Through glorious color phorography and illuminating text, Venetian Villas tells the stories behind these fascinating and fabulous estates. The buildngs are placed in their historical context, beginning with the consolidation of Venetian power on the "terra firma" of the island in the 15th century. Monuments to the genius of Italian artistry, these edifices were designed and built by such architects as Palladio, Sansovino and Baldassare Longhena, and decorated by famous artists, Paolo Veronese and Tiepolo among them. Perfect for architectural afficianados and armchair trvelers alike, this book brings the reader inside these extraordinary villas.