The Secret Venice of Corto Maltese (Book Review)

We live in a time when we instinctively turn to our digital devices to look up any kind of information. Many digital apps now offer travel maps that even work offline. Yet, travel books still exist — even for a place as well-documented as Venice. The Secret Venice of Corto Maltese has been in my possession since 2014, and I’ve loved every single moment spent reading it. I believe more people should get a copy. This blog post will tell you why.

What makes The Secret Venice of Corto Maltese “so secret”?
In a few words: serene, offbeat, and adventurous.
In more words: this book contains eight original itineraries that few tourists know about. Each chapter focuses on a unique theme — love, the Orient, the sea, adventure, and more — and each serves as a complete itinerary with its own detailed map. Personally, I find it much easier to open the book and follow its map than to keep checking my phone for directions.

The book was written by the illustrator of the Corto Maltese comic series, so you’ll find cartoon images of Corto Maltese on every page. But you don’t need to be a fan of the comics to enjoy it — I had never heard of Corto Maltese before buying the book. The illustrations, including depictions of Venetian artifacts, beautifully complement the text, helping you navigate Venice with both visual and narrative guidance.

This book will take you through Venice’s lesser-known, off-the-beaten paths, all of which have been deeply explored and vividly described by the authors. Every itinerary is the result of their 30+ years of adventure and discovery in Venice! If you’re visiting Venice for the first time, I truly urge you to get a copy of this guidebook and follow its itineraries — I’m sure you won’t regret it.