Grand Canal [Hardcover]

Umberto Franzoi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1994

It is the most dazzling avenue in Europe-and can only be traveled by boat. Here is everything you want to know about the Grand Canal of Venice; the central reference point of a magnificent city. All of Venice's history is here, and no number of trips along the Canal's sinuous course diminishes its fascination.

This beautiful book is the first ever devoted exclusively to the great thoroughfare. Panoramic views record every building on both banks, and a fascinating text describes the architecture and history of each. Readers will see everything from the most famous palaces to the least known and most private houses. And thanks to the author's expert introduction, they will get a fresh interpretation of the Canal's meaning to both Venetians and visitors.

For all those who have visited-or intend to visit-Venice, The Grand Canal will be a cherished possession.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Italian

About the Author

Umberto Franzoi is a Venetian architect and Director of the Doge's Palace. He has been deeply involved in the restoration of Venetian buildings and interiors, and with the history of the city and its monuments. He has written several other books about Venice.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Vendome Press (November 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865651485
• ISBN-13: 978-0865651487
• Product Dimensions: 13 x 11.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,945,343 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!, March 19, 2000

By 

J. DeBortoli "eclectic music collector" (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grand Canal (Hardcover)

This book really shows off the beauty of the Grand Canal with all of it's palaces and other buildings. One really gets the feeling of what life was like back during the height of the Serenissima. The interior shots are stunning. And the information given for each building is fascinating. Even the non-descript houses and buildings get page time... A great book.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Outer and Inner Grandeur of The Grand Canal of Venice, November 15, 2005

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Grand Canal (Hardcover)

Venice, the floating or the sinking city depending on perception, more than any other city in the world is a bastion of mystery, intrigue, and incomparable richness in history, architecture, and art. Beloved and written about by some of our greatest minds (Shakespeare, Henry James, Thomas Mann, Harold Brodkey, John Berendt to name but a few) Venice is a city that captures the spirit and heart with the first approach - and that approach includes the vistas from the Grand Canal that serves as the main thoroughfare of the city.

Umberto Franzoi's introductory comments for this journey are warmly informative and seductive, blending history with architecture with the special façades that line the banks and invite the visits to the interiors not open to the public eye. In photographs by Mark Smith of brilliant color each element on both banks of the Canal is addressed, noting the history of the reasons for the special architectural details, the families that either built or now live in each palace and grand home, the gondola dockings, the watermarks that time has etched on the faces.

But then we are graciously taken inside these magnificent buildings with sumptuous photographs of interiors, passageways, court gardens, the art and frescoes - all the details that before this fine book have only been the stuff of dreams (or the occasional movie sets as in 'Wings of the Dove'). These are treasure troves of art and antiques and mystery and beauty.

For everyone who either longs to return or plans for a visit to Serenissima, this book is a must. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, November 05

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The perfect Souvenir of Venice, May 25, 2007

By 

Doug Lucas "Vencie Lover" (South San Francisco, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Grand Canal (Hardcover)

For anyone who has ever traveled down the Grand Canal on the Vapporetto #1 or #82 this will bring back a world of memories. It is beautifully photographed and is very informative. You can go back throuth your photos of Venice and identify and caption may of them. It even helped in locating non existing places like the Palazzo that collapsed in the film Casino Royal (It was superimposed over a recess in the buildings near the Ca DaMosto)
It is a great reference before and after a trip to Venice, and the photographs of the buildings are better than any you could take on your own. I would have given this book a rating of 5 stars but the text was written by an Italian who could have been a little more fluent in English.