Read this first and other Venice, Italy Packing List Tips

Miscellaneous: Here are some books I read to prepare for my last trip to Italy...

Miss Garnet's Angel by Sally Vickers – oh such a treat! I recommend reading this before you leave and visiting some of the spots the author highlights. (older English lady leaves England after the death of her friend to start a new life in Venice...)

Time Out for Venice
Top Ten DK guidebooks for Venice.
Collected Traveler for Venice by Barrie Kerper.

Out of this Century: Confessions of an Art Addict by Peggy Guggenheim. If you want to see how the other half lives. Talk about the roaring 20s. Her life story, and the stories about the lives of the expats in the '20s and '30s, are what make us have such romantic notions of chucking it all and moving to Europe. There's that little detail about either being an heiress or having latent artistic talent – must put that on the list of Things to Do.

World of Venice by Jan Morris. A must-buy before you visit Venice.

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Miscellaneous: Below are the books I am reading for the upcoming May trip (see my other tip for last year's set).

Venice for Pleasure, JG Links. This is an AMAZING book. Jan Morris called it the most original and delightful guidebook ever written for the city (paraphrase). It's 270+ pages, but, small and light enough to fit into your suitcase and it's for sure going in mine. It consists of 4 detailed walking tours - literally, step by step walking tours - around Venice. No building goes unnoticed on his tours. The first chapter introduces you to Venice in general with a little bit of history and then off you go! It was written several years ago, but really - what is going to change in Venice so much? Surely there are no new roads... (although as time goes by some canals may be filled in). The restaurants could surely change but the core of Venice is eternal. (assuming it doesn't go underwater one day... boohoo).

PS - I will add the others later...

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