Before Paris was Paris, it was a Roman settlement called Lutèce, confined to the Île de la Cité, which grew over the centuries in size, political influence, and artistic output. Abundantly illustrated throughout, this little book brings the history of the city to life. Some 250 photographs, paintings, illustrations, and objects illustrate four different phases of the city's history: its Roman roots, when gladiators fought in the Arènes de Lutèce amphitheater; the Middle Ages, when Notre-Dame Cathedral rose and towered over the city; the Renaissance and Enlightenment, when the Louvre transformed from a fortress to an opulent palace; and the French Revolution to the present, when the city expanded into a modern metropolis and the Eiffel Tower became its defining symbol. A window into the past and a visual guide for today, this Tiny Folio will be sure to charm all visitors and lovers of Paris.