<p>I wrote travel books once and I know how the system usually works. You get paid a pittance, spend a rushed amount of time in the destination and do your best. Travel writing is a sure path to bankruptcy, for most people anyway, if you rely on it alone.&#160;</p>
<p>Not every guide book to Rome is like that, of course, or even most, though a few are decidedly dodgy. The trusty <em>Companion Guide</em> remains one of my favourites, and was mostly written by Georgina Masson who lived there. But here’s another, the best I think. As you might expect it’s written by Romans, in fact an English translation of a trusty Italian classic that is now in its fourth edition. A very good translation too.&#160;</p>
<p>The <em><a class="offsite-link-inline" href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pallas-Guide-Rome-Guides/dp/1873429916/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1232548177&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank">Pallas Guide to Rome</a></em>, principally by Mauro Lucentini, is incredibly detailed, a wonderful read, and rather like having a knowledgeable Roman at your elbow every step of the way. There is nothing else like it on the market. If you’re going to Rome buy it in advance, read before you go, and you’ll know a little of what to expect in one of the world’s most fascinating cities.&#160;</p>