Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca

by Dana Facaros, Michael Pauls

Follow the charms of the Renaissance to the twilight of Medici decadence in Florence. Ponder the mystical allegories of Siena Cathedral's graffito pavement. Wander Chianti's wine roads. Detailed maps keep you on track, and full of practical information make your time here idyllic.

This Cadogan Guide provides in-depth sections on history and art, to why Pisa''s tower leans, to the origins of Siena''s madcap palio and tranquil Lucca's brave past.

390 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1994

About the author

Dana Facaros wrote her first guide book the Greek Islands at age 20 in 1977, and husband Michael Pauls joined her a few years later in penning guides to Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica. Along with Turkey, these books became the genesis of the first Cadogan Guides in 1985. These were a little revolution at the time: guides ‘for the independent traveller’ as the old slogan put it, with a rich and thorough treatment of history and culture, a little irreverence and a sense of fun.

Over the next 30 plus years, 'the Dynamic Duo of Travel Writing' as they've been called have written over 40 guides to Greece, Turkey, Italy, France and Spain for both Cadogan and Footprint. They even wandered further afield to write travel guides to Mars and Hell, and condensed some of the curiosities they’ve learned along the way in a little ebook called Titmice, Turks and Marinated Mummies.

Currently based in Southwest France, they have contributed to the Independent, the Sunday Times, the Sunday Times Travel Magazine, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Guardian, the Telegraph, National Geographic Traveler’s website and the travel magazine Wanderlust. They appeared on Radio 4’s Excess Baggage, among other shows, and in two episodes of the series Mediterranean Tales (Lion Television/BBCFour), did their best to explain the life and history of Naples and Athens.

At the moment, they are working hard at converting and expanding some of their guides into in depth travel apps: Barcelona Art & Culture and Venice Art & Culture are currently both out in the Apple App Store and on Google Play; the Ultimate Italian Menu Decoder and Bologna Art & Culture will follow shortly.