La Casa Rurale nell'Umbria

Florence, Italy: Olshki, 1955. First Edition (presumed; no prior editions or printings cited). Octavo in white wraps, titles to front and spine; 219 pp: illustartions, photographs, fold out map; 24 cm Very Good; interior tight and clean. Paperback. ISBN: 8822247566

In Italian. Volume 14 of the Ricerche sulle dimore rurali in Italia series, is a meticulous architectural and ethnographic study of traditional Umbrian farmhouses. Drawing on extensive field surveys, Bonasera documents the evolution of rural dwellings across plains, hills, and the Trasimeno basin, analyzing their construction materials, spatial layouts, and adaptation to agricultural life. Through photographs, measured plans, and descriptive commentary, he reveals how these houses embody a deep synthesis of geography, craft, and social organization—stone walls and terracotta roofs expressing both utility and regional identity. The book stands as a foundational work in Italian vernacular architecture studies, preserving the memory of an agrarian culture that shaped the Umbrian landscape for centuries.