Been dreaming of an Italian holiday and can’t decide when to go? Well, we’ve handpicked 13 books about Italy that will make you book that flight ASAP.
Italy is The Renaissance country, home to incredible artists and known for its ancient architecture, art cities, and unique scenery.
Italy is also known for its language, its opera, its fashion, its luxury brands, and – of course – the fabulous food. It is no wonder this country has inspired writers to write books about Italy – from novels to guides to memoirs, with it as the setting or its distinct culture at the very heart of each book.
13 Best Books About Italy
If you’re going to Italy soon or already there exploring and just looking to learn more about this fascinating country, you should pick up a few of the books about Italy in our list to give you a few ideas for planning your trip.
1. Foucault’s Pendulum – Umberto Eco
Originally published: 1988
Setting: Milan
Three editors (Belbo, Diotallevi, and Casaubon) are bored with their job and have read too many manuscripts about occult conspiracy theories, so they build their conspiracy for fun.
Their elaborate hoax links the medieval Knights Templar with occult organizations throughout history, which they called “The Plan.” They even have a map that they named “Foucault’s Pendulum” in Paris, France, as the geographical point from which all the powers of the earth can be controlled.
The joke, however, takes an unfortunate turn. Their obsession with The Plan leads them to forget that it’s just a game to pass the time.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, other conspiracy theorists are now taking The Plan seriously. One secret society believes that Belbo has access to the long-lost wealth of the Knights Templar, and they are now out to get him.
Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco is a fun engaging read and you’ll love it if you like history, conspiracy theories, and adventure.
2. Almost Blue – Carlo Lucarelli
Originally published: 1999
Setting: Bologna
A killer is stalking the streets of Bologna, and inexperienced rookie female detective Grazia Negro is adamant about solving the case.
There is only one confirmed eyewitness who can positively identify the killer. His name is Simone… and he is blind. With an acute hearing that allows him to discern the tone and “color” of voices, he can picture what individuals could be like depending on their tone and “color” of voice.
Carlo Lucarelli’s Almost Blue noir thriller is told from two alternating points of view: Simone’s vulnerable seclusion and the twisted mind of the crazed assassin who is obsessed with “reincarnating” himself as the latest victim in an attempt to flee the torment of his demons.
When Lucarelli depicts his adversary in dazzling and scary light, it is hard not to shout at Grazia and Simone to warn them of the approaching danger that lurks around the corner.
3. Angels and Demons – Dan Brown
Originally published: 2000
Setting: Rome
There are several historical inaccuracies in this novel’s writing, but it’s still an enjoyable read that follows Robert Langdon’s travels in Rome.
With a mystery to keep you turning the pages, Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons is a light and enjoyable read. It also has one of the most fantastic backdrops in the world – Rome.
The Castel Sant’Angelo is one of the book’s many notable locations, so it’s a good choice if you’re planning a trip to Rome and want something light to read on the plane.
4. Call Me by Your Name – André Aciman
Originally published: 2007
Setting: somewhere on the coast of Liguria
After seeing the film, we decided to read the novel as well, because it was so enthralling, and it did not disappoint. The novel and the film are both poetic, charming, and delightful, despite minor changes in plot and settings.
Call Me by Your Name takes place in Italy’s coast of Liguria, making it a standout among novels set in Italy that address themes of love and growing up.
Elio and Oliver, the two protagonists, form a special relationship in the novel. Elio and Oliver’s love blossoms during an extraordinary summer in Italy in one of the most evocative tales set in the 1980s.
5. A Farewell to Arms – Ernest Hemingway
Originally published: 1929
Setting: Gorizia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia
During World War I, Ernest Hemingway enlisted in the army. In Italy, he served as an ambulance driver and was wounded twice. A Farewell to Arms is the result of his life’s events.
You won’t soon forget Hemingway’s vivid depiction of the horrors of war. The narrative was compelling, with vivid imagery of his experiences as a young American volunteer as well as the men and women he encounters in Italy.
A Farewell to Arms, however, is more than just a military tale. In it, Hemingway also builds a love story of epic proportions and uncompromising intensity.
6. The Adventures of Pinocchio – Carlo Collodi
Originally published: 1883
Setting: Tuscany
This children’s classic, which has been adapted into animated films since the 1940s, shouldn’t be left out of this list. This is an edgy fairy tale with a lesson. This story by Carlo Collodi is an action-packed adventure.
Pinocchio, the woodcarver Geppetto’s puppet, longs to be a real child. However, he is in constant danger due to his lack of self-control and his traits of curiosity, dishonesty, and greed.
Reading this original story can be frustrating, but also quite relatable. Because who hasn’t struggled with missteps, foolishness, and bad decision-making?
If you read this story as an adult, you’ll realize that it’s rather a dark fairy tale. However, it’s also easy to understand why it has been constantly retold and adapted into a film. Pinocchio may be a puppet, but his constant backsliding resonates through all ages and cultures.
7. Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare
Originally published: 1597
Setting: Verona
While this is more of a play than an actual book, William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet still deserves a spot in this list because its setting, Verona, remains to be identified with this Shakespeare classic.
In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare paints a picture of a world that is brutal and torn apart by generations, all as two young people fall in love. Instead of simply disapproving of Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other, Romeo’s family and Juliet’s family are engaged in a vicious feud and are constantly attempting to kill each other on the streets of Verona.
The story is rather cliché (at least by today’s standards), twisted and tragic, but if you want to understand how the setting factored into the story, it is worth reading.
8. The Enchanted April – Elizabeth Von Armin
Originally published: 1922
Setting: Portofino, Liguria
If you haven’t heard about the Italian village of Portofino, then this book is a great introduction. The Enchanted April is one of the most popular books about Italy written a century ago.
Since they are all dissatisfied with their daily routines, the ladies at the heart of The Enchanted April gravitated toward each other. A classified ad in a London newspaper on a drizzly February afternoon led them to each other and the castle of their dreams. However, the girls didn’t expect that their month in Portofino would reintroduce them to their real selves and return them to happiness. If only their husbands and lovers are subjected to the same magical metamorphosis, the spell will be complete.
This book became an international sensation, and even sparked a tourism boom in Portofino. The novel has also inspired a big film and a Broadway play in recent years.
9. The Name of the Rose – Umberto Eco
Originally published: 1980
Setting: Northern Italy
This fascinating historical murder mystery is set in Northern Italy, in the year 1327.
Brother William of Baskerville is dispatched to an affluent Italian abbey to examine claims that the friars there are heretics. He then becomes a detective after a series of odd deaths detracts from his carefully orchestrated mission.
Using sardonic humor and voracious curiosity, he makes use of Aristotelian logic, Aquinas’ theology, and Roger Bacon’s empirical findings to help with his sleuthing journey. Evidence is collected, codes are decrypted, and the creepy abbey labyrinth – where “the most exciting things happen at night” – is thoroughly investigated.
This is an enthralling read that takes you through 14th century Italy, with medieval Sherlock Holmes and touches of philosophy.
10. Under the Tuscan Sun – Frances Mayes
Originally published: 1996
Setting: Tuscany
Under the Tuscan Sun is without a doubt one of Italy’s most popular books. This also inspired one of the most romantic movies set in Italy.
This is the memoir of American writer Frances Meyes, and it all starts with an odd decision to buy an ancient, abandoned villa in the countryside. The book chronicles the author’s journey from there as she restores the villa and learns more about the locale, Tuscany, its food, and the people.
This is one of the best books set in Tuscany, a beautiful Italian region studded with ancient vineyards, picture-perfect historical villages, and golden rolling hills dreamily drifting on the horizon.
The book is also a useful guide to the region’s cuisine.
11. Pasta, Pane, Vino: Deep Travels Through Italy’s Food Culture – Matt Goulding
Originally published: 2018
This fascinating travelogue, part user’s guide and part heartfelt love letter to a country where eating is art, will take you on a journey through the richness and diversity of Italian cuisine, culture, and history.
Culinary travels around Italy’s most important areas are the focus of this book. It’s a mix of personal stories and insider information.
There are a plethora of people that contribute to Italy’s storied culinary heritage, and Matt Goulding introduces us to some of them. Pasta, Pane, and Vino (“Pasta, Bread, and Wine”) depicts the astounding variety of Italian regional food culture, from Rome’s pasta temples to Naples’ pizza palaces and Piedmont’s truffle-strewn woodlands.
12. Midnight in Sicily – Peter Robb
Originally published: 1996
Setting: Sicily
For a view into some of Italy’s darkest corners, look no further than Peter Robb’s Midnight in Sicily, which he wrote after spending 14 years in the south of Italy.
Midnight in Sicily tells the story of the dominance of the Mafia in Southern Italy and abroad from the 1970s to the 1990s, in a book that is dense in its history and riveting in its narrative.
You will want to give this book your full attention because of the large number and density of names, dates, and locations.
This is not a light book that you can pick up for a plane ride, but more of a book that you’d want to devote your weekends to instead.
13. An Italian in Italy – Beppe Severnini
Originally published: 2005
The book offers great insight into the Italian psyche, a very helpful guide to read if you’re preparing for a trip to Italy. A must-read for anyone traveling to il Bel Paese so you can learn about the locals – and earn their respect.
An Italian in Italy, published in the United States as La bella Figura (literally, “the beautiful figure”), is the first non-fiction New York Times Best Seller by an Italian author in a long time.
Perfect on a long plane ride or while on a romantic getaway in Italy!