Florence in Detail: A Guide for the Expert Traveller

Apollo, August, 2005

Florence in Detail: A Guide for the Expert Traveller

Rizzoli/International

Herald Tribune 17 [pounds sterling]/$24.95

ISBN 0 8478 2535 3

The title (and high price) of this book offers various hostages to fortune, as expectations of scholarly depth and comprehensiveness are raised that are not entirely fulfilled. It is, however, weighty enough, and is devoted solely to the city, without excursions into Tuscany. Arranged topographically, in a rather complex sequence of walks, listings of monuments and recommendations for hotels, restaurants and shops, it is not especially easy to navigate. There are plenty of colour pictures, but no plans at all Moreover, the maps surfer from a 'design' intervention: they are enlarged details of old maps, in dark grey, overlaid with numbers in dark green keyed to monuments described in the text--in other words, they are barely legible. The text is worthy, but lacks spark--it has been written by a team, and it shows.

Santa Croce 774 words Overall Rating: **