Palazzi of Rome

Photography by Massimo Listri. Translated from the Italian by Janet Angelini. Includes index.

At first glance, this appears to be no more than another beautifully illustrated coffee-table book, but once the cover is opened readers will quickly realize that the essays, accompanying text, and hundreds of color illustrations promise hours of delight. The volume begins with a series of brief essays relating to the palatial scale of buildings; the public and private streets and piazzas, courtyards, and gardens; the luscious and sumptuous interiors of notable architectural wonders; and additional topics. The rest of the volume focuses on 30 important and notable villas belonging to Roman nobles, cardinals, and popes, including descriptions that place each site in its historical context. Among those described are the Vatican Palace, Palazzo Farnese, Villa Medici, Palazzo and Villa Borghese, and the Quirinal Palace. This reasonably priced volume is recommended for all library collections focusing on architecture or decorative arts.AStephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City
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