"Piazza: Italy's Heart & Soul" Presentation and Book Signing by Photographers Marybeth Flower and Joe Bauwens -Rizzoli Bookstore - New York City, May 14, 2007 5:30 p.m.

Ketchum, ID May 14, 2007 — During their many trips to Italy, photographers Marybeth Flower and Joe Bauwens fell in love with the life that takes place in the piazza — the center of every Italian town. "For 2,500 years, the people of Italy have been gathering in town squares to hear political speeches, shop at markets, attend weddings, collect water, play sports and spend time with neighbors," said Flowers. "We kept saying, 'Someone should capture the life that takes place in the piazzas."

In their new book, Piazza: Italy's Heart & Soul (http://www.piazzabook.com), Flower and Bauwens bring Italy to life with their dazzling photographs in vivid color taken in the piazzas of towns — large and small. National Geographic photographer, James L. Stanfield, said, "From intensely personal moments to shared public events…Joe and Marybeth have succeeded at making us feel we've been there."

You can experience the historic moment in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican when the gigantic crowd explodes with excitement as the new Pope is introduced, or witness Siena's famous horse race — the Palio — and behold the sumptuous Renaissance costumes handmade by local artisans.

Flower and Bauwens captured brides dressed in their intricately-laced Italian gowns as they posed for photographers during their wedding day festivities. You can tour Gubbio, learn about the unique Ceri Marathon, a wild festival that has been held every year since the twelfth century, and discover Norcia, a town snuggled high in the Apennine Mountains, and observe its elaborate three-day celebration in honor of St. Benedict, its patron saint.

"I'm betting you'll be on the phone with your travel agent by page 15," said Joel Siegel, Entertainment Critic for Good Morning America. Elaine Petrocelli, the owner of Book Passage (http://www.bookpassage.com) bookstore in Corte Madera, CA and the founder of the world reknown Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference said, "Give this book to someone you love along with tickets to Italy."

This book features 250 dazzling photographs in vivid color of Italy's town squares.

In Piazza: Italy's Heart & Soul (http://www.piazzabook.com), Flower and Bauwens bring Italy to life with their dazzling photographs in vivid color taken in the piazzas of towns — large and small. National Geographic photographer, James L. Stanfield, said, "From intensely personal moments to shared public events … Joe and Marybeth have succeeded at making us feel we've been there." Join Flowers and Bauwens for an informal presentation and book signing for their new coffee table book, Piazza: Italy's Heart & Soul, at Rizzoli Bookstore in New York City, May 14, 2007 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.