Not only a photographic revelation of the residential treasures of Lucca, but an exploration of the artistic and cultural heritage of the region.

From the medieval period to the nineteenth century, Lucca was a rural retreat for the Tuscan aristocracy, the elite manufacturing dynasties who had made their fortunes largely from the silk trade. Seeking to refresh their spirits in the cooler air of the valley, they built magnificent country houses here, mirroring their wealth in the sumptuous beauty and opulence of their villas' architecture and gardens. Villas of Lucca: The Delights of the Countryside invites readers to explore the wonders of these pleasure palaces for the first time, as Maria Adriana Gusti places the lives of these families and their villas in their historic, artistic and cultural context. Richly illustrated throughout, this is at once a work of scholarly reference and a glorious invitation to discover some of the less familiar treasures of the Tuscan countryside.

The design of the Tuscan house has remained virtually unchanged since the Middle Ages, when landowners built country retreats drawing on the natural resources of the region. Indeed, it is these materials that give the Tuscan house its unique character: stone and marble; hard woods, like chestnut, oak, and elm; terracotta and brick; and water, used in ponds, fountains, and pools. These elements are captured here in exquisite detail: thick stone interior walls; terracotta-tiled roofs and floors; sienna-hued stucco finishes and luminous frescoes; exposed wood beams and scrubbed oak dining tables; and sunny courtyard gardens with the all-important water feature, whether an ancient well or an exquisite pool. In this glorious collection of color images, Simon McBride artfully evokes the magic and pleasures of Tuscan living. Simon McBride has been photographing interiors and gardens for over two decades, working regularly for House & Garden and Architectural Digest.

Preeminent Florentine photographer Massimo Listri uncovers the great public as well as private Tuscan treasures in this unprecedented, oversize, and deluxe volume. Celebrating Tuscany's renowned art and architecture, elegance, and charm, this unique volume unveils the finest Tuscan gems, both the famous as well as the hidden. Photographer Massimo Listri's unique access affords this resplendent publication of Tuscany's great treasures, including the architecture, art, and artistry of its frescoes, churches, palazzi, and gardens, as well as previously unseen private residence interiors, chapels, villas, and estates. This oversize and deluxe volume features stunning gatefolds and showcases four hundred sumptuous color and large-format photographs. From Florence to its surrounding areas, such as San Gimignano, Arezzo, Pisa, Siena, Montepulciano, Chianti, Lucca, and Pistoia, this book culls from Listri's rich vault of visually stunning and historically noteworthy material to create a privileged journey through which Tuscany is at once marvelously displayed. Tuscany is a superb piece of art to be enjoyed by both Italian art and culture connoisseurs as well as those discovering the region for the first time.

Demonstrates how food-growing gardens in early medieval cities transformed Roman ideas and economic structures into new, medieval values.