Venice for Pleasure
by J. G. Links
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Description
This walking guide for those taking in the cultural highlight of Venice is complete with paintings, photographs, and engravings that reveal how the city became what it is today "None of Venice's innumerable chroniclers have portrayed the Serenissima's character with quite such a combination of the scholarly, the informal and the intimate. . . Over the years thousands of readers, starting this book, have been relieved to encounter its famously undemanding approach to the city - "Generally the show more first thing to do in Venice is to sit down and have some coffee: but by the time they get to the end of it, all the same, they will have learnt virtually everything that an educated stranger needs to know about the place, its art and its history, besides being subtly entertained throughout." --From Jan Morris's introduction The simple object of this book, in the author's own words, is to guide the reader to places he might otherwise miss and, having reached them, to tell him what he might wish to know and then leave him, preferably at a café, to admire, to enjoy, and perhaps be disappointed. The illustrations show the visitor, as he confronts a view, what his predecessors of 100, 200, or 500 years ago saw from the same point. Two sections of color plates have been added, showing how the beauty of Venice inspired the 18th-century view painters. The main part of the book describes four walks, each of which can be completed in one day. Maps, old and new, are provided for each walk. The introduction deals with the Piazza S. Marco and its neighborhood, and appendices are devoted to the public boat services, food, and drink, and books about Venice. One chapter is entitled "Venice for Children's Pleasure." show lessTags
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Member Reviews
A delightful book to read, before, during and after a trip to Venice. So many fascinating stories about the city and the exteriors of its buildings, with only a few comments on the interiors, achieved by taking the route of four “walks” around the city. In my edition (eighth) there are also short chapters on visiting the other islands and taking a trip up the Brenta canal.
The book is made more enjoyable by being written in an inclusive first person plural “we” style that is relaxed and comfortable.
Some of the book may be dated and at times the seemingly endless list of directions can be offputting, but overall it’s very engaging and interesting.
The book is made more enjoyable by being written in an inclusive first person plural “we” style that is relaxed and comfortable.
Some of the book may be dated and at times the seemingly endless list of directions can be offputting, but overall it’s very engaging and interesting.
Apr 16, 2026English (UK)
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Author Information
19+ Works 660 Members
J. G. Links, who died in 1997 aged 92, was recognized as the world's leading authority on Canaletto. He was partly responsible for the largest ever exhibition of Canaletto's works, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, in 1989-90
Awards and Honors
Notable Lists
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1966
- Important places
- Venice, Veneto, Italy; Veneto, Italy
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 144
- Popularity
- 227,429
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (4.30)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 17
- ASINs
- 1
