Description: Italy has the world's richest concentration of archaeological and architectural sites which, with its museums, makes the country the most extraordinary repository of works of art. From the enigmas of the pre-classical sites and artifacts, the beauty and serene power of Greek and Roman work, the massive yet beautiful Romanesque basilicas shading into Gothic, the glories of the Renaissance and its exaggerated modifications in Mannerism, the restrained extravagance of the Baroque to the cold elegance of the Neoclassical, Italy holds an incomparable storehouse of wonders--all of which are covered in detail in this major new work. Based on the author's 40 years of first-hand research, travel, and study in Italy, this magisterial six-volume illustrated work lists and describes, region by region, with authoritative texts and often accompanied by photographs, Italy's vast array of classical monuments, churches, museums, monasteries, cathedrals, palaces, villas, and fortresses, describing their architectural features, artistic contents and historical significance. The first five volumes cover more than 3,500 sites spanning 96 provinces. The sixth volume functions as a cultural encyclopedia of Italian architecture and art, providing biographical sketches of architects, artists and patrons, major themes and frequently discussed subjects, artistic styles, technical, architectural and artistic terms, techniques and materials, as well as relevant Italian words and expressions.

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