[TooFineAPoint]

I'm moving to Florence for six months, starting in the summer.

I've been before as a tourist. The point of this trip is to drink in the culture and better understand the origins of the Renaissance and it's implications for modern western art, philosophy, and economics.

Can anyone recommend the most concise book that I could read to have the necessary background to both appreciate Florence and know what to look for/experience once I am in the general area?

I will be hitting up the Tuscan countryside, and other major areas in Italy as well (eg. Val d'Orcia, Venice, Rome).

[Chevalier De Seingalt]

At 400 pages it is by no means concise, but if you really want to get into the subject the classic text is The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy by Jacob Burkhardt.

[TooFineAPoint]

Thanks! I just got the Kindle version of it.