Piazza San Marco (Wonders of the World (Harvard University Press))
[Readers] will find much to enjoy in this elegant and informative little book, which focuses on the historical and cultural center of Venice, the Piazza San Marco… The changing face of the square over the ages and the evolution of the social rituals and practices carried out on its premises form the core of this authoritative treatment, but [Fenlon] also provides valuable commentary on what to see and do when visiting the square.--Brad Hooper (Booklist2009-09-15)Edited by classicist Mary Beard, the Wonders of the World book series from Harvard University Press offers architecturally oriented views of various sites, ranging from the Alhambra to the Parthenon to St. Peter's. The attractive books are hand-sized, cloth-bound, and illustrated with maps, photographs, engravings, and elevations, making them ideal for the armchair traveler. (Architectural Record2009-12-01)Though not strictly modern—well, not modern at all, really—the Wonders of the World series of books from Harvard Universtiy Press remains my favorite ongoing run of architectural tomes. Classicist Mary Beard is the series editor, and each of these trim volumes takes up the subject of a particular building. Ranging fromStonehengetoThe ParthenontoThe Temple of Jerusalem, imagine these scholarly works as biographies of buildings… [You should] race to add the newly releasedRoman ForumandPiazza San Marcoto your collection.--Aaron Britt (Dwell.com)