The Christian Travelers Guides deal directly with what even the best general travel guides only touch on: Christianity’s enormous influence on Europe--and, through its history and culture, Europe’s influence on Christianity. This unique series guides you on a pilgrimage to the heart of our Christian heritage. Saints and secularists, martyrs and kings, castles and cathedrals, public squares and rolling hillsides, great works of art, literature, and architecture: The legacy of the Christian faith takes on immediacy and impact as you see firsthand the places where believers through the centuries lived and died, shaping our world with their faith. In rich detail and depth, The Christian Travelers Guide to Italy describes the history, literature, music, art, and architecture of Italy. Nearly 50 Christian Heritage Sites, with fascinating information on different places to visit List of "Top 10 Christian Sites in Italy" Insights for enjoying your visits to Italian churches and cathedrals Sidebars featuring mini-biographies of key historical figures and short essays on great works of art Glossary of religious terms Access The Christian Travelers Guides Website at http://www.christian-travelers-guides.com Seeing the need to fill a niche in the travel guide genre, general editor Hexham (religious studies, Univ. of Calgary) has created a series of guides designed to appeal to Christians. These guides do not lead tourists to the most popular bars or shopping districts but instead to the various Christian heritage sites in each country. Hexham's theory is that since there are travel guides geared toward other sociological groups (gays, singles, retirees), the market is also there to reach out to Christians who wish to explore the roots of their religion. His vast knowledge of history and religion makes these well-researched books a treasure trove of historical information. Each guide follows the same layout: Hexham begins with an overview of the history of each country from prehistoric times to the present. He then includes a chapter on literature, art, and architecture and lists what he considers the top ten Christian heritage sites in each country. Each entry thereafter is in alphabetical order by place name and includes some background information, specific sites to visit, and biographies of significant people associated with the site. In Great Britain, visit the birthplace of the Scottish Reformation in Edinburgh; in France, learn the difference between a Gothic-style cathedral (Notre Dame) and a Romanesque-style cathedral (St. tienne Cathedral); in Germany, follow the progress and fall of the Holy Roman Empire by visiting Aachen; and in Italy, visit the ancient Roman ruins and learn their part in the history of Christianity, then visit the Vatican City, the seat of the Catholic Church. There is also a useful web site associated with the series (www.christian-travelers-guides.com), which gives further information on Christian travel agents, hotels, and more. Recommended for all public libraries. Sandy Knowles, Henderson Cty. P.L., NC Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. The Christian Travelers Guides deal directly with what even the best general travel guides only touch on: Christianity's enormous influence on Europe--and, through its history and culture, Europe's influence on Christianity. This unique series guides you on a pilgrimage to the heart of our Christian heritage. Saints and secularists, martyrs and kings, castles and cathedrals, public squares and rolling hillsides, great works of art, literature, and architecture: The legacy of the Christian faith takes on immediacy and impact as you see firsthand the places where believers through the centuries lived and died, shaping our world with their faith. In rich detail and depth, The Christian Travelers Guide to Italy describes the history, literature, music, art, and architecture of Italy. Nearly 50 Christian Heritage Sites, with fascinating information on different places to visit List of 'Top 10 Christian Sites in Italy' Insights for enjoying your visits to Italian churches and cathedrals Sidebars featuring mini-biographies of key historical figures and short essays on great works of art Glossary of religious terms Access The Christian Travelers Guides Website at http: //www.christian-travelers-guides.com David Bershad is professor of art history at the University of Calgary. He received his Ph.D. at UCLA. David has written numerous articles on the people and places in Italy and has received many honors and awards. Irving Hexham is professor of Religious Studies at the University of Calgary and adjunct professor of World Christianity at Liverpool Hope University. He has published twenty-seven academic books, including The Concise Dictionary of Religion , Understanding Cults and New Religions , and Religion and Economic Thought , plus eighty major academic articles and chapters in books, numerous popular articles, and book reviews. Recently he