No city but Florence contains such an intense concentration of art produced in such a short span of time. The sheer number and proximity of works of painting, sculpture, and architecture in Florence can be so overwhelming that Florentine hospitals treat hundreds of visitors each year for symptoms brought on by trying to see them all, an illness famously identified with the French author Stendhal. While most guidebooks offer only brief descriptions of a large number of works, with little discussion of the historical background, Judith Testa gives a fresh perspective on the rich and brilliant art of the Florentine Renaissance in An Art Lover's Guide to Florence. Concentrating on a number of the greatest works, by such masters as Botticelli and Michelangelo, Testa explains each piece in terms of what it meant to the people who produced it and for whom they made it, deftly treating the complex interplay of politics, sex, and religion that were involved in the creation of those works. With Testa as a guide, armchair travelers and tourists alike will delight in the fascinating world of Florentine art and history.

Unlock the secrets of Paris's charm with this handy visual guidebook. Learn the history of the city's most famous landmarks, grasp their fascinating details and discover dozens of lesser known architectural gems. Whether you are a Paris regular or visiting for the first time, this guide will help you understand how the city acquired its unique and beautiful design palette and recommend ways to experience it more fully with self-guided walking tours and suggestions of some of the best hotels, restaurants, cafés, churches, parks and more. You'll also discover ancient Roman baths, seventeenth century mansions, Art Deco theatres, contemporary cultural complexes and find out where to kick back, cocktail or mock-tail in hand, with a panoramic view over the capital. Written by Ruby Boukabou, author of The Art Lover's Guide to Paris, and part-time Parisian, this book is the perfect companion for anybody intrigued by Paris's seductive magic.

Discover the secret symbols and meaning behind 62 featured paintings in this unique volume. Ranging from Giotto’s 14th-century painting of the Last Judgment to the 19th-century symbolist Gustave Moreau’s depiction of Jupiter and Semele, each work has been selected for its own symbolic enigma. This book’s innovative design pairs each painting with a page of die-cut windows that help the reader focus on specific aspects of each painting and features captions that highlight the most important symbols. Other works in this unique and fascinating book include Renaissance masterpieces such as Botticelli’s Primavera and The Birth of Venus, Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, and Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment.

An indispensable guide to Japan's most fascinating museums and galleries The Art Lover's Guide to Japanese Museums is a personal introduction to more than 100 of Japan's most distinctive and inspiring museums. In-depth information is given about each venue, including about its creation, collection, and highlights. Organized geographically, the book begins with numerous art institutions in and around Tokyo, and proceeds to Kyoto; museums in the western and eastern parts of the nation; Shikoku and the Inland Sea; Kyushu; and Hokkaido and Okinawa. Among the buildings and collections featured are the Nezu Museum, the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Museum, Nagi MOCA, the Hiroshige Museum, the George Nakashima Memorial Museum, and the Hokkaido Historical Village. From magnificent traditional arts to fascinating artist's houses, from sleek contemporary museums to quirky galleries, these museums house some of the world's greatest artworks and are a reflection of Japan's extraordinary culture both past and present. Distributed for Modern Art Press

This guide is a unique resource for art lovers and tourists alike. Europe's foremost art galleries and museums are presented here in a comprehensive, accessible and attractive collection.

- A cultural exploration of the South of France, from Nice and Montpellier to the tiniest villages There's more to the South of France than sun, beaches, palm trees and the azure blue sea. For over a hundred years, it has been the favorite destination of many artists, who find themselves drawn to the superb light and the pleasant climate. Hidden Art in the South of France will show you what the area between Collioure and Menton has to offer in terms of surprising and remarkable art and cultural treasures. Journalist and art connoisseur Eric Rinckhout (Knack Magazine a.o.) selected more than 350 exceptional places: from the chapel decorated by Louise Bourgeois to the studio of Matisse and the apartment of Nabokov, from Eileen Gray's modernist Villa E-1027 to architect Frank Gehry's most recent design, from the oldest cinema in the world to street art in Marseille. Discover the best and most unique spots in inspiring lists such as contemporary sculpture gardens on wine estates, in the footsteps of painters and writers, chansonniers and rock stars, sleeping inside art, gardens that are artistic gems and much more.

"The Lovers' Guide" is the most frank, informative, and visually explicit guide to lovemaking ever published. It shows young couples how to take the first steps towards sexual intimacy with loving care and confidence, and experienced partners how to revive and improve their lovemaking techniques.