Renaissance Florence: The Invention of a New Art (Trade Version)

Renaissance Florence by Turner is an absolute must for Florence. The book has a plethora of information that will enhance anyone's trip to the city.

The book is very well done. The photographs are of high quality; the coverage complete. I purchased the volume as background information for an art history survey course I'm enrolled in (I already hold a post-grad degree), and found it to be an excellent supplement to the cursory review my textbook offered.

As an art lover and architect, who has been reading extensivelly about Italy and spent three weeks exploring the city, I define this book as comprehensive, delicious to read and excellent in contents. Turner explains how the city has achieved such a moment in human civilization, not only by its art, but by its economics, technology, geography, historic context, social behavior. This book is one to fall in love with, and I would put it as a must read together with Kenneth Clark's Civilization.