See You in the Piazza: New Places to Discover in Italy

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 605 ratings

Price: 17.72

Last update: 02-24-2025


About this item

Best-selling and beloved author Frances Mayes discovers the hidden pleasures of Italy in a sumptuous travel narrative that crisscrosses the country, with inventive new recipes celebrating Italian cuisine.

The Roman Forum, the Leaning Tower, the Piazza San Marco: These are the sights synonymous with Italy. But such landmarks only scratch the surface of this magical country's offerings. In See You in the Piazza, Frances Mayes introduces us to the Italy only the locals know, as she and her husband, Ed, eat and drink their way through 13 regions - from Friuli to Sicily. Along the way, she seeks out the cultural and historic gems not found in traditional guidebooks.

Frances conjures the enchantment of the backstreets, the hubbub of the markets, the dreamlike wonder of that space between lunch and dinner when a city cracks open to those who would wander or when a mind is drawn into the pages of a delicious book - and discloses to us the secrets that only someone who is on intimate terms with a place could find.

Includes a bonus PDF of recipes.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Rose Ann McLelland
    5.0 out of 5 stars almost like being there
    Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2024
    i’ve been to many of the tourist cities but this book takes you to the smaller towns and villages. you get to spend a normal day eating, drinking the wine and sightseeing. its been wonderful. i keep a journal when i travel so delighted that she made a book out of hers.
  • Constance Zacker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Armchair travel through Italy
    Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2022
    Without packing a bag or boarding a plane you are transported through the Circus of Italy. Mayes narrates wonderfully the intricacies of experiencing the infinite details of this stupendous country. Art, architecture, food, fashion, intrigue, fascinating people; Italy excels at it all. I’m going to read it over and over.
  • R. Sullivan
    4.0 out of 5 stars Now I need to go back to Italy!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2024
    Region by region and village by village, Frances Mayes takes us through some of her favorite newly discovered places all around the country of Italy. And I wish I could tag along. I also love how even someone like her can have a really disappointing meal...we just won't name the place. This is one to keep handy if you're traveling the countryside.
  • Judy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Covers a vast amount of VERY useful information & beautifully written!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2021
    Thought I knew Italy before reading this terrific book. My only regret is that I cannot get on a plane today (due to the pandemic) and visit each of the sites it reveals. Wonderful resource for both the experienced AND novice traveler. In today’s world, it’s also a source of wonderful dreams!
  • Patricia B
    3.0 out of 5 stars What we did on our vacation
    Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2019
    A somewhat engaging story of the author's travels with her family members. If you're planning a trip to Italy, you may find some places she mentioned helpful. It's well written but I got bored with it as it became somewhat repetitious and put it down halfway through and haven't finished reading it.
  • Sally Uhlmann
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best Travel Guide Ever
    Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2021
    Once again Frances Mayes hits it out of the ball park with a collection of chapters covering Italy from North to South, East to West. She and husband Ed, along with friends, manage to dig up the history, architecture, gardens, museums, oddities-- and always the food from coffee to dessert-- in small and large Italian cities. Makes you want to get in a car and go explore. Best of all, they have done the heavy lifting so you can enjoy the best of the best when you only have a few hours in a quaint Italian hill town.
  • ArtNY
    5.0 out of 5 stars Reading it is vacation itself
    Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2021
    If you want a book with which you sit down and that instantly brings you the smell of an espresso on a sundrenched piazzetta along with the murmur of the happy Italians chatting with their newspapers in their hands, just take any Frances Mayes book.
    'See You in the Piazza' will take you beyond the touristy places of the always stunning Italy and it will also teach you how to prepare some of those tasty foods like 'un italiano vero'
  • Lisa Jason
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Book to Savor Slowly...and Highlight!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2019
    The premise: Frances Mayes and her husband Ed travel around Italy to lesser known villages. You get to follow along and are treated to insider knowledge, views and Frances’ gorgeous, enticing descriptions of where they stay, what they see and what & where they eat & drink. This is comprehensive. Be prepared to want to travel!

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