.H. Lawrence and Italy

D.H. Lawrence and Italy


by D.H. Lawrence

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 495 PAGES

This omnibus Penguin Classics edition includes Lawrence's three travel tales, each very different in tone and all wonderful: Sea and Sardinia is a nostalgic look at traditional ways of life; Twilight in Italy, an evocation of Lawrence's memorable stay on Lake Garda; and Etruscan Places his musings on ancient sites, including the painted tombs of Tarquinia. (ITL62, $18.00)

Edith Wharton's Italian Gardens

Edith Wharton's Italian Gardens


by Vivian Russell

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1997
  • HARD COVER
  • 192 PAGES

Edith Wharton's essays on the magnificent villa gardens of Lombardy, Veneto, Florence, Siena and Rome are as full of interest today as when they were first published in 1904. (ITL716, $45.00)

Encyclopedia of Volcanoes

Encyclopedia of Volcanoes


by Haraldur Sigurdsson

  • REFERENCE
  • 2000
  • HARD COVER
  • 1456 PAGES

An authoritative, enormous reference on volcanoes and volcanology, with 82 essays written by experts in the field. (GEO23, $134.00)

Eyewitness Guide Italy

Eyewitness Guide Italy


by Eyewitness Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • FLEXI-BOUND
  • 720 PAGES

This superb guide features color photography, dozens of excellent local maps and a region-by-region synopsis of the country's attractions. (ITL32, $30.00)

Eyewitness Guide Umbria

Eyewitness Guide Umbria


by Eyewitness Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • FLEXI-BOUND
  • 192 PAGES

A marvelously illustrated, compact guide to the culture, history and attractions of Umbria, organized geographically and especially helpful for its innovative site plans, building diagrams and local maps. (ITL512, $20.00)

Fodor's Exploring Italy


by Fodor's

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

An excellent, up-to-date overview of Italy and its attractions. (ITL73, $22.00)

Fodor's See It Italy

Fodor's See It Italy


by Fodor's

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 496 PAGES

Fodor's informative guide to touring Italy, notable for its especially vibrant presentation of the country. (ITL550, $24.99)

For the Beauty of the Earth: Birding, Opera, and Other Journeys

For the Beauty of the Earth: Birding, Opera, and Other Journeys


by Thomas Urquhart

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

Urquhart chronicles a lifelong affair with nature, combined with a passion for music, as he travels-- and bird watches-- through pastoral England, Italy, the Camargue in Provence, and the villages of Mali. (BRD35, $15.00)

The Gothic Enterprise, A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral

The Gothic Enterprise, A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral


by Robert A. Scott

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 294 PAGES

An enthusiast, Scott presents history, design, architecture and wonder of the medieval cathedral and the great Abbey churches. (EUR190, $21.95)

Herculaneum: Italy's Buried Treasure

Herculaneum: Italy's Buried Treasure


by Joseph Jay Deiss

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1989
  • PAPER
  • 222 PAGES

An artful and wonderfully written description of daily life of the Romans at the time of the destruction of Herculaneum. (ITL41, $19.95)

Here Is Where We Meet

Here Is Where We Meet


by John Berger

  • LITERATURE
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES

This novel weaves a portrait of several European countries through encounters with the dead, from the narrator's mother, whom he discovers on a park bench in Lisbon, to a childhood friend wandering a market in Krakow. (EUR189, $15.00)

Il Postino


by Michael Radford

  • 1995
  • DVD

A shy Italian postman who learns the ways of poetry and romance while delivering mail to the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. (ITL541, $19.99)

The Inferno of Dante, A New Verse Translation


by Dante Alighieri | Robert Pinsky

  • LITERATURE
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 355 PAGES

The celebrated modern translation of Dante's "Inferno." (ITL411, $12.00)

Insight Guide Italy

Insight Guide Italy


by Insight Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 432 PAGES

An illustrated overview of Italy with essays on its attractions, history and culture. (ITL108, $23.99)

Italian English Bilingual Visual Dictionary


by DK Publishing

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 360 PAGES

With thousands of neatly arranged color photographs, this compact book is impressively comprehensive, covering everything from the basics of la casa (house) to the vocabulary of le granaglie e i legumi secchi (grains and legumes). (ITL626, $14.95)

Italian Hours

Italian Hours


by Henry James

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 376 PAGES

A classic series of travel essays written between 1872 and 1909 on the art, religion and people of Italy. James is an observant guide to Rome, Naples, Florence and other great destinations in the 19th century. (ITL07, $17.00)

Italian Indispensables Vocabulary Builder


by Audio-Forum

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • CASETTE TAPE

A short audio program wiith 50 common words and phrases for travelers. (ITL401, $9.95)

The Italians

The Italians


by Luigi Barzini

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • CASETTE TAPE

Audio version of the classic essay on the Italian character, first published in 1964. (ITL33, $69.95)

Italy and Its Invaders

Italy and Its Invaders


by Girolamo Arnaldi

  • HISTORY
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 240 PAGES

A wide-ranging history of the many empires and world powers that have invaded Italy, and their lasting influences, both positive and negative, on Italian art, architecture and culture up to the present day. (ITL661, $19.95)

Italy Map

Italy Map


by Borch Maps

  • 2011
  • MAP

A handy, laminated map. (ITL19, $11.95)

Italy, A Traveler's Literary Companion

Italy, A Traveler's Literary Companion


by Lawrence Venuti

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES

Not just a literary companion, this anthology is also a who's who of contemporary Italian writers that captures the spirit, history and allure of the country. (ITL466, $14.95)

La Dolce Vita


by Federico Fellini

  • 1960
  • DVD

Fellini's celebrated masterpiece about a Roman tabloid reporter who fully indulges in the decadence of "the sweet life." (ITL543, $39.98)

The Leopard

The Leopard


by Giuseppe Di Lampedusa

  • LITERATURE
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 384 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

Evoking a lost world of privilege and tradition, Giuseppe Di Lampedusa's memorable tale, set on a rural Sicilian estate during the days of independence, follows the world-weary Don Fabrizio, Prince of Salina. A classic, now in a 50th anniversary edition. (ITL11, $16.00)

M, The Man Who Became Caravaggio


by Peter Robb

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 592 PAGES

A masterful biography of the Renaissance painter by the author of "Midnight in Sicily." (ART47, $24.00)

Mammals of Europe

Mammals of Europe


by Priscilla Barrett | David W. MacDonald

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

Published by Princeton, this is a field guide to land and marine mammals throughout Europe, both endemic and introduced. With more than 600 color illustrations of over 200 mammals. (FG61, $38.50)

Master and Commander, The Far Side of the World


by Peter Weir

  • LITERATURE
  • 2003
  • DVD

Russell Crowe stars in this adaptation of two Patrick O'Brian novels, a swashbuckling adventure set off the coast of Cape Horn in 1805. (GPS66, $14.98)

The Middle Sea

The Middle Sea


by John Julius Norwich

  • HISTORY
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 720 PAGES

A marvelous writer who has already tackled Byzantium, the Normans in Sicily and Venice, Norwich spins his magic in this story of culture, trade and politics, royalty and rulers, wars and religion in the Mediterranean. (MED98, $21.00)

Midnight in Sicily, On Art, Food, History, Travel and La Cosa Nostra

Midnight in Sicily, On Art, Food, History, Travel and La Cosa Nostra


by Peter Robb

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 400 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

Combining interviews, research and essays on Sicilian history and culture, this vivid report by journalist Peter Robb is a superb introduction to Italy's glorious, corrupt and troubled south. (ITL74, $18.00)

Modern Naples, A Documentary History, 1799-1999


by John Santore

  • HISTORY
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 374 PAGES

A source book and history of Naples from its foundations to Bourbon Capital and unification. (ITL351, $25.00)

Odyssey of Homer


by Robert Fagles

  • LITERATURE
  • 1996
  • HARD COVER
  • 560 PAGES

Translator Robert Fagles captures the poetry and power of The Odyssey in this new translation, celebrated for its clarity and expressiveness. (GRE30, $35.00)

Old Calabria

Old Calabria


by Norman Douglas

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 357 PAGES

A classic account of adventures in southernmost Italy, first published in 1915. (ITL475, $20.00)

On Persephone's Island

On Persephone's Island


by Mary Taylor Simeti

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1986
  • PAPER
  • 352 PAGES

Strong on the delights of rural life, Simeti's portrait of Sicily takes the form of a yearlong journal, capturing the spirit of the people, daily life, traditions and the land. (ITL03, $14.95)

On The Road with Francis of Assisi

On The Road with Francis of Assisi


by Linda Bird Francke

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES

Assisi wandered for 20 years, affording Newsweek editor Francke and her patient husband plenty to see and do in the piazzas, sanctuaries and chapels of Assisi, Siena, Bologna, Venice, Gubbio, Rome and other choice spots. (ITL647, $15.95)

On the Shores of the Mediterranean

On the Shores of the Mediterranean


by Eric Newby

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 448 PAGES

A sparkling observer and famously entertaining, Newby tackles the Mediterranean in this merry classic account of travels to North Africa, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Cairo and Jerusalem. (MED25, $18.95)

One-Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in Italy

One-Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in Italy


by Paolo Lazzarin

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2004
  • HARD COVER
  • 276 PAGES

Each charming town gets an appreciative essay and evocative color photographs in this handsome tribute and excellent guide. (ITL546, $45.00)

Pimsleur Quick & Simple Italian


by Pimsleur Language Method

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 2005
  • AUDIO CD

Four audio CDs with eight 30-minute lessons in basic Italian, covering elementary vocabulary and phrases used in travel and everyday situations. (ITL630, $19.95)

Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book & Dictionary

Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book & Dictionary


by Rick Steves

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 281 PAGES

This compact phrase book, organized thematically and with a brief dictionary, also includes Steves' insight into how to break the ice and make friends around the world. (ITL424, $8.95)

The Rise of Christianity


by Rodney Stark

  • RELIGION
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 272 PAGES

The subtitle to this book says it all: "How the Obscure, Marginal Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force in the Western World in a Few Centuries." (MED64, $14.99)

Rough Guide Italy

Rough Guide Italy


by Ros Belford

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 1096 PAGES

A comprehensive guide in the British series with a good overview of culture and history, dozens of sketch maps and extensive listings. (ITL328, $24.99)

Short Stories in Italian, Racconti in Italiano


by Nick Roberts

  • LITERATURE
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 174 PAGES

These modern tales in the bilingual series of Penguin Parallel Texts make for good reading in any language. (ITL730, $14.00)

Sometimes the Soul, Two Novellas of Sicily

Sometimes the Soul, Two Novellas of Sicily


by Gioia Timpanelli

  • LITERATURE
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 192 PAGES

Timpanelli reworks ancient Sicilian tales into two captivating modern novellas; one, "Ruesna, Not Quite Love" is a lyrical retelling of "Beauty and the Beast," set against the rustic backdrop of rural Sicily. (ITL113, $15.00)

Sorrento Peninsula & Amalfi Coast Map

Sorrento Peninsula & Amalfi Coast Map


by Litographia Artistica Cartographica

  • MAP

A detailed road map of the Sorrento Peninsula and Amalfi Coast, including Pompeii, Nocera and Salerno, with an inset map of Capri at a scale of 1:35,000, showing hiking trails, tracks, historic buildings and attractions. With travel information on the reverse. (ITL432, $13.99)

Southern Italy Map


by Touring Club Italiano

  • MAP

A regional map of Italy, stretching from Rome to the southern tip. (ITL222, $14.95)

Spartacus


by Stanley Kubrick

  • 1960
  • DVD

Stanley Kubrick's riveting epic about the leader of a Roman slave revolt, starring no less than Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Tony Curtis and Peter Ustinov. (ITL544, $49.95)

The Talented Mr. Ripley


by Anthony Minghella

  • 1999
  • DVD

A suspenseful thriller of obsession and jealousy starring Matt Damon and Jude Law, based on the popular mystery by Patricia Highsmith. (ITL542, $14.99)

That Fine Italian Hand


by Paul Hoffman

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1991
  • PAPER
  • 246 PAGES

An affectionate -- and insightful -- portrait of a people. (ITL346, $17.99)

Travelers' Tales Italy

Travelers' Tales Italy


by Ann Calcagno | Jan Morris

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 437 PAGES

A collection of 48 stories on traveling in Italy and Italian life, featuring the writing of Barbara Grizzuti Harrison, Frances Mayes, Jonathan Keats, Stanley Crouch and others. (ITL182, $18.95)

A Traveller's History of Italy

A Traveller's History of Italy


by Valerio Lintner

  • HISTORY
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 287 PAGES

A brief history of Italy through the 1990s -- wide-ranging, accessible and necessarily condensed. With a useful chronology and historical gazetteer, this book marches confidently through the centuries. (ITL86, $14.95)

The Treasures and Pleasures of Italy


by Ron Krannich

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 273 PAGES

A guidebook devoted to the unusual, out-of-the-way, or just plain wonderful. (ITL93, $14.95)

Tuscany in Mind

Tuscany in Mind


by Alice Powers

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 400 PAGES

A fine literary anthology covering the region's history, geography, culture and (of course) food, featuring contributions by luminaries including D.H. Lawrence and Robert Browning. (ITL607, $14.95)

Vanishing Histories, 100 Endangered Sites from the World Monuments Fund

Vanishing Histories, 100 Endangered Sites from the World Monuments Fund


by Colin Amery

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2001
  • HARD COVER
  • 207 PAGES
  • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE

A stunning portrait of 100 threatened archaeological and cultural monuments around the world from Angkor, Pompeii and Mesa Verde to lesser known buildings and sites, all listed by the World Monuments Fund. (GEN219, $60.00)

A Vittorini Omnibus

A Vittorini Omnibus


by Elio Vittorini | Ernest Hemingway

  • LITERATURE
  • 1973
  • PAPER
  • 308 PAGES

These short novels by a modern master include Vittorini's classic tale of a sophisticated man who returns to his native village, In Sicily. (ITL10, $18.95)

Voice of the Violin

Voice of the Violin


by Andrea Camilleri | Stephen Sartarelli

  • MYSTERY
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES

The fourth installment in the popular Inspector Montalbano series, complete with a quirky cast of Sicilian characters. (ITL537, $14.00)

Wine Country Europe, Touring, Tasting, And Buying At European Regional Wineries

Wine Country Europe, Touring, Tasting, And Buying At European Regional Wineries


by Ornella D'Alessio | Marco Santini

  • FOOD
  • 2005
  • HARD COVER
  • 324 PAGES

Part how-to, part guidebook, part picture book, this charming coffee table treat covers sprawling French vineyards as well as lesser-known hidden treasures in Austria and Hungary. (EUR191, $35.00)

 

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.