Book Description
Clusters of white cottages huddled in a fold between hills of an unbelievably rich green . . . villages of a single street, dazzling in their array of color washes and picturesque shop and bar signs. . . . Such are the villages of Ireland, the most beautiful of which are captured in Hugh Palmer's evocative photographs and Christopher Fitz-Simon's sensitive commentaries. Beautiful though many of the villages of Ireland undoubtedly are, they are also working, living communities. The vibrancy and warmth in a village bar or local shop proclaim a culture not yet submerged under mass tourism or the rash of vacation homes that have blighted so many of Europe's prettiest villages and robbed them of traditional ways. Following the divisions of the ancient provinces--Ulster, Leinster, Connacht, and Munster--the journey is full of fascinating rural gems, some famous and others less well known. There are the coastal villages of Cork with their handsome houses of many hues sloping down to a sea that so many Irish crossed to found other communities in the United States. Roscommon and Galway are proud of their medieval churches, while Ulster villages look toward the Atlantic and seem to be girding themselves against the rigors of the northern climate. Literary and historical associations abound, as in Ardagh, site of pre-Christian settlement and the place where Oliver Goldsmith was inspired to write She Stoops to Conquer. The latest volume in the best-selling Most Beautiful Villages series, this extraordinary visual and verbal record of the Irish village is completed by a guide to the most important sites, markets, hotels, and restaurants. 258 color photographs.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely Breathtaking.......2001-03-18
This is a fantastic coffee table book. The photographer has captured so much color in each photograph, you almost expect some sort of visual explosion -- how can such a dynamically variegated palette be contained in a single picture?! The whitewashed cottages, the blue-green sea, the dun colored old castle walls... even the street signs are beautiful. I myself am half of Irish descent, and half of Italian descent. Although I must confess that in culinary terms, my Italian forebears had considerably more "on the ball" than my Irish ancestors, this book makes me appreciate some of the beauties that Ireland itself has to offer. It makes me determined to visit it at some point.
The book is divided into four parts. Each traditional ancient Irish kingdom has its own section -- Ulster, Leinster, Connacht, and Munster. Each section is also followed by a brief photographic essay, dealing with such topics as "Ancient Ireland," "Bar and Shop Fronts," and "Painted Villages." At the end, there is a useful map, a travellers guide complete with phone numbers and addresses of Inns and hostels, and a very handy little bibliography.
I would just like to also recommend, for anyone with an interest in Irish history, "The Atlas of Irish History" by Sean Duffy. It is out of print, but you should ask your local librarian if he or she can find it, using OCLC or inter-library loan. If, like me, you have Irish blood in you, you will be familiar with the feeling of being quite alienated from the broader sweep of European history prior to the settlement of America. I once looked in the index of an encyclopedia, and actually found more entries on Native Americans, who of course are considered to be a marginalized people, than I could find on the Irish. This book, and the atlas I recommended, can help remedy that situation, and "The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland" can beautify any home. Two thunbs up -- check this one out.
Customer Reviews:
The Most Beautiful Villages of Provence.......2007-07-21
France is one of my favorate places to visit and the book has picked a few of the places I have visited. Great Book to own.
INTOXICATING!.......2007-04-16
I love this book! It effectively captures the drama and charm of Provence. I have been to Provence and this book is the next best thing if you can't go there. I also highly recommend the other book "The Most Beautiful Country Towns of Provence".
Disappointing .......2005-08-19
I bought this book thinking that it would show me not only nice pictures, but also information about the villages it supposedly considers the most beautiful ones in Provence. Pure disappointment... Even though the quality of the pictures is nice, they do not give you a true view of the relevant villages. They are pictures taken at random that do not represent - sometimes - the best view of the village.
But what is most dissapoiting in this book is the poor information about the villages, its populations, culture and location. In my opinion, every descrition of each village should also contain a map of its location in southern France (for us to know how could one get there), its population (to see how big it is), a some info on the villages picturesque points, etc. The few paragraphs dedicated to each village are too vague.
Finally, I think the editor should have made this book differently with half the villages and twice the pictures and info about them. I gave 2 stars for the pictures.
There is no place on the earth like my Provence!.......2000-08-31
I am French and was born in Provence, so I have spent most of my days there, except when I travel and when I was modeling in the world of high fashion. I know every village, and I fly my plane over Provence many, many times. I bought this book because it is so beautiful and shows the many wonderful places in my part of France. I am not good at taking the pictures, like these men do, and besides, I always do the flying. My sister would have to do the picture making. If you buy this book, you will be able to see my beautiful Provence in the pictures whenever you want to. Provence is very old and very picturesque, that is why the photography is so good. If it was not a most beautiful place in the world, it could not be so beautiful of a book. I am French and so I know it is this beautiful. It is more beautiful in the real world, if you can even think that. We have lots of cobble streets. Everyone loves the flowers, so you will see most beautiful flowers everywhere you look in Provence. We have hidden waters that come out into our special fountains. Every village must have their fountains and some are very, very old and are more special than any place else in the world. We like things to be beautiful, so you never see anything ugly in Provence. The earth is very good to us. We have herbs growing everywhere in the countryside. Lavender, Rosemary, and Thyme, you can find just walking in our wonderful hills. We love colors in Provence. Blue, yellow, ochre,green, we like all of those colors. Marcel Pagnol lived in Provence, too. He made his films and his books because he loved Provence. He was French. If you want to see a beautiful book that will make you smile and smile, get this book, and then come see for yourself that I am lucky to be French and live in Provence most of the time...................... ................Presented to you by Summer
The only thing better than this book is to be there!.......2000-08-29
Provence is heaven to me.I love the hills, the variety of plant life, and the exquisite villages with their definitive shuttters and dove cotes. The fountains bubble with life. The cobbled streets lead to some of the most fetching homes and buildings in the world. The Provencal people dress their windows in lace and paint the exterior and interior of their homes in the colors found in the Provencal landscape: blue, yellow, ochre, greens. Terracotta roofs provide the most wonderful color and texture to the landscape. Somehow everything blends wonderfully! The creators of The Most Beautiful Villages in Provence capture the essence of this southern region of France. The photography vividly presents the viewer with a panorama of gorgeous scenes: fields of lavender, geraniums in pots leading to a beautiful door, roof top views that are breathtaking, undulating paths that take you to splendid spots, aerial views of villages, an old roman road and bridge. A friend of mine, who was born in Provence, gave me this incredibly beautiful book; the only thing better, she says, is to be there! I plan to take this book with me to Provence next summer!! After seeing this book, nothing can keep me away!
Amazon.com
With the recent popularity of such notable books as Frances Mayes' Under the Tuscan Sun and Elizabeth Romer's The Tuscan Year: Life and Food in an Italian Valley, a legion of new Italia fans are finding out what many already know: the charm of Tuscany cannot be denied. In The Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany, author James Bentley and photographer Hugh Palmer offer a decidedly unique view of this remarkable region. Focusing on thirty-six villages and towns from all over Tuscany--chosen for "both their intrinsic beauty and for the part they have played in Tuscan history and culture"--the gorgeous full-color photographs, accompanied by superb accounts of each village, truly "bring the region to life, evoking the richness of architecture and landscape, and bringing out the charm of the Tuscan people." The final chapter is devoted to useful travel information, including passages on hotels and restaurants, market days and festivals, as well as a select bibliography and detailed map of the region. As beautiful as it is informative and entertaining, The Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany is "the perfect visual tribute to the timeless beauty of these small towns and villages."
Book Description
Imagine that you are standing on a vantage point at the edge of a Tuscan hill village: you are gazing over one of the richest and most varied landscapes in Europe. Here are vineyards producing some of the world's finest wines, and a panorama of wild mountain grandeur. Your view will almost certainly take in other villages clustering around the upper reaches of some hill, or the russet roofs of a fortified town deep in a valley. These elegant yet intimate places are captured in Hugh Palmer's stunning photographs, making this a calendar for more than just the present. All the vividness of this ever-popular and entrancing part of Italy is here, from the north, around Florence and Lucca, to the villages of the south. Ancient churches, themselves art treasure-houses, contrast with mighty castles, monuments to the pomp and pageantry of times gone by. Then there are the streets of picturesque and elegant houses, punctuated with tiny squares, perhaps the scene of a bustling market or the site of a fine Renaissance fountain. Already acknowledged as some of the finest photography of this enchanted region, the new selection of illustrations in this calendar will provide month-by month inspiration for the appreciation of the fine things in life.
Customer Reviews:
The Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany.......2007-07-21
Since I love Italy as a place to visit, this book is great to own.
The Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany.......2007-07-05
Great coffee table picture book. It allowed us to see the two villages we will be staying in this summer during our trip to Tuscany.
Most Beautiful Villages.......2006-03-11
A wonderful photo essay on one of Italy's most beautiful regions. Different from the usual travel book in that it visits some of the lesser known villages.
THE BEST.......2006-03-04
HAVING BEEN TO TUSCANY 4 TIMES AND OWNING MANY PHOTO BOOKS OF THE AREA, THIS BOOK IS "THE BEST".IT CAPTURES THE SOUL OF THE
VILLAGES AND COUNTRY SIDE. TO EXCEED THIS, HAVE TO BE THERE.
For authentic background on design ideas..........2005-08-15
I got this book because i'm an architectural designer and a client wanted a "Tuscany" look. I like to review the authentic background of design concepts as opposed to taking the marketplace for its word, I guess. So I got this book for reference. The book didn't actually arrive till after the initial design, but it was great confirmation that we went in the right direction. I get the feeling it is relatively complete and makes a great reference or coffee table book depending on your needs. I look forward to getting the rest of the collection for my library.
Book Description
From the terra cotta and ocher of the Ionian Islands to the brilliant blue and white of the Aegean, the beautiful villages of Greece and its islands are incomparable. The variety of village life and building springs from a multitude of histories and influences, yet these towns are all, in their separate ways, quintessentially Greek. Here, then, are the loveliest villages created by the indomitable Greek spirit, all set in a landscape of overwhelming magnificence. We begin with the mountains of the mainland and areas such as the Pelion peninsula, where stone walls and wood-framed balconies betray a Turkish influence. In the southern Peloponnese are the Maniot villages and their characteristic tower houses, built by warring families the better to pursue their vendettas. From north to south through the mainland and the Peloponnese, from west to east through the islands, the mixture of intimacy and grandeur continues. The Ionian Islands are home to belfried churches, pitched tile roofs, porticoes, and colonnades, reflecting years of Venetian rule. The flat-roofed white houses of the Cyclades, startling against the blue Aegean sea, seem to express the very essence of Greece. Other villages mirror an international trading and shipping tradition, such as Chios whose substantial country mansions were left by the Genoese. And there are many other gems as well, with ancient temples, sandy bays, and cobbled paths. Complete with appendices of useful information for the traveler, this book is a celebration of the inimitable beauty and spirit that have entranced visitors to Greece through the ages.
Customer Reviews:
THRILLED.......2006-07-21
I saw this book at a friend's home and thought it was perfect for a Christmas gift for my husband. Since we are both of Greek descent and my husband's family was from the island of Halki, I know he will love it. The copy I received from David Starcher is in excellent condition. The pictures are beautiful and the information on each village is very well written and makes me want to visit each one of them. I am thrilled with this book.
Enchanting villages.......2004-10-01
This book with its 285 magnificent colour pictures takes the reader on a journey through mainland Greece and its islands. The introduction contains a history of Greece from the earliest times. The book is divided into sections for the mainland, including the Peloponnese: Arkadia, Messinia, Lakonia and The Mani, and Pelion, Epiros and Evritania. The second section covers the islands like the Cyclades, Dodecanese, Ionian, Chios and the Argo -Saronic. A small map covers every section. The book includes a traveller's guide with a map of Greece, sections on festivals and holidays, hotels, restaurants and food, and concludes with a bibliography. This stunning book reveals a glorious picture of Greek village culture in its attractive photographs and engaging text. It is the perfect guide for prospective travellers of for those who wish to familiarize themelves with the charming village life of modern Greece.
Gorgeous!.......2000-09-18
I love the whites and blues of the hillside villages overlooking the Mediterranean. This book is an inspiration for a quality of life that we simply don't have in the US. Simplicity is an art in these wonderful villages and homes we are allowed to explore in this wonderful book. Flowers abound. Life is wonderful. This book is something to treasure until you get your chance to see it for yourself. And in response to that silly editorial review....not everyone is watching that Raymond TV show!
simply marvelous.......2000-07-12
Breathtaking photographs that would convince anyone to travel to these villages. Excellent source of information pertaining to the photos as well.
Average customer rating:
- A little masterpiece
- Beautiful book!
- Great Story, Great Model
- The Moust Beutiful Plas
- A wonderful book to read aloud
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The Most Beautiful Place in the World
Ann Cameron
Manufacturer: Yearling
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Guatemala: A Question And Answer Book (Fact Finders)
ASIN: 0394804244
Release Date: 1993-05-25 |
Book Description
"Seven-year-old Juan lives in Guatemala, a place of stunning beauty and grim economic reality. Abandoned by his mother, Juan lives with his grandmother and shines shoes. He passionately wants to attend school, but fears Grandmother will say no. Finally gathering his courage, he is surprised when she not only agrees to send him to school but also chides him about the importance of standing up for himself. Juan tells this bittersweet story, which reads smoothly and powerfully on several levels, with warmth and dignity."--Booklist.
Customer Reviews:
A little masterpiece.......2006-10-07
I love this book. Working in a library, I've been happy to be able to show it to so many people. The hero has a hard life and a mother who doesn't love him. But he has a roof over his head at his grandmother's house, and a simple determination to work, to help, and to learn.
There's an indescribable feel to this book, almost a scent, different from any other book. It really is a masterpiece.
Beautiful book!.......2005-09-13
I am from Guatemala City and currently living in the US, I read this book with my daughter and she loved it, this book has helped me to explain some of my culture to her. She knows that "anyplace can be the most beautiful place in the world..."
Great Story, Great Model.......2005-07-21
I have read this book aloud to my first and second grade students for years. It is an excellent story, well told, with all the realities of a different culture in a different situation than USA children. However, it is painted with the strokes of deepest, realistic love that a family can have. This is a great story to teach and talk about the struggles of families everywhere, the world and it's differences, and the importance of character "no matter what". It is the book my second graders yearn to read on their own and therefore is a super motivator. It is rich in geography.
The Moust Beutiful Plas.......2003-10-08
The story that I read was really snappy and cool. It's called The Most Beautiful Place in the World By Ann Cameron. There was a boy named Juan and his grandmother. There was also Juan's mom. It takes place in San Pablo, Guatamala. The problem is she leaves him for ever and his mom doesn't let him visit her. He really loves his mom after his dad left them.Some one would want to read this book because its really sad and who ever loves tragedy or not it's a really good book.I recommend this book to people of any age.
A wonderful book to read aloud.......2003-03-16
I teach 3rd grade, and I read this book aloud to my students each year. Ann Cameron gives a realistic picture of a child abandoned by his mother, and taken in by his grandmother.
She gives a wonderful message about the importance of education and asking for what is really important to you. Although this book is written in easy to read language and great illustrations, the author's messages are best discussed with young ones. I thank Ann Cameron every time I read this book.
Book Description
Clustered around its parish church and green, or strung out along a curving road, the English village often seems the very embodiment of tranquillity. Winding lanes, thatched cottages, and red-brick Georgian houses bespeak a way of life that has developed peacefully over centuries, uninterrupted by war or invasion. Yet, the occasional castle or fortified manor house bears testimony to a more turbulent past, and it should not be forgotten that the style of many village churches--Romanesque or Norman--was originally borne across the English Channel on the wave of conquest. Each English village possesses its own distinct character, formed by history, location, and, indeed, local building materials. There is a world of difference between the dark-stone villages of the north and the Pennines and the thatched, half-timbered architecture of East Anglian and southern communities. Village forms and layout differ widely too. Eton, in Berkshire, is arranged along a high street and centered on a famous college. The Dorset village of Cerne Abbas is dominated by the figure of a naked, priapic giant, carved into a hillside some 1,500 years ago. In Hawkshead, Cumbria, it is still possible to visit the school attended by William Wordsworth; in Mevagissey, Cornwall, the delights of a Cornish shipping village remain virtually intact. The richness and diversity of the English village are celebrated here in absorbing commentary and magnificent photography by James Bentley and Hugh Palmer. Grouped by area and subdivided by county--northern, midland, eastern, southern, and western--this splendid volume describes and illustrates the most beautiful villages and that most beautiful of lands--"this earth, this Realme"--this England.
Customer Reviews:
The Most Beautiful Villages in England.......2007-05-14
Non of these villages are very beautiful to me.
But then beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
Villages of England.......2007-01-20
Im taking a trip to England this summer and this book helped me decide what villages to see. Beautiful pictures!!
Lovely book.......2005-09-27
I bought this book recently and it was worth every penny. If you love England, this is the book for you. The pictures are just beautiful. Having lived in England for a few years, it brings back many wonderful memories. I would recommend it to anyone!
The Most Beautiful Villages of England.......2003-02-11
I bought this book because I am obsessed with England and wanted a coffee table book that portrayed that. The photographs in this book are gorgeous, exemplifying the beauty of England and the villages within. Of course, this book makes me want to travel to the UK and explore all of these historic villages!
WOW This Book Is Wonderful........2001-02-06
I have been to England and its truly wonderful and every bit as lovely as the books pictures, show. I highly recomend this book to anyone who has been to England or planing a trip there soon. You will really enjoy the book...worth every penny. Happy Reading and Happy Travels.
Average customer rating:
- I Agree
- A Beautiful Book About a Beautiful Place
- A MAGICAL PLACE WHERE FANTASY MEETS REALITY
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The Most Beautiful Villages of Burgundy (Most Beautiful Villages)
James Bentley , and
Hugh Palmer
Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
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ASIN: 0500018626 |
Book Description
Synonymous with fine wine, elegant cuisine, and good living, Burgundy is also a land of great architecture and appealing villages. Many of these ancient communities stand beside the leisurely rivers that wend their way through the duchy--the beginnings of the Seine, the delightful Yonne, the Arroux, which flows to the Loire, and the Ouche, which eventually adds its waters to the Saone. And beside these rivers flow another eight hundred miles of languid canals, bordered by woodlands, pasture, and some of the greatest vineyards in the world. The four departements of Burgundy offer a delightful diversity in their villages. Many of those of the Yonne, a country of meadows and river valleys, are waterside communities, while others like Ancy-le-Franc and Vezelay cluster around architecturally splendid houses or gems of Romanesque churches. The villages of the Cte d'Or read like a register of the world's finest wines: Montrachet, Meursault, Pommard. There are other delights, too: Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, a beautifully preserved village of Gothic and Renaissance houses, or Semur-en-Auxois, a medieval fortified town. In the Nievre lies the natural park of the Morvan, with a wealth of hill-villages set among luxuriant woodland. Saone-et-Loire, the southernmost departement of Burgundy, includes the Maconnais wine country, in which are gathered a notable group of well-preserved medieval villages, famous for their Romanesque churches. The influence of religious architecture can be seen everywhere in the duchy, the work of Benedictine and Cistercian monks who spread the Romanesque style. But the villages of Burgundy are much richer than the twin presences of vineyard and church would suggest. The variety, celebrated here by James Bentley and Hugh Palmer, is nowhere better suggested than in the journey from north to south, from villages of black-slate roofs to those where red and ochre tiles announce the Midi. Burgundy's fascinating history and present-day devotion to the fine arts and crafts of living well are justly celebrated, and its villages make this land one of the most enchanting in the western world.
Customer Reviews:
I Agree.......2000-04-06
I have to agree with the two previous reviewers, Burgundy is a very special part of France, and a very special part of the world. It is worth seeing just for the vineyards alone, but there is so much more to Burgundy than just wine. If you're lucky enough to go there, take this book along. It will be an invaluable guide to the restaurants and hotels in the area as well as to the festivals, concerts, etc. And if you must stay at home, then this book is the next best thing to actually being there. The photos are gorgeous and the text informative. Five stars is not enough!
A Beautiful Book About a Beautiful Place.......2000-03-29
My sister and I recently toured Burgundy and even though we were born and bred in France, we saw the region anew. The photos in this book are lovely and for once, do a place justice. If you plan to travel to Burgundy, and may I suggest that you do, you certainly can't go wrong with this book as a traveling companion and tour guide.
A MAGICAL PLACE WHERE FANTASY MEETS REALITY.......2000-03-28
France is a magical place and Burgundy is one of its most magical regions. The premier wine-growing region of France, Burgundy is also the center of fine cuisine, Romanesque architecture and lazy canals bordered by meadows of wildflowers. This book, with its more than 260 color illustrations, shows Burgundy at its finest. A region dominated by water, the book begins in the north and travels through all of Burgundy's four departments. From the Yonne, a land of peaceful river valleys and almost 1000 canals, we travel southward with the author to visit little Romanesque churches and learn how the Benedictine and Cistercian monks spread the Romanesque style. We finally arrive in the southernmost department of Soane-et-Loire and the city of Macon, the border to the Midi and the South, where we sample some of the finest wines in the world, such as Montrachet and Pommard. Burgundy is one of the most beautiful places on earth--unspoiled, unhurried and faithful to its past. Whether you plan to actually visit the area or are just dreaming of a visit, this is the perfect book to accompny you and your dreams and perhaps even make make them come true.
Customer Reviews:
ENCHANTING!.......2007-04-16
This book beautifully captures the enchantment of Dordogne. Cozy villages, medieval chateaux, rivers snaking through the charming countryside all describe Dordogne. Also, I would like to point out that the architecture and topography are different from its neighbor, Provence.
Too Beautiful.......2002-03-24
These are stunning photgraphs of one of the most beautiful rural parts of the world, but they left me vaguely dissatisfied. Subsequently I realized why--there are very few people in them. If you are intersted in the architecture of the Dordogne, you will probably enjoy it. But if, like I, you are interested in obtaining a feel for the region and its people, this is not the right book.
Almost captures the beauty of the Dordogne.......2000-01-01
Of all the places I've been, I've never seen an area where reality surpasses the most breathtaking photos--until I visited the Dordogne. This book does, however, give the reader a glimpse into what treasures can be found at every turn. The book prepared me well before my trip and brings fond memories now that I'm home.
beatiful picture to enjoy the sence of europea.......1999-10-03
oldest village with the sensity rive
A virtual visit to an enchanting land.......1999-09-26
This book, with its artistic photographs and evocative descritions of an enchanting land where bright sunlight, a warm climate, fragances of the country side, and nostalgic medieval villages perched on cliffs and hilltops, immerses the reader in a fantasy land of great beauty and ancient heritage.
Book Description
An unprecedented treasure trove of delightful villages from the land of mist and mystery, of hidden glens and peaceful lochs.
In the dramatic landscapes of Scotland, beloved of Romantic poets and composers, lies a wealth of delightful villages, here revealed in Hugh Palmer's evocative photo- graphs and commentaries.
The traditional architecture and stunning natural settings of the Highland villages have long proved an attraction to visitors. Some of the most picturesque are former fishing villages, like Auchmithie, from which the herring fleet has long since departed, leaving the splendid harbor to the contemplation of visitors and a couple of lobster boats.
Lowland villages often have an air of quiet, well-ordered prosperity. Rows of stone cottages and a fantastic profusion of hanging baskets make places like Luss on Loch Lomond a charming stop on the road north. Here, too, is the extraordinary Dean Village—a complete, self-contained community surrounded by the city of Edinburgh. And among the many ravishing port-villages on the Islands is the little gem of Tobermory on Mull, where the reflection of a main street of brightly painted houses shimmers in the waters of the harbor. Altogether, thirty-five villages are included. Special sections on the Scottish castle and the monuments of the country's Celtic past round out the account, making this beautiful book one of the most complete pictures of rural Scotland in recent years. A Travelers' Guide listing places to visit, to stay, and to eat helps the reader to enjoy even more a visit to the Scottish Highlands, Lowlands, and Islands. 250 color photographs.
Customer Reviews:
A photographic tour of Scottish villages.......2006-07-11
Hugh Palmer's "The Most Beautiful Villages of Scotland" is a coffee table-type book providing short photographic essays on approximately 35 very attractive Scottish villages. The photography is absolutely stunning; the accompanying narrative provides a sense of what might be unique and interesting about each selected village. Many villages, for example, contain unique styles or mixtures of styles of architecture. Some others may contain an ancient castle or are located in the wild highlands. The villages themselves are broadly representative of the Scottish Lowlands, Highlands, and Islands. There is a short section on travel information at the end.
This is not your typical travel information book in that it is not meant to provide the basis for planning a vacation in Scotland. It may be useful to the traveler who is already familar with Scotland and looking for new and different places to visit. It may also be useful as a book of memories for those fortunate enough to visit some of the remarkable locations depicted in the book.
This book is recommended to those who cherish their memories of rural Scotland, and to those who want to build some memories.
Book Description
Author of the highly successful The Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany, James Bentley, with photographer Alex Ramsay, has now turned his attention to the equally beautiful towns of Tuscany. Traveling from north to south, as in the Villages volume, we encounter first the towns with substantial Etruscan and Romanesque features, then the walled towns of central Tuscany, followed by the coastal and thermal communities of the south. The country towns described and photographed in this book have been selected not only to exemplify the remarkable variety of this part of Italy but also because they embody its exceptional artistic and architectural heritage. There are works by Luca della Robbia and Donatello in Impruneta; Piero della Francesca was born in Sansepolcro. The architects of the Renaissance have left many masterpieces as well, often under the patronage of powerful local families: Michelozzo built the Villa Medici near Fiesole, while Giuliano da Sangallo designed the Medici fortress at Sansepolcro. Other aspects of the cultural heritage of these towns are more ancient: Volterra has the remains of Etruscan walls, and the Romans used the thermal springs at Chianciano Terme. A noted characteristic of Tuscan towns is their gastronomy. The wines of Chianti are well-paired with the beef of the Chiana Valley, while bread is justly celebrated in the area around Montecatini. Other markets feature nongastronomic delights: alabaster in Volterra, flowers in Pescia, books in Pontremoli. Twenty of the most beautiful towns of this opulent land are treated in this visual and textual feast by Alex Ramsay and James Bentley, which is completed by a guide to the principal sites, events, hotels, and restaurants of each town. 273 color illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Tuscany.......2007-02-09
a beautiful book. Pictures are evocative of the essence of Tuscany. Love Tuscany and this book does it justice.
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