Massimo Listri: Italian Palaces

Discover the histories and the treasures of Italy’s greatest palatial gems.

Close your eyes and recall an Italian cityscape to mind and it’s most likely that a grand palazzo will dominate the view. From Milan in the north to Palermo in the south, these majestic buildings have forever formed such an important part of the architectural and cultural spirit of the cities they grace. And this book is your ticket inside those imposing walls to enjoy the opulence and mysteries therein.

Massimo Listri, whose previous work took us through the great wooden portals, spiral staircases and shelf-lined corridors of the world's most famous libraries, now invites us into the most magnificent and significant of Italy’s palaces. Each of these beautifully designed and crafted private palaces exudes its own stories of power, wealth, art and culture – and you can explore their glorious corridors and uncover every secret of their colorful past.

These stunning palaces cover a range of architectural styles, from the fortified Medieval walls right through to the ornate baroque and rococo designs of the late 18th-century. With an important introduction by Robert Stalla, the scholarly historian of Italian architecture, Listri's perfectly poised images capture not only the architectural grandeur of each palace, but also the unique atmosphere created in each over time by the lives and tastes of their occupants.

Meander at your leisure though richly-storied pasts, via meticulous descriptions of the palazzo Te a Mantua, palazzo Medici Riccardi and palazzo Pitti in Florence, palazzo Barberini, palazzo Farnese, palazzo Qurinale and others in Rome, as well as Palermo's unforgettable palazzo Butera.

The visual and narrative power of this journey is simply testament to the ever-enduring allure of these timeless spaces, where past and present converge in a celebration of art and architecture, history and heritage, beauty and knowledge. In short, it’s a magical journey through styles and stories that make this collection a joy to experience – one that’s impossible to forget.