Since the onset of our obsession with Rome and, more recently, the frustration of not being able to visit in person, we have used the time to deepen our understanding of the city, its culture and history through wider reading. Here are some of the volumes that have helped in this endeavour.
GUIDEBOOKS
ROME (Lucentini)
This, for me, is the ultimate guidebook. Literally packed with gloriously detailed information about the unparalleled cultural heritage of the city. Sections for pre-visit reading and for ‘on the ground’ consultation – although its monumental size makes it a hefty companion!
BLUE GUIDE
Also an excellent source of detailed information and background.
Secret Rome
Great little guide to the more unusual and out-of-the-way sites.
ANCIENT ROME AND ARCHAEOLOGY
OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL GUIDES
Excellent guide packed with detailed description, maps, plans and illustrations of the ancient sites of Rome.
ROME AND ENVIRONS (Coarelli)
Another copiously illustrated and detailed guide to Ancient Rome.
URBS ROMA
A really interesting book with extracts from classical texts (in English) that refer to parts of the city and its monuments.
ROMAN OSTIA (Meiggs)
Very detailed and comprehensive with a map of the whole site. Slightly dated in that it does not take account of the more recent excavations.
OSTIA ANTICA
Useful general guide to the excavations at Ostia. Well-illustrated.
THE APPIAN WAY (Kaster)
A walk along the Appian Way is always a rewarding experience and this account of the author’s own journey along it is a great companion.
THE ROMAN FORUM
Makes sense of the seemingly random collection of stones and fragments that fill the Roman Forum.
TRAVELLER’S GUIDE TO ROME IN 300CE
Written as a modern guidebook but for the imaginary late-Empire tourist.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ANCIENT ROME
With this book, you can imagine yourself walking the teeming streets of Imperial Rome.
GENERAL AND SPECIFIC PERIOD HISTORIES
A HISTORY IN SEVEN SACKINGS (Kneale)
Fabulous book dealing with each of the most significant sackings of Rome. Great contextualisation and analysis of their importance for the development of the City.
WHISPERING CITY (Bosworth)
ROMA
Looking at the history of Rome through the significance of some of its streets. (In German)
ROME IN THE DARK AGES (Llewellyn)
History of the city from the fall of Empire into the early not so dark medieval period.
THE FAMILIES WHO MADE ROME (Majanlahti)
Fascinating accounts of the powerful families who have left their mark on the City.
ROME: Profile of a City, 312 – 1308
Very much a history of the Christianization of Rome from the conversion of Constantine. Hugely detailed and illustrated.
ROME ETERNAL CITY (Addis)
THE LATIN INSCRIPTIONS OF ROME (Lansford)
Rome is packed with Latin inscriptions, some from classical times and others from later periods in its history. With this guide, you’re never at a loss!
DIE KIRCHEN ROMS (Rome’s Churches)
Gloriously illustrated guide to some of the most significant churches of Rome. (In German but there is an English version too).
ROME (Morton)
THE SEVEN HILLS OF ROME
We all know Rome is built on seven hills. This book will take this as its starting point.
ROMA DA SCOPRIRE
A children’s guide to discovering Rome. Great little book – I bought it to help my Italian.
ROME UNDER THE TERROR
This was a hard to find book, but worth the effort. A diary of life in Rome under the German Occupation.
ROME (Hughes)
A monumental panorama of Roman history.
ISOLE
A guide for the flâneur. (In Italian)
ART AND ARCHITECTURE
CARAVAGGIO IN ROME
Useful guide to the places to go in Rome to wonder at the works of this genius. Always impresses me that many are freely accessible to be seen in churches.
PALLADIO’S ROME
PIRANESI
This book includes Piranesi’s views of Rome. It’s fascinating to compare these with today’s views.
FOOD
Brilliant! Very Testaccio, very good.
LET THE SWANS COME FORWARD 