On Holy Ground ─ Liturgy, Architecture, and Urbanism in the Cathedral and the Streets of Medieval Florence

The first in a series on the excavation of the cathedral, or Duomo, of Florence, Italy, this volume presents an account of the liturgy that was used in the cathedral of Santa Reparata, which was destroyed beginning in 1294 to make space for the present Duomo. Nearly half of the text is given over to a complete transcription of two lengthy liturgical works associated with Santa Reparata, in Latin (without translation). Toker, an architectural historian at U. of Pittsburgh who led the excavations at the Duomo, surveys the altars, altarpieces, and use of S. Reparata in the 12th-13th centuries, reproducing the complete liturgical calendar for the church (in English translation). He describes the other buildings associated with the church, their use, location, and ultimate histories. Many details of post-medieval and post-Renaissance use of the church, its buildings, and the surrounding area fill Toker's account. The series is projected to fill four volumes. 8.75x11.25" Distributed in North America by The David Brown Book Co. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)