Italy Books

I loved looking at these photos of a time and a place which no longer exists. They are a beautiful documentary.

This is one of the finest photography books that I own. Each chapter has a very interesting introduction. Mario Giacomelli has to be one of the world's greatest photographers because of the variety of his subjects. This book incudes an incredible number of Giacomelli's pictures. It is almost impossible to forget his pictures of the gypsies and priests. I plan to pass this book on to one of my children or grand children.

In this exquisitely written book, you get the history of thirteen generations of a family who brought Western Europe out of the cultural darkness of their time, the city of Florence to the pinnacle of its glory, and the art of masters like Michelangelo and Botticelli to the world.
Young starts his Prologue with: "In the 5th century storm upon storm out of the dark North swept away in a great deluge of barbarism all the civilization of the western half of the Roman Empire", and lays the foundation for how the Medici came to power in the 15th century, a power that lasted nearly 350 years.

There are chapters on the palaces, the art, and biographies of the most prominent members of the family, starting with Giovanni di Ricci (1360-1428), and ending with Anna Maria Ludovica (1667-1743). The longest of the histories is on Catherine de Medici, with all its fascinating intrigue, and my favorite is the chapter on Lorenzo the Magnificent (1449-1492), which also includes the short life of his brother Giuliano (1453-1478).

This has been a cherished book since childhood, when I loved it for its black and white illustrations; most of them are sublime portraits by artists like Bronzino and Raphael, and I fell in love with Botticelli's rendition of the above-mentioned Giuliano, mesmerized by the beauty of this painting (Plate VI). Michelangelo sculpted Giuliano for his tomb (Plate XXV), posed gracefully seated, wearing a breastplate, and also used his likeness for the famous statue of David. There is a difference in how Giuliano is represented by these two masters, but historians have noted that Michelangelo's interpretation is most like its subject.
It has copious notes, a wonderful fold-out Genealogical Tree, and a list of Authorities Consulted. For anyone interested in this era of history and the extraordinary Medici family, this book, though written many decades ago, tells its story in a fluid and riveting style, and is great reading.

What Young has written is two dozen interesting and relavent biographies that takes place in some of the more interesting times and places in history, remarkably tied together through a single family. He does not delve deeply into anything but art, and yet he has not writen one of those history books of everything at everytime that teach you nothing. Now note that this book is very long and has chapters that might be worth skipping (his descriptions of paintings that you can't see), but if you want to at least be introduced to the dissolution of the catholic church, the growth of objective thinking, the reformation, the rise of monarchies and standing armies, the birth of scientific thought, some really interesting characters, and, more importantly, how they all tie together, than I can not recommend this book highly enough.

Written in 1848-9, this book contains some of the most important manuscripts on the arts, like the MANOSCRITTO BOLOGNESE, HERACLIUS BOOK, MANUSCRIPT OF JEHANN LE BEGUE, ecc.. Each manuscript is in its original language together with the english translation. The introduction by M.P.Merrifield is still very interesting.

Written in 1848-9, this book contains some of the most important manuscripts on the arts, like the MANOSCRITTO BOLOGNESE, HERACLIUS BOOK, MANUSCRIPT OF JEHANN LE BEGUE, ecc.. Each manuscript is in its original language together with the english translation. The introduction by M.P.Merrifield is still very interesting.

The size of a pocketbook, this booklet is easy introduction to any number of things, Padre Pio himself, our Immaculate Mother, or our Catholic Faith. Having been born into a traditional Hispanic Catholic family, I take for granted the reverence and honor due to our Immaculate Mother. Non-believers can judge for themselves what to make of our devotion to her, in reading Padre Pio's long and beautifully composed meditation. I was made ashamed by my lack of devotion. This meditation for Our Lady shows instantly how deep and rich his faith is, in her for her unique role in our salvation. She who was most pure, most chaste, and full of grace - The Women deemed worthy enough since the fall of Eve to inflesh the Lord's Loving Mercy in Jesus Christ for the salvation and sanctification of our souls, does truly disserve to be honored and loved for her role in our salvation. "Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee..." said the archangel in greeting her whilst expressing the will of the Lord to her. She could have said no, but she conceded and in her womb was conceived our salvation. That is what Padre Pio brings into our understanding in this beautiful mediation. After reading it, you leaf through page after page of black and white photographs, many depicting his stigmatization, others depict his reverence for the Eucharist which for Catholics believers means the transubstantiation of the body of Christ, in all however you observe a deep love of Christ. A most devoted Cappuchin Priest, his memory for us lives on in this brief booklet. Let it be your introduction to this pious man.

One of Padre Pio's few writings, plus a brief sketch of his life.
Numerous pictures of this saintly stigmatist.
Though brief, it can be read over and over with benefit, since
it is both a meditation on the meaning of Mary and a prayer.
?May I suggest either or both of the following Monfort books?
ISBN: 0910984506
ISBN: 0935952446
Enter the ten digits (only) ito the Search box at Amazon.com

To read this is to understand how a great Saint views the greatest of all saints. Essential. It also shows clearly Bl. Pio's intelligence, lucidity and utter lack of hysteria.

Drawn from the author's ten years of research into archaeological, historical, and linguistic evidence of Etruscan civilization in Europe and the Near East, Mentors To The Romans: The Search for the Etruscans is an in-depth overview of what is known and what can be extrapolated about this ancient and mysterious civilization. Black-and-white diagrams and illustrations enhance chapter discussing how suppositions concerning the Etruscans has been traced through various types of evidence; what is known with some degree of certainty about Etruscan daily life; and much more. As fascinating for the lay reader as it is informative to professional archaeologists and historians, and recommended for library and personal history, archaeology, and ancient civilization reference shelves.

Drawn from the author's ten years of research into archaeological, historical, and linguistic evidence of Etruscan civilization in Europe and the Near East, Mentors To The Romans: The Search for the Etruscans is an in-depth overview of what is known and what can be extrapolated about this ancient and mysterious civilization. Black-and-white diagrams and illustrations enhance chapter discussing how suppositions concerning the Etruscans has been traced through various types of evidence; what is known with some degree of certainty about Etruscan daily life; and much more. As fascinating for the lay reader as it is informative to professional archaeologists and historians, and recommended for library and personal history, archaeology, and ancient civilization reference shelves.

In his will, the medieval Tuscan merchant Francesco di Marco Datini ordered that all his account books and correspondence be gathered together and stored for posterity. These archives were lost soon after Datini died in 1410, but found again, remarkably intact, in 1870. These archives, constituting nearly 140,000 letters to and from Datini and 503 files of business documents, constitute the most complete record of medieval Italian life ever found. Iris Origo mined this treasure trove for all it was worth in "The Merchant of Prato," creating a fascinatingly detailed portrait of how people lived, what they ate, and what they thought in late-14th-century Tuscany. Because Datini was a merchant, his ledgers provide an intimate account of what goods were available to affluent Italians of his time, and in what quantity. Even more fascinating than the details of family life are Origo's reconstruction of the lives and personalities of her three central characters: Datini himself, his young wife Margherita, and his best friend Ser Lapo Mazzei. "Certainly he was a difficult man, either to serve or love," Origo says of Datini, and indeed it is a difficult character Datini presents to us through his letters: grasping, imperious, sharp-tongued, morbidly suspicious--in short a model of a self-made tycoon in any age. But a better side of Datini is shown in his correspondence with the spirited, outspoken Margherita--who could give as good as she got--and with the kindly, philosophical Lapo Mazzei. Mazzei--who founded a winemaking dynasty that continues to this day, and whose distant descendant Filippo Mazzei was a close friend of Thomas Jefferson--was constantly reminding Datini of his duties as a Christian, and at length succeeded in persuading him to leave the bulk of his vast fortune to the poor. The foundation for the poor created by Datini's will continues in Prato to this day. Origo recreates Datini and Mazzei as characters of Dickensian richness, with Mazzei--if you will--playing the Ghost of Christmas Present to Datini's Scrooge. This book is a masterpiece, and how it could be allowed to fall out of print is a mystery to me. It should be reprinted in a new edition as soon as possible.

Fransesco di Marco Datini left 150.000 letter detailing every aspect of his personal and business life. Every aspect of life of a successful merchant in Prato, Italy and Avignon, France is clearly detailed. Iris Origo is must reading for history lovers, specially those interested in the Renaissance in Northern Italy.

The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, is a play that many readers will enjoy. Although this play may seem lighthearted, it addresses important themes and reflects societal views. The theme of appearances versus reality is depicted through the gold, sliver, and lead caskets that Portia's suitors pick from, illustrating the cliché that "all that glitters is not gold". This theme is revisited when Portia dresses as a man and cleverly solves the conflict between Bassanio, Antonio, and Shylock. Shakespeare also addresses the anti-Semitic views of the Elizabethan society though the antagonistic interaction between Antonio and Shylock. At the conclusion of the play, all the conflicts are happily resolved: Bassanio and Portia are reunited and Shylock converts to Christianity. The audience leaves the play with that warm and happy feeling. I would highly recommend this play.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE is a perfect play, a romantic comedy with a memorable tragic hero and a fairy tale element, as well. Venetian merchant Antonio and his best friend, Bassanio, find themselves in trouble with the Jewish moneylender Shylock over a sizeable unpaid debt. Bassanio had borrowed the money on his friend's credit, and Antonio had been confident that he would be able to repay Shylock. But when Antonio's ships miscarry at sea, and when Shylock's daughter, Jessica, elopes with Lorenzo, a Christian, taking much of her father's gold with her, the moneylender vows revenge: he will insist on his right to extract, in court, "a pound of flesh" from Antonio. Bassanio had used the money to woo Portia, a witty and beautiful lady who lives in idyllic Belmont and who must, according to her late father's wishes, marry whichever suitor chooses the one casket out of three that contains her portrait. One of the caskets is made of gold, another of silver, and the third of lead. Bassanio's realization that the leaden casket is the one with Portia's picture in it proves the old maxim that appearances are deceiving and that "[a]ll that glisters is not gold." In the end, it is Portia who saves the day by impersonating a lawyer in court and using the letter of the law itself to defeat Shylock and save Antonio's life.
Considering the general anti-Semitism of his era, Shakespeare gives Shylock marvelous depth that itself repudiates any charge of anti-Semitism on his part. Shylock's greatest moment is, of course, his speech beginning "Hath not a Jew eyes?" and continuing, "If you prick us, do we not bleed?...If you poison us, do we not die?" Furthermore, Shakespeare makes it clear that the Christians in the play - even including the honorable Antonio and the likeable Bassanio - have publicly insulted Shylock by spitting on him and calling him a "dog." As a consequence, we understand Shylock's hatred of Christians and sympathize with him, even as he mercilessly prepares to take Antonio's life. Only Shakespeare could have so successfully placed such a complex tragic figure at the center of a comedy.

This map is very detailed and helpful.

We have carried this book with us for 3 trips to Italy ('98, 99 and 00). It has been absolutely invaluable! We frequently prefer to use smaller, country roads away from the autostrada. Sure, we've gotten lost, but we were always able to find our way back, thanks to this book. Definitely worth its weight in gold (and definitely worth the weight in the luggage). Also a great tool for pre-trip planning. Guess we will buy a new edition this year for our 2001 trip. We did find a few new roads and extensions not in our "old" '98 version.

The Red Guide to Italy is the most comprehensive hotel&restaurant guide to Italy I have the pleasure of reading. The format is easy to understand and follow. However, for those who are less knowledgeable in the Romantic languages, I would strongly urge Michelin publish an english version.

If you are not familiar with Red Guides, they provide no textual comments. Instead, cities and towns are listed alphabetically, with hotel and restaurant listings rated on a scale of 1 to 4. For each listing, symbols and numbers are used to indicate features such as credit cards accepted, number of rooms, min/max price for a double room, etc. Places that are deemed particularly desirable are marked in red or with a special symbol indicating a peaceful setting; in my experience, these establishments are uniformly outstanding and worth seeking out. Detailed and accurate city plans are provided for cities of sufficient size.

If you are sticking to major cities or just one region, then this guide is not really necessary. If, however, you plan to explore less touristed areas and/or multiple regions, then this guide will provide abundant and reliable hotel and restaurant listings. On a recent trip to Italy, I stayed in 6 hotels listed in this book and was pleased with all of them. I also ate in 7 listed restaurants, each providing a memorable experience. Although this is not a budget guide, there are many moderately priced selections; I spent between $50 and $75 for single rooms and as little as $15 for a 3-course dinner with wine (although $20-25 was the typical price for restaurants with ratings of 1 or 2).

The unexpected bonus with Michelin Red Guides is the great city maps, which are particularly useful for drivers. For example, I used the town maps for San Gimingnano and Volterra to locate public parking lots prior to my arrival, so that I could save time and park in the most convenient location. For driving in larger towns (which is rather stressful given their medieval layouts) it helped that one-way streets are marked with small red arrows, again allowing me to plan my route in advance.

Michelin Rome Mini-Spiral Atlas No. 2038 was my new best friend in Rome. It is a 5X8 spiral-bound book, and it has an alpha list of seemingly all streets. Each page shows a small section of the city in great detail. It doesn't however offer a city-wide view, so that's what the Insight Map or the Streetwise map can do for you.

I bought this in a bookstore in the Rome training station, and it proved a fantastic resource for navigating the streets of Rome on foot. It put the maps in my Let's Go to shame, and made walking Rome's often confusing streets much easier. It was the best street map of Rome I saw, either in Rome, or in the U.S. since. I like to walk when I travel, and I wanted to be able to walk to the Vatican, and then to the stadium for a soccer game. (The latter turned out to be overly ambitious.)

It includes a map of the metro/subway system, a region overview map, and a grid indicator map showing which page to use. The last is helpful, since this book is in the "Thomas Brothers" guidebook style, with 95 pages of detailed maps, and an approximately 150 page street name index. The maps indicate many of the major tourist sites, though not everything, and so it is probably best used in conjunction with a guidebook of some type.

The legend is in both Italian and English, and as a street map, it's pretty easy to use even if you don't speak Italian. At about 5x8", it's easy to put in a pocket or small bag for walking with, and not too obvious if you need to consult it standing on the street (which I did, regularly.)