Florence has fascinated travellers for centuries, among them writers, artists and musicians. Rinuccio in Puccini's opera Gianni Schicci sang, 'Florence is like a tree in flower'. Lew captures through his beautiful watercolors not just the sights but the textures of Florence. He understands that Florence is not only famous for its historical monuments, but also for its markets and restaurants, its doorways and window grills and its neighborhood displays of intimate apparel lines of laundry. Florence through his eyes includes even its tourists, who flood its streets in search of art, history and gelato. Lew's colourful work exhibits a trained eye, a spirit of creativity and technical excellence. Returning visitors to Florence will delight in his details that prompt a re-examination of the familiar. First time visitors will cherish this book because it captures, in a very individual way, the Florence that casts a spell over nearly everyone. It is a virtual mosaic of this city that has been beloved to by many though the ages.
