About this item
A travel narrative following three ancient roads and looking at more than two thousand years of history of Ancient Rome through the modern eye.. In 66 B.C., young, ambitious Julius Caesar, seeking recognition and authority, became the curator of the Via Appia. He borrowed significant sums to restore the ancient highway. It was a way to curry favor from Roman citizens in villages along the route, built from Rome to Brindisi between 312-191 B.C. He succeeded and rapidly grew in popularity. After achieving greatness in Rome and the far reaches of Gaul, he led armies along this road to battle enemies in Roman civil wars. And then, across the Adriatic Sea, he joined Via Appia's sister road, the Via Egnatia that began in today's Albania. Other armies followed these two roads that eventually connected Rome to Byzantium, today's Istanbul.
About the Author
In "Hidden Tuscany: Discovering Art, Culture, and Memories in a Well-Known Region's Unknown Places" (July 15, 2014) acclaimed author John Keahey takes the reader into a part of Tuscany beyond the usual tourist destinations of Chianti, Florence, and Siena. The often overlooked western region of Tuscany is rich with history, cuisine, and beautiful scenery begging to be explored, and Keahey encourages travelers to abandon itineraries and let the grooves in the road and the curves of the coast guide your journey instead.
Follow Keahey as he turns off the autostrada and takes roads barely two lanes wide to discover seaside communities and fishing villages along the Tuscan sea. Then move inland into rolling foothills adorned with chestnut forests, cherry orchards, and ancient olive groves, expansive fields of wheat and sunflowers, and vineyards that sweep far to the horizon and produce wines that challenge Chianti's best. Here it is still possible to follow the paths of Romans, Crusaders, and pilgrims from throughout the western world eager to reach Rome.
"Hidden Tuscany" provides intriguing images of places such as Livorno, a major port city interspersed with canals; Pietrasanta, Tuscany's Città dell'Arte; and the colorful Capraia, an island formed by volcanoes. Keahey engages with the people who inhabit these enchanting landscapes, whether sculptors who toil in marble studios or residents whose own memories and traditions illuminate crucial moments in world history.
From coastal towns to vineyards farther inland to the Tuscan archipelago, Keahey reminds us that each village, city, and island has its own unique story to tell. For armchair travelers and vacation seekers alike, Hidden Tuscany brings a new side of this classic region to life, and the result is mesmerizing.
"Hidden Tuscany" publisher is Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press (New York) . It will join "Seeking Sicily" and two other books, "Venice Against the Sea: A City Besieged" and "A Sweet and Glorious Land: Revisiting the Ionian Sea."
Keahey's 2012 book, "Seeking Sicily", also is available in hardcover and Kindle editions. See the book trailer at: http://bit.ly/m1Nj4f. This book trailer is a creation of documentary and travel filmmaker Steven R. McCurdy.
Keahey is a travel writer and former award-winning newsman whose career spanned 45 years in and around daily journalism. A native of Idaho and two-time graduate of the University of Utah with degrees in history and marketing, he first stepped onto Italian soil in 1986. Enchanted by what he found - stunning ancient ruins, unique food, magnificent countryside, and, most importantly, warm and engaging people - he has returned nearly every year since. Keahey focuses his writing on Italy's people and their cultural diversity, art, and history. Keahey lives in Salt Lake City
