Product Description

A celebration of the art, architecture, and timeless human passion of the Eternal City, "Rome is Love Spelled Backward" explores Rome's best-known treasures, often revealing secrets ignored in conventional guidebooks. With the ancient play on "Roma" and "Amor", Testa invites readers to experience the world's long love affair with one of its most beautiful cities.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #252444 in Books
• Published on: 1998-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 287 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Emperor Hadrian is credited for pairing the patron goddess, Roma, with the long-worshiped love deity, Venus, thus creating the palindrome Romamor, which gives this unusual and worthy guidebook its name. In five chronologically arranged sections (Ancient Rome, Early Christian and Medieval Rome, Late Medieval and Renaissance Rome, Baroque Rome and Modern Rome), Northern Illinois University art history professor Testa covers the city's art and architecture with insight, sensitivity and scholarly perspective rarely found in travel manuals. Many chapters are devoted to a single monument: S. Maria Sopra Minerva, the Trevi Fountain, Castel Sant'Angelo, the Colosseum. Others are on larger themes, such as the building programs of Sixtus V or those of Mussolini. Everything is presented in welcome detail with background information for fuller understanding of the sites that surround a visitor to the Eternal City. Anyone interested in the classic arts will learn something from Testa's text, whether it's the reason the Pantheon was built, the source of the Christian and Jewish catacombs, or the roles that Caravaggio and Bernini played in creating a baroque Rome. With 50 photos, narrative text and no information on shops, restaurants, or hotels, it's a guidebook for sophisticated travelers who already know where to stay, but want more than a sentence on what they're seeing.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

WONDERFUL
The Rome of Judith Testa is one that speaks of her own "amor di roma." It is obvious that not every tourist attraction is included and some places unfamiliar to tourists are included. However, the author has provided an expanse of Roman history through its arts: fine art, architecture, sculpture. Each chapter touches on one of Rome's major artists or places of interest. The weave throughout each chapter provides a texture of artistic and historical information that brings to life the history of Rome and its great role in western civilization. Testa is a skilled writer whose style is instructive but charming; her prose is easy to read. Presented throughout each chapter are tidbits of information and items to see that one might never be aware of otherwise. Before you know it, you feel as if you "know" the place or piece about which she is writing. If you can read about the Pantheon or Caravaggio's paintings or St. Peter's before you go to see it, you will be well served. This is not the typical, all-inclusive, surface coverage of Rome; but rather, a novel-like approach with the characters being the artists and the works of art themselves.

Spend Smartly
This is an excellent book but at 42 smackers, the question is "Is it worth it?"

Well that depends on the user.

I spent 8 days in Rome and carried this book with me to many places. It was especially handy when tours were unavailable or inconvenient. Testa blends interesting tidbits into a thorough, yet concise, summary of each subject. If you're not rushed for time and have a relaxing 15 minutes to sit outside of St. Peters, or the Colosseum, or one of the other 35 places/topics included in this book (or even later in the hotel), then I would recommend it. This is indeed where the book proves its value.

If, however, you are rushed for time or deeply interested in one particular topic, other more general (Eyewitness, Rome's Top 10) or more specific books (for all sites covered there are probably many books to chose from) may better suit you.

Other travel guides are best used for planning purposes. Leave them in the hotel. They're too heavy to carry. Though not billed as a travel guide, this book works really well as just that. This is true *only* if you are the type of person who will take the time to read it. Otherwise, save your money for the gelato.

Finally, and this is my only criticism of the book's content... or the lack thereof, I was a little disappointed at the breadth of coverage. It seems (again considering the price) more subjects could have been treated. For instance Santa Maria del Popolo was not among the subjects included.

But this opinion may be a product of how I used the book. It is apparently intended to be a survey, not a comprehensive guide. My review however, is written with the traveler in mind. (If you're just interested in a general survey of Roman art and architecture, I've only read this one. It seems adequate enough.)

A fascinating, and exceedingly readable survey.
In Rome is Love Spelled Backward, by Dr. Judith Testa, an almost insurmountable mountain of enthralling history is condensed, controlled, and lovingly compiled into a volume that is not only very readable, but maintains the excitement, and vitality, of the most awesome city in the world. Clearly, Dr. Testa knows and loves this Eternal City.
Not until I read Testa's, Rome is Love Spelled Backward, and A Traveler in Rome, by H. V. Morton, did I come to understand and agree with the quote, "The ancient ruins are all around you, . . . . This is the center, and all the rest of the world is the periphery." Judith Testa's book is the only book I carry with me while wandering around Rome, year after year. A pre-Roman holiday must read!