Buon Viaggio with Books Set in Italy

Donati knows how captivating the Italian countryside can be. She moved back to her home village of Lucignana (near Lucca, Tuscany) to open ‘Bookshop on the Hill’. It was her ‘hill change’ and soon became a literary destination. Was it easy? No. Was she wooed by her nostalgic Italian village? Absolutely. Was it worth it? Undeniably so! If you are a lover of books, bookstores, and some literary charm, Donati’s memoir is the perfect enticement to buy that ticket to Lucca (and then hire a Vespa). 

If you love Italy for the Renaissance, take a step back in time to Urbino: a model Renaissance city. Dr. Stevenson has researched the history of Urbino’s most famous Duke, from condottiere to politician and nobleman. Federico created one of the most celebrated libraries in Italy outside of Rome and was the driving force behind the Renaissance, arguably the most culturally significant time in Italian history. 

This is less memoir / more nonfiction book and will encourage you to travel to Italy just to see the lemon groves! It’s a unique combination of food and travel, following the history of lemons and how it has seeded within the character of Italy. Attlee paints a glorious picture of Italy’s love with citrus; from the Battle of Oranges in Ivrea to the early days of the Mafia amongst the lemon groves near Palermo. Paired best with a chilled limoncello. 

What better way to escape your broken life than to run away with four strangers? Ginny Splinter, a professional relationship expert, has just been handed divorce papers on their 30th wedding anniversary. Her reaction: she takes off for Italy with four heartbroken listeners to share their stories and bond together on a holiday of healing. It’s a lighthearted adventure as they explore Italy, looking for anything the country can offer to heal their wounded souls. Set across multiple locations in Italy, The Little Italian Hotel doesn’t offer a quick fix to everyone, but it definitely shows how good travel can be for our weary souls.

Despite everything I said above about the lack of diversity for books set in Italy, there are times when we simply want a sweet light scoop of gelato. This is a book exactly like that, while still hitting some important feels in the world of YA novels. Friendship, family, and love feature high on the list. It starts with Lina, reeling from the death of her mother and the sudden expectation to travel to Italy for the summer to meet her absent dad, Howard. The only real guidance she has is her mother’s journal. As Lina’s mother takes her on a nostalgic tour through Florence, she slowly reveals her secrets and her favourite patisseries (both are equally important).

Possibly the most famous of books set in Italy. You have mystery and history, sectarian politics, heresy, and a Benedictine monastery in northern Italy. Bonus points for the labyrinthine abbey library because it’s a library and a labyrinth. Unfortunately, it is a fictional place though inspired by the real Sacra di San Michele (St Michael’s Abbey) in Piedmont. Set in the 14th century, the death of an illuminator sparks an investigation into the power of the Church and the books it holds most dear. 

Trigger warning: contains details of domestic violence and rape.

This is not an easy book to read, but it is a hard truth-telling of Sicilian Italy in the 1960s. The titular character is a 15-year-old girl, growing up in a system of female oppression where rape is legal if followed by ‘reparative marriage’. Oliva rebels and fights for her right to choose, even with great social consequences for her family. The historical setting of 1960s Sicily is perfect, especially with the systemic abuse from the Church and State against women. 

Bologna is one of the most underrated cities in Italy, possibly the world. Sure, it’s famous for its pasta sauce (which, traditionally, is delicious). However, there is far more character, history, and beauty found in the city. As heartbreaking as the story can be, The Lost Boy of Bologna captures the soul of Bologna on every page. Rinaldo Scamorza becomes an unwitting tour guide, sharing his life story and using his intimate knowledge of the city to survive. As he scampers across the streets and piazzas, Bologna becomes another character in the story. You’ll never look at Bolognese porticos in the same way again. 

Nothing captures the experience of Florence during The Plague as a captive audience trying to distract itself from The Plague. The Decameron is a collection of novellas by the 14th century Italian author Boccaccio. They are presented under the guise of a story of 10 people sheltering in a secluded villa outside Florence during the Bubonic Plague. It’s a slice-of-life storytelling depicting the adventures and misadventures of the time. Life, love, fortune, and debauchery. It’s hilarious and insightful, and I so wish I had read this during COVID Lockdowns. 

The small village of Assisi is dominated by the Basilica di San Francesco d’Assisi (The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi). Few tourists even realise there is a second Basilica: that of Santa Chiara/St Clare, a follower of St Francis and founder of the Order of Poor Ladies. Prompted by a letter from a young Sicilian girl, Maraini dives into the history of St Clare to flesh out her story and explore the cultural circumstances. The title refers to St Clare’s disobedience to her family, refusing to marry and choosing to become a nun. Both Clares become the personification of disobedience against social rules that do not support women. 

First published in 1827, The Betrothed is one of those books often featured on Italian High School reading lists and yet never truly appreciated until we are much older. It presents as a romance, but it is far more socio-commentary, painting the landscape of Lombardy during the Spanish occupation in the 1620s. Renzo and Lucia (the betrothed couple) are thwarted by the jealous Don Rodrigo, forcing them to flee and subsequently separate. Under the threat of plague, famine, and imprisonment, the lovers strive to find each other again, learning harsh lessons about trust and society’s power over our most vulnerable. 

This is hard to categorise beyond its historical setting in Italy; more specifically Venice during the Napoleonic Wars. Our two main characters are Henri, a French soldier following Napoleon across Europe, and Villanelle, the daughter of a Venetian boatman sold into prostitution by her husband. This is not a love story, but rather a story about passion. How passion drives us, leads us, and carves out pieces of your soul only to hand it back to you wrapped in ribbon. Italians are thought of as passionate people, and Winterson’s characters personify this so very well. 

“Will wine-soaked Amalfi nights and long walks through lemon groves work their magic on Seb’s wounded soul?” Sorry, but I had to include this direct quote from the blurb because it was the clincher for me to read this! In his long-standing grief for the loss of his husband (Henry), Seb travels to Amalfi for a trip they had originally planned together. Andrea is the chauffeur (and all-around good guy) willing to guide him. It’s a beautiful hurt/comfort romance novel, as much a love letter to the Amalfi Coast as it is to the characters. 

Only the first story is set in Italy, but it is glorious. ‘To Italy With Love’ centres on Iris, who travels to the Amalfi Coast for a friend’s destination wedding. When she meets Chrisanne, Iris feels challenged and aroused. It’s easy to be caught up in the romance of the Amalfi Coast, but this story shows that hot sex isn’t always enough to make a relationship work. In fact, that’s pretty much the soul of all three stories. And it’s told really, really well. 

This is one of those charming fable stories you would never have picked up if it wasn’t for someone recommending it. And yet, it is a delicate novel clearly intended for a screenplay, from the detailed scenes and marvelous environments. Augusto’s perfect world revolves around talking with the birds in the garden and making love to his beautiful wife, Palmira. Unfortunately, Palmira is more interested in his money and locking him away in an asylum. When Augusto meets Serafina, he discovers a like-minded soul who cares for nature as much as he does. Sure, it’s a romance, but Berto’s writing style makes it an ode to the natural beauty of Lombardy. 

Thirty years after he fled from Italy, Tommaso is discovered by a young private investigator, Will. In an effort to convince Will to ‘forget about him’, Tomasso shares his story — his love and his reason for running away. It is a formidable story, given its depth through Tomasso’s recollection of Puglia. Vescina paints Tomasso’s experiences with sensual words that transport you directly to the region. This is no contemporary romance. It is a nostalgic love wrapped in an atmosphere of history and warmth. Every arched alleyway is a moment of romance, every focaccia is a kiss. 

On one hand, you have Leon and her Brunetti series. On the other hand, you have Camilleri and Inspector Montalbano. These two authors are the best for mystery books set in Italy. This time, Camilleri takes us to Sicily during a wave of refugees arriving at the port. Amongst the chaos at the port, a master seamstress is found dead — stabbed with her own scissors. The violent mystery is finely woven with the ongoing social crisis. However, Camilleri always balances the seriousness with affection for his characters. It is through Montalbano that we develop a deep and passionate love for Italian food, especially Sicilian cuisine. I can almost taste the arancini…