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WORK TITLE: Florence
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE:
CITY: Long Beach
STATE: CA
COUNTRY: United States
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RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born Sacramento, CA; daughter of Victor Herbert and Sofia Schimmelfennig; married Roger Civalleri (computer company president), March 28, 1987; children: Jason.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, travel book author, speaker, historian, global archaeology professional, photographer, and graphic designer. IBM, Torrance, CA, account manager, 1987-1990; Pride Paper Corp., Torrance, CA, founder and CEO, 1991-98; 1-Take Multimedia, Manhattan Beach, CA, president, 1999-2014. Work-related activities include serving on the Director’s Council of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), on the Board of the Center for Medieval & Renaissance Studies at California State University in Long Beach, and as the 2017 Commodore of the Alamitos Bay Chargers boating club in Long Beach, CA.
AVOCATIONS:Cooking, sailing, singing, and playing classical piano.
AWARDS:Independent Author Network “IAN” Award for Best Non-Fiction Book of the Year and Irwin Award for the Best International Travel Book of the Year, both 2017, both for Florence.
WRITINGS
Author of other travel books.
SIDELIGHTS
As a historian and global archaeology professional, Patty Civalleri spent seventeen years traveling and studying the ancient past and lost civilizations. Civalleri is also the author of a number of travel books, including a line of books about Italy focusing on cities and the things in them that make the cities unique or important. Among her books is Florence: A Traveler’s Guide to Its Gems & Giants. In addition to writing the book, Civalleri also designed the book and took all of the photographs. Florence is one of Civalleri’s favorite cities in Italy. “Each time, I had a very difficult time leaving it,” Civalleri noted in an interview for the Sakura Publishing website, adding: “And after leaving it, I could never get it out of my mind. I don’t know why; no other city in the world has ever had that effect on me.”
Civalleri’s goal with Florence was to write a travel book that she always wanted but had never been able to find. She noted in the Sakura Publishing website interview: “Throughout my travels, I have searched (in vain) for travel books that would enable me to hit the ground running. I wanted tons of visuals. I wanted backstories, I wanted smart and quick. Being a bit of a tech buff, I wanted to use technology to enhance my journey as well.” Civalleri noted that traditional guide books primarily focus on restaurants, accommodations, transportation information, and some casual sightseeing. “My book has none of these,” Civalleri said in the Sakura Publishing website interview, adding: “It is purely smart, deep, quick and snappy, … and extremely visual. And don’t forget well-researched.”
Civalleri adhered to the idea that she would avoid wasting space on places to sleep, eat, and drink, since such information often changes relatively quickly and can be found online or in other travel books. Instead she wanted to focus on what made the city unique. Civalleri’s other idea was to provide a travel book that would allow readers to gain a lot of information about a city while traveling there but not feel like it was a chore to do so. For her book Florence, Civalleri decided that a major focus would be on Florence in relation to the Renaissance. During this period, Florence served as home to such noted Renaissance artists and figures as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, Galileo, Dante Alighieri, Niccolò Machiavelli, Raphael, and the notorious Medici family. Civalleri’s research for the book required a three-month stay in the city, during which time she also amassed almost all of the photos for the book.
Civalleri’s guidebook for Florence links stories about many of the Renaissance notables with various historical sites. The book has two main sections: “Gems,” about noteworthy places, and “Giants,” featuring many of the city’s luminaries. Civalleri provides a checklist of things to see and do in Florence. She does this in the form of questions, such as asking who broke Dante’s heart. Florence includes both a textual and an image table of contents and a background section featuring things such as a map of Florence and a brief history of the city’s history from about the 1300s to the to the 1500s. Florence closes with a section titled “Wandering Around Today’s Florence,” which provides further tips, from where to find the best views to recommended day trips.
“Despite the reams of history, the work is still a light, entertaining read,” wrote a Kirkus Reviews contributor, who went on to note later in the same review: “Ultimately, Civalleri delivers on her promise to teach readers about Florence through its fun stories.” Noting that Florence was “created for today’s attention-challenged traveler,” a Redheaded Book Lover Blog contributor went on to note: ” It uses micro-content and visual richness to enable the reader to come away as the smartest person in the room, without the commitment of heavy reading.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, August 1, 2017, review of Florence: A Traveler’s Guide to Its Gems & Giants.
ONLINE
IMDb, https://www.imdb.com/ (May 28, 2018), author profile and filmography.
1-Take Multimedia Website, http://1take.com/ (May 28, 2018), author self-profile.
Patty Civalleri Website, https://italytravelbooks.com (May 28, 2018).
Readers’ Favorite, https://readersfavorite.com/ (March 29, 2017), Mamta Madhavan, review of Florence.
Red Headed Book Lover Blog, https://redheadedbookloverblog.com/ (December 27, 2017), review of Florence.
Sakura Publishing Website, http://www.sakurapublishingofficialblog.com/ (February 24, 2017), “Interview with Author Patty Civalleri.”
Patty Civalleri
Biography
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Mini Bio (1)
Patty was born in Sacramento, California to Victor Herbert and Sofia Schimmelfennig. She is the 4th of 5 surviving children. Raised on a small ranch in Livermore, California, her family raised chickens, cattle, and sheep. Patty left home at 14 years of age and moved to Sunnyvale, California where her father enrolled her in a modeling/finishing school. At 18, Patty moved to Southern California where she attended computer classes that launched her life-long love for technology. She worked for various electronic firms in a marketing/sales capacity, including Star Technologies, Inc., and IBM Corporation in Torrance, Ca. She met and married (1987) the President of a computer firm, Roger Civalleri, and they had 1 son, Jason Civalleri. Patty's entrepreneurial spirit compelled her to begin a business in their garage (1990) when their son was a baby. The company, Pride Paper, quickly outgrew the house and moved into an office with warehouse space. By 1995 the business had gone national, and in 1997, they sold it to Canada's largest public company (at the time), Domtar. Collecting her flair for design and her love for technology, Patty started another company, this time a Graphic Design & Website dev company called 1-Take Multimedia. For the next 20 years, Patty produced over 200 websites and a wide variety of multimedia marketing pieces for her commercial clients, including videos, presentations, and professional photography. In 2001, Patty joined the Director's Council of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA. In this capacity, she spent 17 years traveling the world with archaeologists and scientists in search of lost and ancient cultures. She photographed and wrote for the Institute's prestigious archaeological journal, and provided web services for them as well. Patty has written books for the Italy consumer travel market. She has won a wide variety of awards including (IAN) Best Overall Non-Fiction Book of 2017 and Best Book of the Year, and the prestigious (BPSC) Best International Travel Book of 2017, among others. Her books have appeared on several Amazon best-seller lists, as she continues to add more books to her repertoire. She is an avid photographer, cook, classical pianist, singer, and sailor. Patty lives in Long Beach, Ca with her husband Roger.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Patty Civalleri
Spouse (1)
Roger (28 March 1987 - present) (1 child)
Personal Details
Other Works: Italy Travel Guide "FLORENCE Gems & Giants" - Author (2017) Travel Game Book "FLORENCE FunBook" - Author (2018) Italy Travel Guide "Getting Lost in VENICE" - Author (2018) Travel Game Book "VENICE FunBook" - Author
Interview with Author Patty Civalleri
February 24, 2017 by admin / 0
Who are you and why did you write a book?
My name is Patty Civalleri. As a historian, and a member of the Director’s Council of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA, I have spent 17 years seeking out ancient and lost cultures in every corner of the globe. I have enjoyed the honor of traveling with some of the foremost archaeologists and scientists in the world, and have earned quite a perspective.
What motivated you to write this book?
I had returned home from a month-long shoot in newly-discovered ancient Mayan Caves in Belize. That job was difficult on me, and I felt I needed some time away with just me and my camera. No schedules, no agenda, just time and space.
Why Florence?
During my travels, I had visited Florence on several occasions over the years. But each time, I had a very difficult time leaving it. And after leaving it, I could never get it out of my mind. I don’t know why; no other city in the world has ever had that effect on me.
There are plenty of Florence guidebooks out there. Why yours?
Throughout my travels, I have searched (in vain) for travel books that would enable me to hit the ground running. I wanted tons of visuals. I wanted backstories, I wanted smart and quick. Being a bit of a tech buff, I wanted to use technology to enhance my journey as well. Traditional travel books give you plenty of places to eat and drink, places to stay, and transportation details. In terms of depth, you may see a couple of paragraphs about the actual places you’d like to know about. My book has none of these. It is purely smart, deep, quick and snappy, smart, and extremely visual. And don’t forget well-researched. 😉
Are there any interesting characters in your book?
I have included quite a line-up of top Renaissance celebrities with plenty of star-power. Like Michelangelo, Raphael, Dante, Galileo, da Vinci, Donatello, Machivelli, with plenty more. In addition to a brief history of their lives to create a backdrop, readers will find plenty of fun back-stories, trivia, factoids, and images, images, images. Think: “PEOPLE Magazine” meets the Renaissance.
We already know these guys. Why are you telling us again?
A visit to Florence is a great way to connect some dots. For example, did you know that all of these guys began their lives and/or their careers in Florence? That most of these guys actually KNEW each other? And that the combined forces of these guys knocked history off of its axis and sent it careening into a whole new direction? Did you know that that new direction is now known as the Renaissance? See? You just connected 4 dots, learned something new. History was never taught this way in schools. Traveling to old places is the best way to fill in a lot of gaps left behind by our history classes in school. And the traditional travel books don’t do this for you either.
Can I get something new out of the book?
Absolutely. One of the best ways to remember things that you see is to relate them to a story. My whole book does exactly that: it relates the fabulous places you’ll visit in Florence to the fun, tragic, or triumphant stories of the people that touched that place in its past. Those same people (above) that you already know.
What’s are your fav stories from your book?
– A – They’re all fun! Some of the fan favs are:
– Who Punched Michelangelo in the Nose?
– da Vinci’s Secret Woman
– What famous artist was Kidnapped and sold into Slavery in Africa?
– Who was the Pirate Pope?
– The Execution of a Mad Monk
– Her Royally Embarrassed Highness
…and so many more.
But isn’t this a complicated subject for people on vacation?
That’s the point. I took a complex topic like the Florence Renaissance, and I culled it down to make it easy and fun for a busy attention-challenged vacationer to get and to enjoy.
What are the top 3 differences about your book?
– A – This is easy. But do I have to stop at 3?
* I don’t have a staff and crew that worked with a template to create this book.
* I took all of the outdoor and modern-day photos. I let the city inspire me as a tourist. That inspiration told me how to write the book as a tourist.
* Most photo-rich books have great shots, but you never know where to go to get similar shots. My book has a section called “Getting High in Florence.” It leads you to the places where I stood to get all of those beautiful panoramic and scenic photos that you’ll find all throughout the book.
Florence is a city of Art. What if I don’t know what I’m seeing at when I look at a painting?
Florence is THE art city. But for art novices, it can be pretty daunting. So for art newbies, I’ve included some really famous works by some of the Renaissance artists who put fun or interesting things into their work. The reader will find some of these pieces littered throughout the book. And I point out who, or what, or whatever is interesting about or hiding within them.
Are there follow-on products to go with the book?
Ah. Here’s the crux of the difference between this book and all the others: I have designed it with 4 different ‘tools’ to enhance your trip to Florence. Each tool provides functionality that the other cannot.
1. The book. You already know this one.
2. The eBook. With over 1850 cross- and external-links, the visitor can, for example, follow their favorite artist through the city. Or if they are standing in, say, the Palazzo Vecchio, they can hit all the links to see many people that touched or events that occurred in that building.
3. The FunBook. Puzzlers and gamers of all ages: this is a great way to pass the time while standing in a long museum line; or while you’re on the plane; or hanging out in your hotel with your family and friends. In all cases, you can test your knowledge and learn new things about the city, all while playing games.
4. The App. This is cool. Let’s say, for example, that you read something interesting in the book, and you want to go see where it happened. The app will give you walking directions from where you are standing. While you are strolling around the city, the app will signal you when you are approaching something interesting that is in the book. And it’ll give you a brief description with photos, and tell you what page to see if you want to know more. In addition, I threw in some basic vacation functionality, like the weather forecast (so you know how to dress), a calendar with Annual City events and how to find them, and a City Quest where you have to find specific places to take selfies and post them on FaceBook.
How many other cities can you write about?
Hundreds, but I don’t think I’ll live that long.
What is your next city?
I’m leaving for Venice for a few months. The plan is to create another suite of travel tools for the beautiful city of canals as well.
The book is written. The book is published. What do you need the most now in order to succeed?
Distribution. But not just any distributor. I would like to create a relationship with a distributor that sells very specifically into the travel market. And the same goes for an Italian Distributor.
Where can we find the book?
Why, on Amazon, of course.
As a historian and armchair archaeologist, I have traveled for 17 years to the deepest corners of our ancient past in search of lost civilizations all over our planet. I have had the privilege of doing so with some of the foremost archaeologists and scientists in the world.
Today, I enjoy the honor of serving on the Director's Council of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), and as a Board Member of the Center for Medieval & Renaissance Studies at California State University in Long Beach (CSULB).
As a writer and photographer, I have enjoyed the pleasure of writing and photographing for the Cotsen Institute's prestigious journals, in addition to over 150 business and marketing clients around the country.
Of all the cities that I have visited in world, FLORENCE is my favorite. I decided to write the travel book that I could never find anywhere, and I would begin with Florence, Italy, my all-around favorite city in the world. I answered that 'call.'
Once addicted to the rewards of book writing, I returned to Italy in 2017 to study the great Republic of Venice. Stunned by what I learned? You bet! Find out why the first sentence in my new Venice book is "Welcome to Venice. You're not in Italy anymore!"
After Venice? Why Tuscany, of course! Because as a historian for consumers, I simply cannot resist the inevitable attraction of Tuscany. ;-)
Please drop me a note before, during, and after your trip to Italy. I would LOVE to learn about your experience!
Until then, Ciao!
Patty Civalleri
Patty Civalleri
As a historian and armchair archaeologist, I have traveled for 17 years to the deepest corners of our ancient past in search of lost civilizations all over the world. I have had the privilege of doing so with some of the top archaeologists and scientists in the world. Today, I enjoy the honor of serving on the Director's Council of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA, and as a Board Member of the Medieval & Renaissance Center at CSULB.
As a writer and photographer, I have enjoyed the pleasure of writing and photographing for the Cotsen Institute's prestigious journals, in addition to over 150 business and marketing clients.
Life on the canals in Long Beach, California with my husband is one of social, culinary, and sailing delights.
Author, Speaker, Unintended Adventurer
As a historian and global archaeology professional, Patty Civalleri has traveled for 17 years to the deepest corners of our ancient past in search of lost civilizations all over our planet. She has had the privilege of doing so with some of the foremost archaeologists and scientists in the world.
She presents the world with the same intellectual excitement that has driven her through lost caves, ancient tombs, and historical personalities that have been lost to time.
She enjoys the honor of serving on the Director's Council of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), and on the Board of the Center for Medieval & Renaissance Studies at California State University in Long Beach (CSULB), and as the 2017 Commodore of the Alamitos Bay Chargers boating club in Long Beach, Ca.
As a writer, photographer, graphic designer, and technology professional, Patty has had the pleasure of building websites, photographing, marketing and writing for over 200 commercial business clients around the country covering a 20-year period.
This deep experience of bringing compelling commercial content to life enabled her to create visually engaging travel books to the world. This unique approach has won her the prestigious IRWIN AWARD for the BEST INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR for 2017.
Civalleri is an avid cook, sailor, singer and classical pianist residing in Long Beach, California.
Patty Civalleri
Patty Civalleri
Award-winning travel book Author, Speaker, Historian, Italy Pro Archaeology Professional, Photographer, Graphic Designer
Greater Los Angeles Area
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Patty Civalleri’s Posts & Activity
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What was the Italian...
January 28, 2018
(Copied from my QUORA.com article) Simply stated, the Renaissance was a series of events that triggered the end of the Dark Ages, aka, the Middle Ages. Loosely speaking, think of the Dark Ages as...
The 1 WORD That Seduces...
September 18, 2017
There are many reasons why people find their way to Florence, some of which may be by accident. The simple facts that Florence is “on the route” between Rome and Venice, or it is “included in the...
There Really Was a "Pirate...
July 9, 2015
Once upon an afternoon, during the dismally dark ages (very late 1300s) in the tiny walled-in town of Florence, Italy, two guys sat in a tavern, slugging down their tankards of ale. Their names were...
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Rome celebrates 2,771st birthday on 21 April 2018...
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Tour of Venice: Secret Passages of the Doge’s Palace –...
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The Great Italian Masters of Art • https://lnkd.in/dGvRPF5
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Tour of Venice: Gondola Ride • A fascinating tour to the...
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One of the world's most AMAZING places. My favorite spot...
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Summary
As a historian, I have sifted through ancient history to find its fun and exciting points. As an Author, I have found the way to blend those points with the natural mood of a vacation traveler: relaxed discovery. I have found a way to make the history of a city compelling, not boring.
With Italy, I have created a line of books that will take travelers to the heart of a city - the things that truly make a city important. In the case of Florence, it is the Renaissance. Visitors laugh, cry, and experience that 'AHA' feeling throughout their entire visit. And they will have fun as they walk the streets feeling as though they are the first person to ever discover the "Michelangelos" of Italy's past.
Most travel guidebooks are about discovering where to eat, drink, and sleep during a trip. Instead of merely eating and drinking their way through Italy, my readers are coming home with a strong sense of accomplishment - in addition to a full belly.
My FLORENCE book has been judged by my peers (authors from around the world), who deemed it (1st Place) BEST TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017, as well as (1st Place) BEST OVERALL NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017. Additionally, it won the prestigious IRWIN Award for the 2017 BEST INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR.
Let me introduce you to a new way to see travel and discovery during your next trip to Italy, and to return home from an important destination with something more lasting than a hangover.
My name is Patty Civalleri, and I wrote these books for your next trip to Italy.
Experience
Book Author
1-Take MultiMedia
2016 – Present (2 years)
Skills
WritingPhotographyResearchPresentation SkillsPress ReleasesSailingSEOPublic SpeakingSocial Media MarketingSocial MediaGraphic DesignWeb DesignOnline MarketingFacebookEmail MarketingSee 35+
How's this translation?
Great•Has errors
Projects
Travel Book "VENICE - A Traveler's Guide to Getting Lost" (working title)
Starting May 2017
A comprehensive visual travel guide to Venice, Italy. Her history, her drama, her stories.
Team members:
Patty Civalleri
Travel Book: "FLORENCE Gems & Giants"
August 2013 – June 2015
"Instant Expert" Travel Book for the 1-to-3 day Florence visitor.
Team members:
Patty Civalleri
Organizations
Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA
Director's Council
Starting May 2000
Groups
Friends of Italy
Friends of Italy
Book Marketing
Book Marketing
IFWTWA-International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association
IFWTWA-International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association
Italy Luxury Travel
Italy Luxury Travel
The 2% Club
The 2% Club
Travel Notes - Travel Writers, Photographers and Tourism
Travel Notes - Travel Writers, Photographers and Tourism
AFFILIATED AUTHORS
AFFILIATED AUTHORS
PAGE INFO
Created in 2014
CONTACT INFO
https://ItalyTravelBooks.com
MORE INFO
Release Date
2016
Genre
Non-fiction: Travel, History, Education
About
Patty Civalleri, author of new travel companion book "FLORENCE Gems & Giants" coming soon.
Impressum
"FLORENCE Gems & Giants" was written, photographed, designed and researched in whole by Patty Civalleri.
Voices of FLORENCE" Copyright ©2016 Patty Civalleri. All rights reserved.
For more information, please contact the author directly.
ISBN
978-0-9981926-0-4
Publisher
1-Take Publications
6216 Pacific Coast Hwy, Ste 321
Long Beach, Ca 90803
Awards
2017 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR - IRWIN Award
2017 1st Place: BEST NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR - IAN Award
2017 1st Place: BEST TRAVEL BOOK - IAN Aw
As an active Graphic Designer since 1991, I was fortunate enough to learn the trade using the ‘old school’ ways from the printing industry. That experience gave me a firm understanding of things like DPI, RGB vs CMYK, designing for the screen vs. designing for print, etc. Along came the Internet. I was so enthralled with its possibilities that I was the first person on my block to learn to create a Website. The ability to use my Graphic Design skills to create stuff in a digital environment was hugely liberating!
Then along came Digital Cameras. Again I was so enthralled with their possibilities that I was the first person on my block to own a Digital Camera. This was the perfect environment for me to learn about photography. And boy, did I!
Fast forward a few years…
I found myself involved with the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA during 2001. I have since traveled with the world’s greatest archaeologists to very remote corners of our world to photograph both active as well as non-active dig sites. And what a true privilege and total thrill this has been.
All along the way, I honed and perfected my photography skills, web design skills, attained a teaching-level knowledge of Photoshop, and have created and maintained well over 200 websites.
As I traveled the ancient world with the Institute, I looked high & low for a particular kind of travel book in every city I visited: I wanted a book that was both highly visual, and well, smart. I wanted to learn in depth about each place and its history, but I did not want to commit to a dry, historical tome. I wanted the knowledge spoon-fed conversationally. And I wanted it to be fast and fun – not bleedingly dull.
After years of scouring each city and finding only me-too versions of corporate templatized travel books, I decided to write the first one myself.
And so you have it. I combined all of the above learned and practiced skill sets, and produced my first book. “FLORENCE – A Traveler’s Guide to its GEMS & GIANTS.” After reading and traveling with it, please let me know if I have managed to meet my own goals of the type of book I was originally looking for. And more than that, do let me know if this book helped you to further enrich your own travel goals and experiences in Florence.
Fondest wishes and Happy Travels!
Patty Civalleri
Civalleri, Patty: FLORENCE
Kirkus Reviews. (Aug. 1, 2017):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Civalleri, Patty FLORENCE 1-Take MultiMedia (Indie Nonfiction) $24.95 11, 20 ISBN: 978-0-9981926-0-4
A historian and armchair archaeologist shares her knowledge of Florence. Most travel guides do not open with definitions of Stendhal syndrome and humanism, but this unusual introduction sets the tone for the debut book. As delineated in the subtitle, the work focuses on Florence's "Gems" (noteworthy places) and "Giants" (diverse luminaries). Before these two main sections, there is a checklist of things to do and see in the city, presented in the form of provocative questions (for example, "Who broke Dante's heart?"), followed by textual and image tables of contents and a background section. The last includes a map of Florence and a brief overview of its history and development, beginning with the plague in the 1300s and continuing through the Renaissance (1500s). The "Giants" section is the lengthiest and provides biographies of the Medicis, Petrarch, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and other well-known figures associated with Florence but also lesser lights like Masaccio and Ghirlandaio. The relatively shorter "Gems" presents tidbits on some prominent tourist sites, including the Uffizi Gallery and Ponte Vecchio. The final section, "Wandering Around Today's Florence," gives a list of piazzas and offers tips on the best views, art, and day trips. While readers looking for information on hotels and restaurants will be disappointed, Civalleri gives more in-depth information on the history and significance of Florence's celebrities and sites than traditional guides. Despite the reams of history, the work is still a light, entertaining read. The extensive use of illustrations--primarily photographs, but also maps--enlivens the text. Numerous sidebars supply anecdotes, definitions, and brief topics. The various font styles, sizes, and colors keep the book visually intriguing (although it occasionally verges on becoming a little busy). Ultimately, Civalleri delivers on her promise to teach readers about Florence through its fun stories. While this work looks like a traditional Florence guidebook, the author's expert use of facts and illustrations sets it above the rest.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Civalleri, Patty: FLORENCE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2017. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A499572469/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=87a0abd4. Accessed 22 Apr. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A499572469
Florence: A Traveler’s Guide to its Gems & Giants, Patty Civalleri
No Comments December 27, 2017
Created for today’s attention-challenged traveler, this Florence city guidebook links the back-stories of the Renaissance giants with the historical sites throughout the city. It uses micro-content and visual richness to enable the reader to come away as the smartest person in the room, without the commitment of heavy reading.
Think: “PEOPLE Magazine” meets the Michelanagelo
Included is a line-up of the star-powered Renaissance celebrities: Michelangelo, Raphael, Dante, Galileo, da Vinci, Donatello, Machiavelli, and plenty more. A brief synopsis of the Renaissance serves as the backdrop to the fun tales, trivia, factoids, and a huge cache of personally-shot rich photographs.
Appealing to the traveler that wants to know more than simply where to eat or drink, Civalleri’s unique approach is proving to fill a gap in traditional travel books that has not yet been fully addressed. She merges her lifelong loves of travel and deep history to create a new genre of guidebook for the vacationer that cherishes deep travel. Civalleri dismantled an exciting albeit complex part of history and reassembled it piece by piece into bits of microcontent that will suit even the most time-constrained Florence tourist.
Stories & Tales include:
– The Pirate Pope
– Execution of a Mad Monk
– The Plague Doctor
– Skull Worship
– Punching Michelangelo
– Da Vinci’s Secret Woman
– Kidnapped into Slavery
– Dead Man’s Quarry
… and much more.
For those that are not ‘art aficionados’, Florence can be a daunting city to visit, so this book is for you. The author has broken down the history of the city into a multitude of pieces, then reassembled them piece by piece into bite-sized nuggets that are easy to digest, and fun to absorb.
Pairing perfectly with FLORENCE Gems & Giants, the author has hand-created the FLORENCE FunBook. Complete with puzzles, games, and quests, Civalleri has found yet another fun way for you to absorb the richness that Florence has to offer.
For as long as I have wished I have wished for a travel book as great as this one. As a woman who loves to travel and a woman who is obsessed with history, I have always looked for guides that teach you the history of a site as well as give historical context but never found any. That is until Florence: A Travellers Guide to its Gems & Giants! This sensational book is everything I could ask for and more. It is a beautiful, expertly written book full of stunning illustrations and if you are a reader who is looking for a travel guide for Florence then look no more!
Patty Civalleri, the author of this exceptional book, effortlessly takes her readers on an incredible journey through Florence. Most travel books are packed full of hefty information which is not accessible and easy to read in busy, tourist moments. However, Patty has achieved the perfect combination with her fun, exciting and informative writing that will keep her readers in awe of Florence and all that it holds. As well as the incredible amount of history she laces throughout her book, which will make her reader’s jaw drop with amazement, she also includes stunning photography pictures that will leave you breathless. As most travel books are mass produced and not exciting, they have a habit of being boring but Florence: A Travellers Guide is a luxury book full of incredible writings you won’t find in any other book. It indeed is a stunning, unique, quality book and so I would recommend it to you all!
Patty Civalleri is an incredible woman who clearly has a passion for all things Florence and history. Her book is written in an easy to read, accessible way. Never once is her book ever too much, it is always full of useful, necessary information as opposed to information that takes up to much text and bores you. She has struck the perfect balance with everything, and for that I admire her. The fluidity of her words alone is sensational and made the book flow beautifully. I honestly believe that this book could be read by people who are not able to visit Florence because she wonderfully transports her readers there. Her readers will feel as if they have been transported to the beautiful city of Florence. So if you are a reader who would love to be whisked away to a beautiful place, then this book most certainly is for you!
To summarise my thoughts on the wonderful book that is; Florence: A Travellers Guide to its Gems & Giants, I would say if you have been to Florence or are planning to, then this book will aid you in your journey tremendously. If you are not able to travel to Florence for whatever reason but are still interested in the wonders it holds, then this book will suit you perfectly too! Florence: A Travellers Guide gets Five Stars from me!
Thank you so much for reading book lovers, I deeply appreciate it and love discussing wonderful books with all of you so please, comment below and let me know your thoughts on Florence; do you see yourself reading this book? Is it not your usual cup of tea? Let me know all of those brilliant thoughts of yours below! Thank you so much again for reading!
Goodbye for now book lovers,
Florence
A Traveler's Guide to its Gems & Giants
by Patty Civalleri
Non-Fiction - Travel
264 Pages
Reviewed on 03/29/2017
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Book Review
Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite
Florence: A Traveler’s Guide to its Gems and Giants by Patti Civalleri is an interesting book that throws light on the city of Florence in Italy. The book is packed with a lot of exciting things that can be seen and done in this city. Unlike the usual travel book that one gets to read, this book is informative and entertaining and captures the sights, sounds, and essence of the place in a very unique manner, making it a fun and educational read. The history, the art, the places of interest, and the many other factors that make Florence what it is have been put down in an engaging way, making it the perfect travel guide while visiting this city.
The author captures everything about the city, and the pictures also help readers understand the rich history, beauty, and treasures of the place. The book is more about what makes it famous, instead of only describing the restaurants and sightseeing schedules usually seen in travel books. Florence is rich in Renaissance history and the author throws light on that aspect too, making readers and travelers look at the city with a different perspective. The book is packed with a lot of information and is a must-read for all those planning a visit to Florence. The author has definitely done a lot of research in bringing out a book like this, as it is very different from any travel book you will get to read.