The Medici are probably the best-known and most illustrious Italian
family - one that produced two popes, two Queens of France and such a
multi-faceted and extraordinary figure as Lorenzo the Magnificent. Their
name is inextricably linked to the history of Florence. The city itself
remains a living symbol of the peninsula's most splendid epoch. When
people around the world think of Italy, they usually think of Florence
and Tuscany, and of the priceless art collections that hold, to this
day, an irresistible fascination for millions of visitors. This concise
and brilliant book reads like a piece of journalism in the best sense of
the term. With an entirely original and non-provincial approach, the
author traces the dazzling rise and fall of this dynasty, from the first
gonfaloniere to the last Grand Duke, tirelessly bringing out its
historical links with Florence, Italy and Europe. The many
illustrations, clarified by ample captions, do not add up to a mere
gallery of official portraits; rather, the