Casa Editrice Bonechi

This book replaces the usual swag of postcards that one might buy when visiting a famous tourist spot like Luxor. But they have also managed to include quite a bit of additional information.........mostly about the historical context of the various temples and tombs. Because the book covers the Valley of the kings and the Valley of the queens, a considerable portion of the book is devoted to the tombs of long departed Pharaohs and their consorts. I must confess that the lack of a decent show more location map made it difficult for me to figure out the location of the Valley of the kings in relation to Luxor. (It's quite close but on the Western Bank of the Nile and outside of the irrigated "green" area.
This particular book covers mainly the area around Luxor but include: The colossi of Memnon, The Ramesseum (which was really the huge funerary temple that Ramses II had built on the Western Bank. And, as previously mentioned, it includes the Valley of the kings and that of the Queens, and a Valley for the Nobles and another for the Artisans. It kind of intrigued me that the poor artisans were putting so much work into the tombs of the Pharaohs and I wondered what happed to the artisans in the after life without the ships and slaves and gold to help them on their way. But apparently, even the artisans seemed to get a reasonably decent "send-off"....according to their means. But they were certainly not anything like the lavish arrangements for the wealthy and powerful.
Lots of good pictures taken of the exteriors and interiors of the various tombs....... some of them still showing the delicate colouring from 3,300 years ago. (Which I find astonishing but I guess the dry desert air helps ...and, in many cases they were actually buried in the dry sand. Probably not really enough information here to satisfy an archeologist of historian but enough to satisfy me. Though I would have liked a few maps that showed the relationships to the rest of Egypt. Four stars from me. show less

I picked this up in Barcelona when I was there on a school tour (and wasn't that a laugh and a half). Fairly standard introduction to the history of the city and its art and architecture--plenty of glossy photos, though, particularly of the works of Gaudi, which was why I bought this.

Excellent book with clear and precise photographs showing many of the historical and interesting tourist attractions in Jerusalem. Great memento from my trip to this amazing city; brings back lots of memories.

This is a travel souvenir book, in coffee table format, with many photographs of the art and architecture of Florence. Detailed essays describe each location or museum, and colour plates show some of the most significant paintings, sculptures and architecture to be seen there. There is also a fold-out map of the historical heart of the city. Modern Florentine buildings and culture are ignored in favour of the glorious history and art of the past. A good souvenir and reference for students of show more art history. show less