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The Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany
Stand at the outskirts of a Tuscan village and gaze across one of the most extraordinarily rich and varied landscapes in Europe. There are vineyards producing the finest wine, and miles of wild mountain scenery; almost any view will take in other villages, clustering around the upper reaches of some hill or the russet roofs of a fortified town deep in a valley. Tuscany has its grand cities―Florence and Siena―but their distinctive elegance is found on a more intimate scale in numerous small towns and villages.
There is a richness in these small places, of architecture and artistic life, which lends them an interest and complexity shared by no other rural communities in Europe. Their sense of civilization is deep and ancient, but it is the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance which have left their mark, tempting travelers and settlers from abroad from the time of the Grand Tour to the present day. Here is the village of Settignano, where Michelangelo lived and which also boasts the glorious Renassiance garden of the Villa Gamberaia. Piero della Francesca's lovely Madonna del Parto decorates the tiny cemetery chapel of Monterchi. The medieval towers of San Gimignano loom over the town's squares and streets like the backdrop to some surreal stage set.
James Bentley has chosen thirty-seven villages and small towns, both for their intrinsic beauty and for the part they have played in Tuscan history and culture. Page after page of Hugh Palmer's magnificent color photographs evoke the beauty and the wonder of this land. For the visitor, there are specially compiled listings of hotels, restaurants, and festivals to complete the tribute to Tuscany and its villages. 288 full-color photographs
There is a richness in these small places, of architecture and artistic life, which lends them an interest and complexity shared by no other rural communities in Europe. Their sense of civilization is deep and ancient, but it is the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance which have left their mark, tempting travelers and settlers from abroad from the time of the Grand Tour to the present day. Here is the village of Settignano, where Michelangelo lived and which also boasts the glorious Renassiance garden of the Villa Gamberaia. Piero della Francesca's lovely Madonna del Parto decorates the tiny cemetery chapel of Monterchi. The medieval towers of San Gimignano loom over the town's squares and streets like the backdrop to some surreal stage set.
James Bentley has chosen thirty-seven villages and small towns, both for their intrinsic beauty and for the part they have played in Tuscan history and culture. Page after page of Hugh Palmer's magnificent color photographs evoke the beauty and the wonder of this land. For the visitor, there are specially compiled listings of hotels, restaurants, and festivals to complete the tribute to Tuscany and its villages. 288 full-color photographs
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 17, 1995
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About the author
James Bentley
94 booksTravel writer James Bentley was born (1937-2000) in Bolton, Lancashire, England, UK.
Bentley had a varied career as teacher, academic, historian and Anglican clergyman. He was Vicar of Oldham, Lancashire, Conduct and Senior Chaplain at Eton College, Windsor, and Maurice Reckitt Research Fellow in Christian Social Thought at the University of Sussex.
He died on December 26, 2000 in Saumur, France
Bentley had a varied career as teacher, academic, historian and Anglican clergyman. He was Vicar of Oldham, Lancashire, Conduct and Senior Chaplain at Eton College, Windsor, and Maurice Reckitt Research Fellow in Christian Social Thought at the University of Sussex.
He died on December 26, 2000 in Saumur, France
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 14, 2016
Impeccable photographs of well-chosen Tuscan villages, and plenty of lesser-known art treasures.
The English text is technically correct, but sounds a bit unnatural in places as if literally translated from Italian, which surprised me as the author is English.
This loses a star for the font size, which is often far too small for a coffee-table book.
The English text is technically correct, but sounds a bit unnatural in places as if literally translated from Italian, which surprised me as the author is English.
This loses a star for the font size, which is often far too small for a coffee-table book.
October 12, 2012
I picked this book up at the library after having read the one on villages of the South. This coffee table style book did not match up in quality of photos nor information. the emphasis is on religious art and not life in the villages.
February 5, 2019
Unfortunately, this book shows its age. Published in the mid-90s, it's all too easy to see the leaps and bounds photography has made since then in this lovely coffee-table tome. The oversized, page-size pictures look low-res and dull to a reader who's used to high-def, ultra-bright shiny photography of the 21st century.
However, the book still manages to bring to attention the gorgeous villages of Tuscany that lay off the beaten path. At this point, it's more useful as a travel guide than a coffee table book. Although it does focus rather heavily on religious art and architecture, that's what Italy is known for, after all. I do wish the writer and photographer had focused rather more on the everyday town/village life moreso than religious iconography, but I still found it to be an enjoyable and worthwhile read.
However, the book still manages to bring to attention the gorgeous villages of Tuscany that lay off the beaten path. At this point, it's more useful as a travel guide than a coffee table book. Although it does focus rather heavily on religious art and architecture, that's what Italy is known for, after all. I do wish the writer and photographer had focused rather more on the everyday town/village life moreso than religious iconography, but I still found it to be an enjoyable and worthwhile read.
October 15, 2021
A typical point shot picture.
February 17, 2009
Beautiful imagery
January 29, 2013
A beautiful armchair travel guide to a glorious region in Italy. It makes one want to board a plane immediately to drink in the architecture, the people and, let's not forget, the vino.
January 30, 2015
I bought this book for my mom for Christmas. She loved it ... the pictures are beautiful and she is researching for a future adventure. It sure makes you want to plan that adventure quickly.
August 10, 2016
düşük kalitede fotoğraflar beni hayal kırıklığına uğratsa da toskana bölgesi kasabaları için rehber alınabilecek bir kitap.
August 30, 2012
The photos were breathtaking.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews