Winner of the American Association for Italian Studies Book Prize A new history explores how one of Renaissance Italy’s leading cities maintained its influence in an era of global exploration, trade, and empire. The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was not an imperial power, but it did harbor global ambitions. After abortive attempts at overseas colonization and direct commercial expansion, as Brian Brege shows, Tuscany followed a different path, one that allowed it to participate in Europe’s new age of empire without establishing an empire of its own. The first history of its kind, Tuscany in the Age of Empire offers a fresh appraisal of one of the foremost cities of the Italian Renaissance, as it sought knowledge, fortune, and power throughout Asia, the Americas, and beyond. How did Tuscany, which could not compete directly with the growing empires of other European states, establish a global presence? First, Brege shows, Tuscany partnered with larger European powers. The duchy sought to obtain trade rights within their empires and even manage portions of other states’ overseas territories. Second, Tuscans invested in cultural, intellectual, and commercial institutions at home, which attracted the knowledge and wealth generated by Europe’s imperial expansions. Finally, Tuscans built effective coalitions with other regional powers in the Mediterranean and the Islamic world, which secured the duchy’s access to global products and empowered the Tuscan monarchy in foreign affairs. These strategies allowed Tuscany to punch well above its weight in a world where power was equated with the sort of imperial possessions it lacked. By finding areas of common interest with stronger neighbors and forming alliances with other marginal polities, a small state was able to protect its own security while carving out a space as a diplomatic and intellectual hub in a globalizing Europe.

Discover the rich history and culture of some of the world¿s most influential historical places with these highly illustrated books, packed with information and enlightening descriptions.

Note: There is a newer version of this book. Please look for the new title Central Tuscany: Casentino and Valtiberina. The cover says 2016 through 2017 Edition.

Leonora Bernardi (1559-1616), a gentlewoman of Lucca, was a highly regarded poet, dramatist and singer. She was active in the brilliant courts of Ferrara and Florence at a time when creative women enjoyed exceptional visibility in Italy. Like many such figures, she has since suffered historical neglect. Drama, Poetry and Music in Late-Renaissance Italy presents the first ever study of Bernardi’s life, and modern edition of her recently discovered literary corpus, which mostly exists in manuscript. Her writings appear in the original Italian with new English translations, scholarly notes, critical essays and contributions by Eric Nicholson, Eugenio Refini and Davide Daolmi. Based on new archival research, the substantial opening section reconstructs Bernardi’s unusually colourful life. Bernardi’s works reveal her connections with some of the most pioneering poets, dramatists and musicians of the day, including her mentor Angelo Grillo and the first opera librettist Ottavio Rinuccini. The second major section presents her pastoral tragicomedy Clorilli, one of the earliest secular dramatic works by a woman. It was apparently performed in the early 1590s at a Medici villa near Florence, before Grandduke Ferdinando I de’ Medici, and his consort Christine of Lorraine, but now exists in an enigmatic Venetian manuscript. The third section presents Bernardi’s secular and religious verse, which engaged with new trends in lyric and poetry for music, and was set by various key composers across Italy.

Featuring the same portable and user-friendly format as the Insight City Guides and drawing on the best features of the original Insight Guides, the all-new Insight Regional Guide is filled with insightful writing, lavish full-colour photography and provides greater emphasis on practical information to create the most complete portable regional travel guide. .Magazine-style articles .Lively essays written by local writers on culture, history, and people .Expert evaluations of must-see-site - plus maps and floor plans .Restaurant listings at the end of each chapter ."Best of" section highlighting attractions, walks, activities for children and families, festivals and events, cafes, pubs, bars and more .Bonus pull-out Touring Map with tour suggestions and full-colour photos .Tabbed Travel Tips section for quick reference .Comfortable, rounded spine makes these volumes ideal for use on the go

Berlitz Pocket Guide Tuscany and Umbria is a concise, full-colour travel guide that combines lively text with vivid photography to highlight the very best that this bountiful region has to offer, from its exquisite Renaissance cities to hilltop villages and peaceful, verdant landscapes. Follow in the footsteps of St Francis of Assisi, climb the leaning tower of Pisa, go hiking in the Apennines, wander through the medieval alleyways of Siena and San Gimignano - the Where To Go chapter details all the key sights. Handy maps on the cover help you get around with ease. To inspire you, the book offers a rundown of the Top 10 Attractions in Tuscany and Umbria, followed by an itinerary for a Perfect Tour of the region. The What to Do chapter is a snapshot of ways to spend your spare time, from shopping for leather goods in Florence to catching one of the many music festivals the region is renowned for. You'll also be armed with background information, including a brief history of the region of Tuscany and Umbria and an Eating Out chapter covering its mouth-watering rustic cuisine and famous wine, Chianti. There are carefully chosen listings of the best hotels and restaurants, and an A-Z to equip you with all the practical information you will need.

A collection of the best recent research on the Republic of Florence in Tuscany during the Renaissance.

Discover the wonders of this captivating region with Cadogan's classic guidebook: the medieval glories of Lucca and San Gimignano, the Renaissance charms and murky Medici decadence of Florence, the wine routes of Chianti, Siena's frenzied Palio horse race, the hill towns, Pisa's Leaning Tower-all set against Tuscany's golden landscapes, coastline and islands.