In the preface to the original edition of this work (published by Vallecchi in 1973) Giovanni Fanelli wrote: "This book does not presume to offer a 'definitive' account of the culture of a city which has left an enduring mark on western civilization; rather, it is a working tool which offers food for thought . This is the first comprehensive work to survey and discuss, in a reliable, verified and all-encompassing analysis, the current knowledge on Florentine urban culture and notably on the relationship between architecture and city as structures created by citizens for the organization of their existence and activities".
Over the past three decades this huge undertaking in two volumes - one of text, the other of illustrations with commentary - has become a classic. Hard to find (and extremely expensive), it is now available once again in its original layout.