In over 150 striking images, Italy celebrates perhaps the most beautiful country in the world. From the natural beauty of lakes such as Como or Garda to the vineyards in Tuscany to the many beaches, from the pretty seaside towns of the Cinque Terre to the glory of Venice’s canals and palaces, from the magnificence of classical antiquity in Rome to the Arab-Norman architecture of Palermo to Renaissance Florence, there is just so much to feast on in Italy. But apart from the famous highlights, the book also features lesser known sides to the country, be it pretty, unexplored corners and examples of everyday life, or the abandoned cave towns of Puglia and the 16th century star-shaped town of Palmanova. Presented in a landscape format and with captions explaining the story behind each entry, Italy is a stunning collection of images.
Claudia Martin is a travel writer who has contributed to many guide books and magazines. She is also the author of books on history, geography and culture for adults and young people. She lives in London, UK.
IntroductionCENTRAL ITALY Heart of the Nation ROME Forum, Rome, Lazio Sistine Chapel, Vatican City Colosseum Pantheon St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City Centro storico Pons Fabricius Trevi Fountain Ponte Sisto Spanish Steps Palazzo dell’INA, EUR Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, EUR Palazzo dei Congressi, EUR Christian basilica, Ostia Antica House of Diana, Ostia Antica Street, Ostia Antica Hadrian’s Villa, Tivoli, Lazio Villa d’Este, Tivoli, LazioPERUGIA Medieval arch Aqueduct, Via Appia Basilica of St Francis, Assisi, Umbria Abbey of St Peter, Assisi Basilica of St Clare, Assisi Cathedral of Orvieto, Umbria Viareggio, Tuscany Viareggio and the Apuan Alps Vineyard, Tuscany Orcia Valley, Tuscany Siena, Tuscany Torre del Mangia, SienaFLORENCE Ponte Vecchio Baptistry door Baptistry, Campanile and Duomo Interior of the dome, Duomo Cathedral and Leaning Tower, Pisa, Tuscany San Miniato, Tuscany Ponte della Maddalena, Borgo a Mozzano, Tuscany San Gimignano, Tuscany Palazzo Pretoria, Volterra, Tuscany Val di Cecina near Volterra Gran Sasso d’Italia, Abruzzo Calascio, Abruzzo Monti Sibillini, Le Marche Central ApenninesNORTHWESTERN ITALY Wealth and Beauty Sacra di San Michele, Piemonte Milan and the Po Valley, LombardyMILAN Porta Nuova Naviglio Grande Via Dante Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Milan cathedral Santa Maria delle Grazie Palazzo Lombardia San Siro stadium Bosco Verticale, Porta Nuova Lake Como, Lombardy Moltrasio, Lake Como Gardens of Villa del Balbianello, Lake Como Santa Maria del Tiglio, Gravedona, Lake Como Belltower, Lake Como Lake Como and the Alps Varenna, Lake Como Bellagio, Lake Como Chianale, Valle Varaita, Piemonte Gran Paradiso National Park, Piemonte and Valle d’Aosta Male Alpine ibex, Gran ParadisoTURIN Turin, Piemonte Piazza San Carlo Gran Madre di Dio Piazza Carlo Emanuele II Regio Theatre Galleria San Federico Galleria Subalpina Lingotto CentreLAKE MAGGIORE Cannobio Santa Caterina del Sasso Maccagno Isola Bella Cannero Riviera, Lake Maggiore, Piemonte Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre Boccadasse, Genoa, Liguria Chiesa del Gesù, Piazza Matteotti, Genoa Antico Ponte Romano, Nervi, Liguria Savona, Liguria San Remo, LiguriaNORTHEASTERN ITALY Lakes and Mountains Lake Braies, Trentino-Alto Adige Abandoned building, Dolomites Lake Misurina, Veneto Santa Maddalena, Val di Funes, Trentino-Alto Adige Lake Resia, Trentino-Alto Adige Colfosco, Val di Badia, Trentino-Alto Adige San Candido, Val Pusteria, Trentino- Alto Adige Madonna di Campiglio, Trentino-Alto AdigeTRIESTE Cathedral Le Sartine Marina Miramare CastleVENICE Grand Canal Punta della Dogana Piazzetta di San Marco Ponti di Rialto Carnival Rialto fish market Molo St Mark’s Basilica Murano, Venetian lagoon Burano, Venetian lagoonVICENZA Palazzo del Capitaniato Teatro Olimpico Basilica di Monte Bérico Villa CapraVERONA Giardino Giusti Amphitheatre Ponte Pietra Madonna Verona Piazza delle ErbeLAKE GARDA Limone Maderno Riva del Garda Malcesine Punta San Vigilio Rocca Scaligera, Sirmione Gardone Riviera Piazza Santo Stefano, Bologna, Emilia- Romagna Due Torri, BolognaTHE SOUTH Il MezzogiornoNAPLES Via Chiaia Bar Nilo Piazza del Plebiscito Castel dell’Ovo Castel Nuovo Palazzo Reale di Capodimonte Naples and Mount Vesuvius Crater of Mount Vesuvius, Campania Herculaneum, CampaniaPOMPEII House of Julia Felix Odeon Villa of the Mysteries House of Marcus Epidius Casts of victims Forum Positano, Amalfi Coast, Campania Crypt of Salerno cathedral, CampaniaAMALFI COAST Atrani Vietri sul Mare Bari, Puglia San Nicola Pellegrino, Trani, Puglia Castel del Monte, Puglia Aspromonte National Park, Calabria Pollino National Park, Calabria Sassi, Matera, Basilicata Matera, Basilicata Trulli, Itria Valley, PugliaTHE ISLANDS Jewels in the Crown Capri, Bay of NaplesPALERMO, SICILY Palazzo dei Normanni La Martorana San Giovanni degli Eremiti Palermo skyline Capella Palatina, Palazzo dei Normanni San Domenico Palermo Cathedral Monreale cathedral Militello di Val di Catania, Sicily Cinder cone, Mount Etna, Sicily Greek theatre, Taormina, Sicily Ragusa, Sicily Cefalù, Sicily Noto cathedral, Sicily Good Friday, Enna, Sicily Fundrò, Piazza Armerina, Sicily Sanctuary of the Three Saints, near San Fratello, Sicily Poggioreale, Sicily Corleone, Sicily Temple of Hera, Selinunte, Sicily Stromboli, Aeolian Islands Santa Marina, Salina, Aeolian Islands Lipari, Aeolian Islands Panarea, Aeolian IslandsCAPRI, BAY OF NAPLES Faraglioni Capri town Via Krupp La Piazzetta Punta Carena Marina Grande Santa Margherita Nuova, Procida Marina Corricella, Procida Aragonese Castle, Ischia Cathedral, Aragonese Castle Portoferraio lighthouse, Elba Rio Marina, Elba Costa Paradiso, Sardinia Bosa, Sardinia Costa Smerelda, Sardinia