Miti di città
Bari Bologna Firenze Genova Mantova Milano Napoli Padova Palermo Roma Siena Siracusa Torino e Asti Treviso Venezia Verona
by Maurizio Bettini, Maurizio Boldrini, Omar Calabrese, Gabriella Piccinni
Monte dei Paschi di Siena, 2010, Siena
[English Translation]
Myths of the City
Bari Bologna Florence Genoa
Mantua Milan Naples Padua
Palermo Rome Siena Syracuse
Turin and Asti Treviso Venice Verona
Edited by
Maurizio Bettini, Maurizio Boldrini, Omar Calabrese, Gabriella Piccinni
Monte
Dei Paschi
Di Siena
Bank Since 1472
CONDITION:
This book is in very good condition. Hardcover with Dust Jacket. The dust jacket is lightly rubbed. Embossed gray cloth boards are in excellent shape. Hinges tight. Binding sturdy. Text block is crisp and clean as are all the illustrations.
ATTRIBUTES:
Illustrated edition. Hardcover. In dust jacket. Bound in paper over boards.
DESCRIPTION:
Miti 501 città is a collaborative cultural and historical work curated by Maurizio Bettini, Maurizio Boldrini, Omar Calabrese, and Gabriella Piccinni. The book explores the mythological foundations, legends, and folklore surrounding numerous major Italian urban centers, including Rome, Venice, Florence, Naples, Milan, and many others. Rather than treating these cities purely through standard administrative history, the text investigates how ancient myths, classical traditions, and anthropological perspectives shaped the identity and collective memory of each locality. It weaves together history, literature, and rich visual iconography to demonstrate how urban origins became deeply embedded in the cultural heritage of the Italian peninsula.
The volume features contributions from prominent Italian scholars and intellectuals recognized for their work in semiotics, classical philology, medieval history, and cultural anthropology. Maurizio Bettini is widely noted for his extensive research into classical antiquity and anthropology, while the late Omar Calabrese was an internationally respected semiotician and art critic. Together with Maurizio Boldrini and Gabriella Piccinni, the editors bring a multidisciplinary approach that bridges academic rigor with broad public engagement. Their collective expertise allows the book to examine how myths function not only in ancient texts but also in the visual arts and urban topography.
From a literary and historical perspective, the book holds significant value for its innovative synthesis of iconography and narrative, treating visual elements as integral components of historical storytelling rather than mere decoration. For collectors, this comprehensive regional survey represents a compelling acquisition due to its thorough documentation of Italian civic identities, its distinguished editorial team, and its sophisticated blend of art history, mythography, and cultural geography.
FLASHBACK TO 2010 WHEN THIS BOOK WAS PUBLISHED:
When this book was published in 2010, the world was gripped by the aftermath of the global financial crisis, the explosive release of US diplomatic cables by WikiLeaks, and the dramatic rescue of thirty-three trapped miners in Chile. Amidst these turbulent global headlines, the scholarly community in Siena mourned the passing of the distinguished semiotician Omar Calabrese, whose intellectual legacy deeply shaped the cultural life of the historic Tuscan city. Culturally, the year was marked by the viral sweep of Instagram and the debut of the iPad, while science celebrated the breakthrough creation of the first synthetic bacterial cell by the J. Craig Venter Institute.
LANGUAGE: Italian
Page Count: 444
Location: BRN-1-4-3-002