Morton' s book follows his other traveller books' formulae. He travels from town to town in an orderly progression - here, essentially north to south - and visits the sights, embellishing them with historical background and interesting side stories. He is learned, but not pedantic, and adds a touch of humor. He also speaks with locals, and gives a feel for the contemporary sense of place. This book should be more aptly titled A Traveller In Northern Italy because it ends when he reaches Rome. Moreover he subsequently pens A Traveller In Rome, and A Traveller In a Southern Italy. Morton is the perfect traveling companion. If you go to Italy, by all means buy the standard guides - be they Michelin, Frommers, or Rick Steve's. But remember these books are merely shallow surface scratchers. Do yourself a favor and dip into Morton to enrich your travel. The only reason I do not give this book a five-star rating, is that it is silent as to food and wine. Cuisine is culture. The book contains some photo inserts, but by using Google you can visit the same sites. ( )

Morton is an excellent companion! Learning worn lightly. He conveys both a sense of wonder and history as if the reader were standing @ his elbow. The title is a little misleading, he covers only parts of northern Italy, but this he does well. I would urge anyone to read this before any more recent guides on a first trip to Italy. ( )

For a first time traveller to Italy, this book is a delight. It conveys all the charm of the little villages which turn out to have changed so little, and there are all sorts of anecdotes which enhance one's enjoyment in visiting the timeless tourist attractions of this beautiful country. ( )