New book on baroque architecture

A new book entitled Annali del Barocco in Sicilia - 'Capitali' europee del barocco tra cultura del progetto e cultura del cantiere has just been launched in Sicily by the Syracuse-based Centro Internazionale di Studi sul Barocco. Edited by Architect Lucia Trigilia, it contains a collection of research papers presented at a conference held in Syracuse.

Among the contributions one finds features on the baroque palace and gardens of Buen Retiro in Madrid by Professor Antonio Bonet Correa, the baroque architecture of Naples by Professor Gaetana Cantone, the baroque form of Sessa Aurunca in Southern Italy by Francesco Divenuto and the church of SS. Annunziata at Avola, Sicily, by Professor Francesca Gungeri Pantano.

This recently published book also contains three features concerning Baroque Malta. Professor Denis de Lucca, director of the International Institute for Baroque Studies at the University of Malta, writes about the baroque architectural expression in Valletta and Mdina.

Lucia Trigilia writes about the reconstruction of buildings in Malta after the 1693 earthquake while Dr David Mallia contributes an article on the contents and conservation of Maltese archives.

Beautifully illustrated and well referenced, this book on baroque Europe is an important contribution to contemporary studies focusing on European baroque culture during the 17th and 18th century.