Cognoscenti's Guide to Florence: Shop and Eat Like a Florentine, Revised Edition

Description

Shop and eat like a Florentine with this newly updated pocket-sized guide to the best of the magnificent Tuscan city known for its art, culture, and cuisine. Celebrated graphic designer and self-described Italophile Louise Fili, with connoisseur of all things Lise Apatoff, takes you on eight walks through Florence, discussing more than seventy of the city's most alluring shops some run by the same families for generations, others offering young entrepreneurs' fresh interpretations of traditional techniques. Discerning travelers will discover rare books and charming hats; vintage Pucci and handmade shoes; cioccolate da bere (drinkable chocolate); colorful buttons; and bolts of rich silk fabric in this enchanting introduction to makers and purveyors of cloths, home decor, accessories, specialty foods, and much more. For each shop, there is a full-color photo, description of specialties, and information on location and hours of operation.

Louise Fili is director of Louise Fili Ltd, a New York-based design studio specializing in branding for food packaging and restaurants. Fili was art director of Pantheon Books for eleven years, where she designed close to 2000 book jackets. She is a member of the Art Directors Hall of Fame, and received the medal of lifetime achievement from the AIGA and the Type Directors Club. Fili is the author of Elegantissima, Grafica della Strada, and Graphique de la Rue. She also co-authored and designed Italianissimo and The Cognoscenti's Guide to Florence. With her husband, the design historian Steven Heller, she is co-author of Italian Art Deco, British Modern, Dutch Moderne, Streamline, French Modern, Deco Espana, German Modern, Deco Type, Design Connoisseur, Counter Culture, Typology, Stylepedia, Euro Deco, Scripts, Shadow Type, Stencil Type, and Slab Serif Type. She has also designed Perfetto, Tutti Frutti, and Brillante pencils. Lise Apatoff has lived on a farm in Tuscany for more than thirty-five years. She is an official guide for the city of Florence and has worked all over Italy as a museum lecturer, cultural interpreter, travel guide, and teacher.

This is a charming, compact guide (revised and updated edition) to family- or locally owned and operated shops and eateries in Florence, Italy. Presented through eight walking tours of different areas of the city, each section includes brief stories about selected businesses. The artisans featured use time-honored techniques in both traditional and contemporary ways for their work, which ranges from wigs made for famous clients to beautifully designed chocolates, cicogna (stork) scissors, and delicate embroidery. The shops described are irresistible. Included in each tour is a restaurant guide with descriptions of the vibe and meals offered as well as hours and pricing. Authors Fili and Apatoff's passion for Florence and their connection with the artisans featured shines. Fili designs food packaging and restaurant identities, while Apatoff is an official guide for the city, and their expertise is apparent. It is worth noting that the guide itself is beautifully designed with vibrant photographs that truly capture the lovely, varied boutiques presented within. -VERDICT Recommended for those journeying to Florence soon, or armchair travelers who are passionate about traditional craftsmanship, family-owned businesses and off-the-beaten-path discoveries. - Library Journal