Francesco's Venice: The Dramatic History of the World's Most Beautiful City

Francesco'sVeniceistheextraordinarystoryofthelifeofanintriguingcity,toldbyadescendantofanoldanddistinguishedVenetianfamily.FrancescodaMosto'sancestralhistoryisinextricablyintertwinedwiththatofthisamphibiouscity.Fiercelyproudandprotectiveoftherichculturalandarchitechturalheritageofhisbirthplace,Francescogivesusauniqueinsightintotheinnerworkingsofoneofthemostbeautifulcitiesintheworld.HeexploresVenice'sremarkablehistory,fromthefifthcenturywhensettlersretreatedtothesafetyofthelagoonandbegantocreatetheirhomesontinyislands,throughitsgloriousyearsasasuccessfulmaritimenation,adeptattrade,exploration,diplomacyandprotectingitsindependence,tothefragilecityofthetwenty-firstcentury.Venice'shistoryisataleofwarfareandconspiracies,ofartisticexcellenceandingenuity,ofthebattleofwillsandofideas,andofstrengthinthefaceofdisaster,andFrancescobringstolifetheplaces,eventsandpeoplethathavesculptedthislivingtheatrethroughtheages.Theseincludeacolourfularrayofhisownancestors,suchasthesixdaMostoswhowereinvolvedintheriseandfalloftheambitiousandcorruptDogeFalier,andtheyoungAlvisedaMosto,acourageousanddeterrminedexplorerofthefifteenthcentury.BeautifullyillustratedwithstunningimagesbyJohnParkerofboththemagnificentsymbolsofthecity,includingStMark'sBasilicaandtheDoge'sPalace,andthemoresecludedcorners,Francesco'sVenicecelebratesthemesmerizingbeautyandsurprisingstrengthofthisuniquecity.