The first Blue Guide to cover the entire country of Italy in one volume. The Blue Guides publishing program for Italy is unprecedented in its scope: eight guides to the regions and cities of Italy are currently in print, totaling over 4,000 pages of material. This brand-new guide draws on the unprecedented depth and range of previous Blue Guides to offer the ultimate concise guide to the entire country. This 400-page distillation features the erudition and detailed knowledge that have made Blue Guides the choice of discerning travelers everywhere. Lavishly illustrated, with a focus on covering key sites in sufficient depth, it directs readers to wonderful sights, museums, churches, art, dining and accommodations in classic Blue Guide style. With maps, photographs, architectural details and floor plans. Paul Blanchard has written Blue Guide Northern Italy and Blue Guide Southern Italy. Born in Amsterdam, New York, he has lived in Italy for over 30 years.  (ITL984, $24.95)