Lovingly crafted photo book of San Miguel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site consistently voted one of the most beautiful cities in the world. San Miguel de Allende is an exquisitely beautiful, well-preserved Spanish colonial town. This charming 480-year-old city, considered to be one of the most picturesque towns in Mexico, sits at an elevation of 6,400 feet on a vast plateau of rolling hills in the Sierra Madre mountain range. The rhythms of day and night in San Miguel are modulated by the deeply resonant sounds of church bells as they ring out the quarter hoursconnecting everyone into the web of humanity that occupies this beautiful town. Over 700 images in this reasonably priced coffee-table book lovingly capture these and other scenes that embody the charm and life of this thriving town. All of San Miguel's 17th-century architecture, people, festivals, and culture are shown. Divided into the following sections: Architecture; The Arts; Holy Days; People; Markets; Festivals; Reflections.

Art and especially architecture are often seen as the exclusive realm of formally trained experts. Award-winning architects Steven and Cathi House explore the other side of that reality in a part of the world that has been at the crossroads of history for thousands of years. With more than 500 photographs and insightful commentary, they reveal the remarkable beauty of the people, land, villages, textiles, and vernacular architecture across seven countries of West Africa, situated between the Sahara Desert and Atlantic Ocean. The book celebrates the artisanship of tribal people who use building methods that are both practical and ingenious and that respond not just to local climate, materials, and topography, but also to the needs of the inhabitants with poetic insight, creating environments that are stimulating and sustainable. With their clarity, function, and beauty, these villages are living models of what community life can be.

There's something especially beautiful about being able to look to the full expanse of a horizon, something that speaks to the most ancient part of our soul. With the continuing build up of our surroundings, that precious ability to gaze into the unfettered distance is one we all appreciate and savour. This stunning edition showcases incredible houses in simply amazing locations, where the architect has rightly championed the accessibility to the endless views. Lavishly illustrated with full-colour images of award-winning architecture, this compilation draws you in through its winning designs, but its the glorious and enticing images of the vast horizon that will capture your imagination. We may all not be lucky enough to inhabit an eye-catching designer home with views to die for, but at least we can all share the beauty through these breathtakingly evocative images. Truly a book in which to lose yourself.