"In this fascinating volume, [the author] describes and illustrates 250 of the most remarkable villas, some well-known houses, others generally overlooked, covering a span of more than half a millennium, from the Renaissance to the present. Presented here are panoramas as well as details of grand country villas, magnificent suburban estates, appealing vacation houses, and captivating artist's homes, each with its own charm and history, and each of which is part of a style that is important in our century. The illustrations and text by Ovidio Guaita, representing decades of work, are organized by region, north to south from Piedmont and Venice to Sicily. Enriching the coverage each chapter includes a profile of a personality - architect, builder, artist or patron - whose work has had a lasting influence on the style of the villa. Supplementing the color photographs of exteriors and interiors are architectural drawings of houses and maps. The appendices offer a glossary, a bibliography, and a listing of villas that may be visited"--Bookjacket.
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