The remarkable beauty and unique atmosphere of Venice owe much to its numerous palaces, built over the centuries on the lagoon"s mud-flat islands. A key part of the city"s architectural heritage, these splendid buildings with their rich facades provide a wealth of information, not only about the development of Venetian architecture, but about the lives and tastes of the ruling classes they housed. Focusing on 45 of the most outstanding examples, Peter Lauritzen explains the stages of their construction and gives an account of the history of each, based on legend, anecdote and painstaking research. Illustrated by Alexander Zielcke"s photographs, which capture the character of each building and reveal rarely seen interiors, the book provides an account of the Venetian way of life. Peter Lauritzen is an established expert of the political, social and cultural history of Venice, and was the author and editor of the UNESCO report, "Venice Restored 1967-77". Alexander Zielcke"s previous work includes a collaboration on the villas of Tuscany with Sir Harold Acton.