Description

Book Synopsis
For Italian city builders over the course of a thousand years, the urban realm was the great theater where their best aspirations were played out, the place where society said the most substantial things about who they were and what they longed for. In Timeless Cities , architect David Mayernik reveals how Venice, Rome, Florence, Siena, and Pienza emerged from the cultural ideas of humanism that characterized Italian society from late antiquity to the eighteenth century. Cities were literally designed to be models of the mind and images of heaven. Mayernik takes the reader on an architect''s tour of these five cities and describes the cultural beliefs and ideas behind the buildings. Not only a journey into the past, Timeless Cities also explains why these city-building ideas are relevant today. Whether travelling on holiday or appreciating the art and architecture of Italy from home, Mayernik helps bring the wonder and beauty of the Italian mind and its great cities a little closer.

Trade Review
"A thoughtful, passionate, learned and unexpected examination of cities past, present and ideal, written with conviction and humour." Ingrid Rowland "Erudite travelers will enjoy [Mayernik's] thoughtful meditations." Chicago Tribune "A thoughtful, passionate, learned, and unexpected examination of cities past, present, and ideal, written with conviction and humor." Ingrid Rowland"

Timeless Cities

    Product form

    £18.99

    Includes FREE delivery

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Mon 8 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback by David Mayernik

    1 in stock


      View other formats and editions of Timeless Cities by David Mayernik

      Publisher: Basic Books
      Publication Date: 6/29/2005 12:00:00 AM
      ISBN13: 9780813342986, 978-0813342986
      ISBN10: 0813342988

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      For Italian city builders over the course of a thousand years, the urban realm was the great theater where their best aspirations were played out, the place where society said the most substantial things about who they were and what they longed for. In Timeless Cities , architect David Mayernik reveals how Venice, Rome, Florence, Siena, and Pienza emerged from the cultural ideas of humanism that characterized Italian society from late antiquity to the eighteenth century. Cities were literally designed to be models of the mind and images of heaven. Mayernik takes the reader on an architect''s tour of these five cities and describes the cultural beliefs and ideas behind the buildings. Not only a journey into the past, Timeless Cities also explains why these city-building ideas are relevant today. Whether travelling on holiday or appreciating the art and architecture of Italy from home, Mayernik helps bring the wonder and beauty of the Italian mind and its great cities a little closer.

      Trade Review
      "A thoughtful, passionate, learned and unexpected examination of cities past, present and ideal, written with conviction and humour." Ingrid Rowland "Erudite travelers will enjoy [Mayernik's] thoughtful meditations." Chicago Tribune "A thoughtful, passionate, learned, and unexpected examination of cities past, present, and ideal, written with conviction and humor." Ingrid Rowland"

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account