A detailed but lively tale of Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) perhaps the greatest of Italian Renaissance architects.  Building primarily in Vicenze, Padua, and Venice, Palladio designed basillicas, churches, rectories, and as described in this book, many country and city villas.  he introduced an architectural vocabulary and a set of principles that blended ancient Roman with Renaissance Italy, beauty and symmetry with utility and functions  and did for architecture what Shakespeare did for theater.  His work spread to England’s great houses via Indigo Jones and Scottish architects and to America via Jefferson and others.  Palladian style remains alive and vibrant today in his 18 surviving villas, several major Venetian churches, and Vicenza’s basillica and city hall.  An interesting introduction to architecture and Italy.