Customer Reviews

Florence (Art & Architecture)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a confirmed Firenzephile,I thought I had already purchased and read all the current books on this perfect city, but have now discovered that one of the very best was still waiting for me.

With R. W. B. Lewis' The City of Florence as the best book with which to prepare for a trip to Florence and the Eyewitness Guide to Florence and Tuscany as the best travel guide, I would suggest this very pleasing, square volume as the other book to take with you. ( I am in danger of getting into list-mania here!)

This book is arranged by sections of the city, beginning with a fold-out map of each area followed by photographs, diagrams and essays on each notable monument and what it houses. Furthermore there are interesting and manageable additions concerning history, architectural terms, information on artists, other notable persons, a time line and more.

I have lived in Florence and can assure you that the photographs are splendid and the information inclusive,well researched and concise. While certainly being perhaps the world's most intimate major city, it is also one of overwhelming richness and density (this is why there is included a charming essay on Stendahl Syndrome-don't miss it!). To have made so much information manageable is quite a remarkable feat.

This is a wonderful little volume for an overview. The text doesn't provide enough detail for a school project or art history buffs, but it is a great review. The book is too heavy to use as a tour book, but I bought it after our trip to Florence as a wonderful little reminder of a fascinating city. The overall size is also too small for a coffee table book.

First the bad news. The text of "Florence-Art and Architecture" consists of English translations of a series of chapters written by Italian academics. Ornate and complex sentences which may make perfect sense in Italian are almost unbearable to read in English. To illustrate my point, the first sentence of this book begins, "In Florence, in the Bigallo Museum, which once was home of the headquarters of a charity association, a fesco is conserved that has extraordinary symbolic significance." It will take the greatest fortitude to deal with 527 pages of this type of writing.

But the very good news is that this book is filled with over 500 beautifully reproduced illustrations. The photographers from the Alinari Photographic Studio are true masters of their craft. They have produced some of the finest images of paintings, sculpture, architecture and other media that I have ever seen. The details are rich and the colors really stand out. It is a real joy to turn the pages of this book. If only the accompanying text would have been worthy of these beautifully reproduced images. Recommended with reservations.

Beautiful book to use in planning travel and in reviewing and re-living travel experiences after returning home. Very thorough. The book is filled with wonderful pictures and excellent text.

A great little book chock full of beautiful color photographs on every page! On a tour of Italy, little time was spent in Florence, and this book clearly showed me what I missed. Now I know I will HAVE to go back. A great value.

Arrived promptly and in excellent condition. I wanted it as a gift for a colleague so its excellent condition was important. Thank you.