Guides Insolites Séries

Mingle with the most extravagant handlebar moustaches in Britain, pay your respects at the dog cemetery in Hyde Park, visit a Masonic temple, take trapeze lessons in a former power station, pray in a floating church, sail on a disused reservoir, discover the stone from which Arthur drew Excalibur, admire the sacred penis of a pharaoh, take aim on the City’s last bowling green, go stargazing at Greenwich Observatory, examine a rare cucumber straightener, a stuffed mermaid or a cow’s heart... Far from the crowds and the usual clichés, London still holds hidden treasures for those who know how to wander off the beaten track. An indispensable guide for those who thought they knew London well, or who would like to discover the hidden face of the city.

Découvrez les secrets de la basilique Saint-Marc sans aucun touriste, déchiffrez enfin les chapiteaux du palais des Doges, empruntez le seul canal souterrain de Venise à la recherche de la sculpture alchimique du cheval ailé, allez déjeuner dans un restaurant caché dans une maison de pêcheur de la lagune, ouvrez l'oeil sur les traces de la Teriaca, ce breuvage miracle qui fut longtemps fabriqué à Venise, déchiffrez les peintures de la Scuola di San Rocco selon les principes de la kabbale hébraïque ou la construction de San Francesco della Vigna selon ceux de la kabbale musicale, visiter un cimetière souterrain inconnu, poussez les portes des palais et des monastères pour vous promener dans des jardins insoupçonnés, admirez l'extraordinaire bibliothèque oubliée du séminaire de Venise, dormez dans une sublime chambre cachée dans un palais, allez frire vos courses au marché de la prison pour femmes de la Giudecca, jouez à la pétanque en plein coeur de la ville, faites une retraite dans un merveilleux monastère de la lagune, à l'écart du monde... 5 ans de recherches ont été nécessaires pour la conception de ce guide exceptionnel qui permettra à tous les amoureux de Venise ainsi qu'aux Vénitiens de repartir à la découverte de la ville la plus extraordinaire du globe, loin des sentiers battus.

Written by local experts, Secret Vienna is ideal for local inhabitants and the curious traveller. The places included in Secret Vienna are unusual and unfamiliar, allowing travellers to step off the beaten track.

A calcified lizard in a church, vestiges of a former brothel, a “hole” that cures headaches, a bunker turned art gallery, a customised Vespa from the Second World War, remarkable secret private collections, extraordinary old libraries unknown to Neapolitans, a Greek watchtower in a theatre, a rare clock that measures the equation of time, the bars of a chapel door that resonate like a xylophone, a mysterious phallic symbol in San Gennaro catacombs, a little-known museum with a section dedicated to Punch, a unique anatomical model dating from the 18th century, a raft ride 20 metres below Piazza del Plebiscito … Far from the crowds and the usual clichés, Naples holds many well-hidden treasures that are revealed only to local residents and travellers who know where to step off the beaten track. An indispensable guide for those who think they are familiar with Naples or who want to discover another side of the city.“The great advantage of Secret Naples is that it reveals aspects of the city that are right under our noses but we don't see them” ― Eleonora Puntillo, Corriere del Mezzogiorno,Corriere della Sera “Everything you've always wanted to know about Naples can be found in this guide” ― Ugo Cundari, Il Mattino “Spirits, witches, ossuaries, statues and mummies – city itineraries that are far from the usual” ― Gianni Valentino, La Repubblica, Napoli

"[A] guide for those who think they know Madrid well or for those looking to discover the hidden side of the city"--Page 4 of cover

Discover the inner sanctum of Freemason's Hall, see Napoleon's toothbrush, marvel at a hoax plaque hidden in plain sight on O'Connell Bridge, try George IV's footprints for size, venture into a Georgian time capsule on Henrietta Street, cross the bridge beneath which William Rowan Hamilton had his 'Eureka' moment, explore a 'museum' flat preserved exactly as it was almost 100 years ago, tune into the world of vintage radio in a Martello Tower, spot Dublin's subterranean river, or post your thoughts in a mystery letterbox. Dublin offers endless opportunities for getting off the tourist grid - for peering into the city's fascinating past and present. All you need to know is where to look... and who to ask for. Secret Dublin - An Unusual Guide is an indispensable resource for those who thought they knew everything about the city, or who want to discover its hidden treasures. Skip the crowds and clichés, and really get beneath the city's skin...

Mingle with the most extravagant handlebar moustaches in Britain, pay your respects at the dog cemetery in Hyde Park, visit a Masonic temple, take trapeze lessons in a former power station, pray in a floating church, sail on a disused reservoir, discover the stone from which Arthur drew Excalibur, admire the sacred penis of a pharaoh, take aim on the City's last bowling green, go stargazing at Greenwich Observatory, examine a rare cucumber straightener, a stuffed mermaid or a cow's heart... Far from the crowds and the usual cliches, London still holds hidden treasures for those who know how to wander off the beaten track. An indispensable guide for those who thought they knew London well, or who would like to discover the hidden face of the city.

Secret London - An unusual guide is the original and still the best of all the many alternative London guides: accept no imitation. Authors Rachel Howard and Bill Nash have prowled the city streets, seeking out the hidden, eccentric and overlooked.

Far from the tourist traps and the crowded landmarks, you may have thought Edinburgh had no more to reveal, but the city still keeps much hidden away in the most unexpected of places. An indispensable guide for those who thought they knew Edinburgh well, or who would like to explore the curiosities of this most secretive of cities.

An indispensable guide for those who thought they knew Istanbul well, or who would like to discover the hidden face of the city.