Condition - Very Good The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and functions properly. Item may arrive with damaged packaging or be repackaged. It may be marked, have identifying markings on it, or have minor cosmetic damage. It may also be missing some parts/accessories or bundled items.
Romancing Through Italy
Romancing Through Italy is an intimate cultural journey that reveals not just the places, but the people and mysteries of an ancient land. In these true stories, discover the humor, beauty, heroes, friends, and misadventures of traveling through Italy. Emperors and cave-dwellers, elderly goat-herds and ghost towns come to life in visits to the hidden corners of the cradle of modern civilization. When an aging American veteran led the author and his wife to an emotional celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation, he inspired a 20-year quest to understand the undying gratitude expressed by Italians. From the ruins of ancient Greek settlements to the icy top of Europe’s highest peak, this is the true story of one couple’s determination to begin to understand the turbulent soul of a nation. The adventures, misadventures, and people they befriend along the way fill the pages of this enchanting peek inside the soul of Italy. Tourists often travel to see things: scenery, art, architecture, the cities themselves. Too many people measure their experience in the number of vaguely-familiar famous places they went. The Leaning Tower of Pisa? Check. Trevi Fountain? Check. Don't be them. The essence of Italy is measured in none of those, but rather in people. The people you may pass on any street, or see dining in the restaurants, are the flesh and blood of hundreds of generations of Italy. The descendants of Emperors and slaves, it was their lineage that served to create the world we live in today.The language spoken by Roman citizens two thousand years ago is today the language of our law and medicine. We use it to organize our genus and species, our planets and stars. Romans invented concrete, arches, and domes. They created the world's first planned cities, highways, and aqueduct systems, and the basis for much of our most beautiful architecture. They gave us the foot, the yard, the mile, and the names of our days and months. Italy gave us the Renaissance, and produced Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Dante. Italians created some of the world's most famous works of art, from Mona Lisa to David. Italians gave us the language of music, and created some of the world's most loved concertos and operas, as well as the piano, viol, violin, and cello that made them possible. The names of her beautiful cities and features are applied to our communities and resorts. The leading edges of global design in fashion, food, and automobiles are filled with Italian names. How did one relatively small nation produce so much of what we rely upon today in our culture? How is it that it continues to produce such works? In order to truly visit Italia, you must first appreciate what she offers us. You must learn to ask yourself the right questions, and seek the answers. Then you will go home with a true appreciation of what you have seen. Whether you are a frequent visitor or have been only in your dreams, Romancing Through Italy will alternately lead you to delight, sadness, inspiration, fear, and laughter. Come along on an intimate journey to explore the culture, heart, and soul of this storied land.
