2024 is about to end. Let’s take a look back on it by flipping through the pages of some of the illustrated volumes published by Marsilio Arte. From the gardens of Venice to the ambiance of Cortina to the photographs of World Press Photo, not to mention the amazing success of "The Book"

THE VENICE YOU DON’T EXPECT
The book we have chosen to guide you on a journey of discovery of the “unusual” Venice, populated by green spaces, is edited by Toto Bergamo Rossi, director of the Venetian Heritage association, with landscape architect Marco Bay. I giardini di Venezia [The gardens of Venice] outlines a path that epitomizes nature, a presence that is anything but secondary in the lagoon environment. The precious photographs by Marco Valmarana enrich a narrative that, district after district, interweaves art and history, offering new perspectives on a city capable of surprising even the most assiduous visitor.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, THE QUEEN OF THE DOLOMITES
Servane Giol offers an original perspective on one of the most popular destinations in the Dolomites. The destination is Cortina d’Ampezzo, narrated via the passing of the summer and winter seasons. Mattia Aquila’s photographs capture the intimacy of chalets, huts and private homes, whose daily stories emerge from the pages of La regina delle Dolomiti. Vivere a Cortina d’Ampezzo [The Queen of the Dolomites. Living in Cortina d’Ampezzo]. A book not to be missed in view of the 2026 Olympics.

THE WORLD PRESS PHOTO 2024
The catalogue published by Marsilio Arte last May collects the winning images from the 2024 edition of World Press Photo, one of the most famous photojournalism competitions in the world. The cover features the image that won the title of World Press Photo of the Year: A Palestinian Woman Embraces the Body of Her Niece by Mohammed Salem bears witness to the painful consequences of one of the bloodiest events in recent times, giving voice to those coping with violent daily life in Gaza. Thirty-three photographers received awards in the various categories for their ability to describe the current era – from wars to the climate crisis to the fight for civil rights.

THE CHRISTMAS VERSION OF THE BOOK
We’ve talked about it several times, as a true publishing phenomenon. The Book. Manuale definitivo per la ricostruzione della civiltà [The Book. The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding a Civilization] addresses a disconcerting but necessary question: if one day we witnessed an epochal crisis of civilization, how could we rebuild it from scratch? In 2020, Hungry Minds, an international collective of artists, creatives and designers, asked themselves the same question and launched a highly successful fundraising campaign for the creation of a volume inspired by the history of humanity, told through the processes, tools and materials on which it bases its foundations. A vademecum of images and words to be used should the need to rebuild civilization materialize. Marsilio Arte is the first publishing house to have purchased the rights to translate The Book from English and the success of this operation did not take long to see, but more importantly, it’s still going. In anticipation of the upcoming holidays, The Book presents itself to the public with a new Christmas dust jacket and the volume can be purchased exclusively on the dedicated website (https://the-book.it/).

Text by Arianna Testino

Cover photo: Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore. Photo Marco Valmarana