# Trip Reads

> Travel guidebooks for the ultra curious: insight-filled, image-rich digital guides to the art, architecture, history, food and wine of great destinations.

Trip Reads is a travel publishing brand of Approach Guides, LLC (https://approachguides.com/). Each guidebook explores one aspect of a destination's cultural heritage in depth: its art, architecture, history, or food and wine. The guides are ebooks by Jennifer and David Raezer, sold on Amazon Kindle and Apple Books; each tripreads.com guide page describes the guide and links to those stores.

## Guidebooks
- [Cambodia: The Temples of Angkor](https://tripreads.com/guides/cambodia-the-temples-of-angkor/): Travel guide to the temples of Angkor, Cambodia at Siem Reap. Includes detailed profiles of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and 20 additional sites in Angkor. (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GXAVLU; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id411526646)
- [India: Ajanta, Ellora & Elephanta](https://tripreads.com/guides/india-ajanta-ellora-elephanta/): Travel guide to the magnificent rock-cut caves of Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta in India. (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008ENMZI0; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id539759435)
- [India: Delhi, Agra & the Taj Mahal](https://tripreads.com/guides/india-delhi-agra-the-taj-mahal/): Travel guide to the Mughal architecture of Delhi & Agra in India, including the Taj Mahal. (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J1P7QDO; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id842114230)
- [India: Hindu Temples of South India](https://tripreads.com/guides/india-hindu-temples-of-south-india/): Travel guide to the Hindu temples of South India, a premier area in which to experience the architectural tradition of the Hindu temple (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XVZFSO; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id434140597)
- [India: Temples of Khajuraho](https://tripreads.com/guides/india-temples-of-khajuraho/): Travel guide to the famed Hindu temples of Khajuraho, one of the finest extant examples of the north Indian Hindu temple style (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0058PJTJU; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id447427242)
- [Indonesia: Temples of Java](https://tripreads.com/guides/indonesia-temples-of-java/): Travel guide to the temples of Java, Indonesia, explores two of Central Java's most important temples: Borobudur (Buddhist) and Prambanan (Hindu). (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004JXVYOK; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id415704809)
- [Israel: Highlights of Jerusalem](https://tripreads.com/guides/israel-highlights-of-jerusalem/): Travel guide to the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel. Detailed profiles on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock, and the Western Wall. (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055OPJGQ; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id443830371)
- [Istanbul: Hagia Sophia](https://tripreads.com/guides/istanbul-hagia-sophia/): Our guide to Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, a wonder of 6th century engineering in the old city of Constantinople. (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T1CFF80; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id963556121)
- [Istanbul: Sinan’s Mosques](https://tripreads.com/guides/istanbul-sinans-mosques/): Our guide to the mosques in Istanbul, Turkey built by Mimar Sinan, the chief royal architect who transformed the landscape of the capital city. (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S5SGIBE; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id957630705)
- [Italy: Last Supper Frescoes of Florence](https://tripreads.com/guides/italy-last-supper-frescoes-of-florence/): Travel guide to the Last Supper frescoes of Florence, Italy, featuring an off-the-beaten-path itinerary that reveals the artistic heart of this city (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004URRWUK; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id429790794)
- [Italy: Mosaics of Palermo, Sicily](https://tripreads.com/guides/italy-mosaics-of-palermo-sicily/): Our guide to the Byzantine mosaics of Palermo, Sicily, glittering works of art that are a reminder of the greatness of the Norman civilization. (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BHMOOP2; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id605062690)
- [Italy: Romanesque Churches of Puglia](https://tripreads.com/guides/italy-romanesque-churches-of-puglia/): Our guide to the Romanesque churches in the Puglia, Italy, constructed during a Crusade-inspired boom period under the Normans. (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00540GM0I; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id441737132)
- [Italy: Venice’s St Mark’s Basilica](https://tripreads.com/guides/italy-venices-st-marks-basilica/): Our guide to St Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy, one of the city's most important and defining sights. (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AA4V2RG; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id580406887)
- [Jamón Ibérico | Connoisseur’s Guide to Spain](https://tripreads.com/guides/jamon-iberico-connoisseurs-guide-to-spain/): Our Connoisseur's Guide to jámon ibérico, relevant for travel throughout Spain. (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0728FZWJZ; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1156158585)
- [Jordan: Temples & Tombs of Petra](https://tripreads.com/guides/jordan-temples-tombs-of-petra/): Travel guide to the tombs and temples of Petra, Jordan, which stand witness to the greatness of the Nabatean civilization (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005O3GUK2; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id466485699)
- [London: Wren’s Churches](https://tripreads.com/guides/london-wrens-churches/): Our guide to Christopher Wren's churches in the City of London, UK, the result of a rebuilding effort following the Great Fire of 1666. (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q0AGF1C; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id944694226)
- [Maya Ruins of Mexico](https://tripreads.com/guides/maya-ruins-of-mexico/): Travel guide to the ancient Maya ruins of Mexico, including Palenque, Yaxchilan, Bonampak, Chichen Itza and Tulum. (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0095B4826; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id558359350)
- [Maya Ruins of Tikal and Copan](https://tripreads.com/guides/maya-ruins-of-tikal-and-copan/): Travel guide to the ancient Maya ruins of Tikal and Cópan in Guatemala and Honduras (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B427YZC; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id595537730)
- [Morocco: Fes, Marrakech, Meknes & Rabat](https://tripreads.com/guides/morocco-fes-marrakech-meknes-rabat/): Travel guide to Morocco's art & architecture, including tour itineraries for Rabat, Meknes, Fez, Marrakech and Casablanca (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HFIBYSC; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id786852031)
- [Myanmar (Burma): The Temples of Bagan](https://tripreads.com/guides/myanmar-burma-the-temples-of-bagan/): Travel guide to the Buddhist temples of Bagan, Myanmar (Burma), one of the most magnificent and inspiring sites in Southeast Asia. (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007HOB30I; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id508821465)
- [New York City: Cast Iron Architecture in Soho & Tribeca](https://tripreads.com/guides/new-york-city-architecture-in-soho-tribeca/): Travel guide to cast iron architecture in downtown NYC, including New York City's Soho and Tribeca neighborhoods (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050J9JIU; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id437311621)
- [Spain: Granada’s Alhambra](https://tripreads.com/guides/spain-granadas-alhambra/): Travel guide to the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, a magnificent 14th century palace-city built by the Nasrids. (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECMA78C; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id684583147)
- [Spain: Mezquita of Córdoba](https://tripreads.com/guides/spain-mezquita-of-cordoba/): travel guide to the Mezquita "Great Mosque" in Córdoba, Spain, one of the earliest and greatest monuments of Islamic Spain, or Al-Andalus (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EBZDNPO; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id684057232)
- [Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle](https://tripreads.com/guides/sri-lankas-cultural-triangle/): Travel guide to the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, including Anurahapura, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya. (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KZ7HYQG; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id889568582)
- [The Temples of Thailand](https://tripreads.com/guides/the-temples-of-thailand/): Our guide to the Buddhist temples of Thailand, including Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Bangkok. (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007UWXCP6; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id519928243)
- [Vietnam: Royal Tombs of Hué](https://tripreads.com/guides/vietnam-royal-tombs-of-hue/): Our travel guide to the Royal Nguyen dynasty tombs in Vietnam, relevant for travel to Hoi An, Da Nang and Hué (and My Son Sanctuary). (Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EYODUZ4; Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1109381719)

## Key pages
- [Find a travel guidebook](https://tripreads.com/guides/): every guidebook, grouped by region (Americas, Asia & Oceania, Europe, Middle East & Africa)
- [About](https://tripreads.com/about/): Like no other travel guidebooks. Trip Reads are insight-filled, image-rich digital guides to the world’s greatest cultural sites.
- [Privacy](https://tripreads.com/privacy/): How Trip Reads, a brand of Approach Guides, LLC, collects, uses and shares information, including cookies, newsletters and embedded third-party content.
- [Blog](https://tripreads.com/blog/): articles and videos on cultural travel

## Recent blog posts
- [Napule È, The Song that Captures a City | Naples, Italy](https://tripreads.com/blog/song-captures-a-city-naples-napule-e/): A translation of Pino Daniele's hit song Napule È about Naples, Italy
- [World’s Oldest Olive Tree | Ano Vouves, Crete](https://tripreads.com/blog/oldest-monumental-olive-tree-vouves-crete/): The world's oldest olive tree at Crete's Ano Vouves
- [Imperia Statue | Konstanz, Lake Constance, Germany](https://tripreads.com/blog/imperia-statue-konstanz-lake-constance-germany/): Peter Lenk's Imperia statue in Konstanz
- [Tomb of Tu Duc | Hue, Vietnam](https://tripreads.com/blog/tomb-tu-duc-hue-vietnam/): History and highlights of Tu Duc's tomb in Vietnam's Hué
- [Grk Wine Grape on Korcula](https://tripreads.com/blog/grk-wine-grape-variety-korcula-croatia/): The island of Korcula — on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast — is home to the exceptionally rare Grk white grape.
- [Goethe on Lake Garda](https://tripreads.com/blog/goethe-lake-garda/): Follow Goethe’s 1786 arrival at Lake Garda and discover the landscape, history, and local details that shaped his memorable Italian journey.
- [Jordan’s Madaba Map of Jerusalem](https://tripreads.com/blog/madaba-jordan-map-jerusalem/): Explore Jordan’s sixth-century Madaba mosaic map and what its remarkable depiction of Jerusalem reveals about the Byzantine Holy Land.
- [Cape Dutch Architecture in South Africa](https://tripreads.com/blog/cape-dutch-architecture-south-africa/): Discover the origins and defining features of Cape Dutch architecture, from distinctive gables and floor plans to thatched roofs at Groot Constantia.
- [The Curious Case of the Expression “Now” in South Africa](https://tripreads.com/blog/curious-case-now-expression-south-africa/): Learn how South Africans use “now,” “just now,” and “now now”—expressions whose timing can puzzle visitors but reveal a distinctive cultural rhythm.
- [Taj Mahal Architecture: Origins in Humayun’s Tomb (Video)](https://tripreads.com/blog/taj-mahal-humayun-tomb-delhi-agra-india-video/): Compare the Taj Mahal with Humayun’s Tomb to see how Mughal architects refined the garden-tomb plan, dome, elevation, and decorative details.
- [The Buddhist Stupa: Architecture & Symbolism](https://tripreads.com/blog/buddhist-stupa-architecture-symbolism/): The Buddhist stupa serves as a marker for a sacred space, a symbolic representation of the Buddha’s burial mound.
- [The Currents of South Africa](https://tripreads.com/blog/currents-south-africa-benguela-agulhas/): See how the cold Benguela and warm Agulhas currents shape South Africa’s climate, marine life, and dramatically different Atlantic and Indian Ocean coasts.
- [The Hindu Temple Explained](https://tripreads.com/blog/hindu-temple-explained/): All Hindu temples — no matter where they are in the world — share a core set of design features, employed to facilitate a believer's interaction with the divine. As a traveler, if you understand these basic features, you will be a long way toward understanding the faith.
- [Music of the Seychelles](https://tripreads.com/blog/music-of-the-seychelles/): The music of the Seychelles reveals a cross-section of the nation’s history, blending African and European styles mixed with pop, blues and even country influences.
- [A Guide to Greek Olives & Olive Oil](https://tripreads.com/blog/guide-greek-olives-olive-oil/): Greece is the second olive oil producer in the world, but consumes the most. So you're going to see a lot of olive oil in Greece! Know the basics.

## Optional
- [Sitemap index](https://tripreads.com/sitemap_index.xml)