Select Reading List for Italy
Travel Narratives
Under the Tuscan Sun
by Frances Mayes
In this memoir of her buying, renovating, and living in an abandoned villa in Tuscany, Frances Mayes reveals the sensual pleasure she found living in rural Italy, and the generous spirit she brought with her. She revels in the sunlight and the color, the long view of her valley, the warm homey architecture, the languor of the slow paced days, the vigor of working her garden, and the intimacy of her dealings with the locals...
A Room With a View
by Malcolm Bradbury (Introduction), Edward Morgan Forster
Classic set in Florence.
A Tuscan Childhood
by Kinta BeevorSet
In a fortress in the Carrara Mountains and in a villa in Fiesole, this autobiographical narrative is a beautifully written and a fascinating glimpse into Tuscan life spanning most of the 20th century.
A Valley in Italy : The Many Seasons of a Villa in Umbria
by Lisa St. Aubin De Teran
Narration of the restoration of a crumbling villa by a creative family.William Weaver, Washington Post Book World "Authentic. . . . Her next book should prove worth waiting for."
The Baron in the Trees
by Italo Calvino, Archibald Colquhoun
Enjoyable book by one of Italy's foremost writers.
The Bay of Noon
by Shirley Hazzard
The story of an English woman working in Naples.
Bella Tuscany : The Sweet Life in Italy
by Frances Mayes
A new book by a favorite author who writes about Tuscany.
The Decameron (Oxford World's Classics)
by Giovanni Boccaccio
Medieval classic. Young nobles tell tales during a plague.
An Italian Education : The Further Adventures of an Expatriate in Verona
by Tim Parks
Further adventures of author of Verona.
Italian Neighbors
by Tim Parks
An enjoyable and witty account of life in contemporary Italy.
A Valley in Italy
by Lisa St. Aubin de Teran
The author’s firsthand account of how her eccentric family made their home in a deteriorating villa in a small town in Umbria.
Villa Fortuna
by Geoffrey LuckAn Australian’s visit to Umbria
Guidebooks
Italy: Instructions for Use
by Nan McElroy
This is a great book to take with you! This palm-sized book covers the how-to's of traveling in Italy: how to read road signs, how to use Italian phones, what to pack, etc.
Art
History of Italian Renaissance Art: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture
by Frederick Hartt, David G. Wilkins (Editor)
"Don't let the size (huge) and scholarly look fool you. This is the best book on the subject, densely illustrated, and best of all, it is a pleasure to read and refreshingly jargon-free." Robert Eckhardt
Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art
by Jane Hall
Source for understanding the symbolism of Renaissance Italian art.
The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo
by Irving Stone
Fictional depiction of Michelangelo. Includes bibliography, glossary and a list of the artist's works.
Being Bernard Berenson : A Biography
by Meryle Secrest
Biography of the American art critic and collector.
General Information and History
I, Claudius : From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius, Born 10 B.C., Murdered and Deified A.D. 54 (Vintage International)
by Robert Graves
A historical novel of ancient Rome, also made into a PBS series.
Cento Citta : A Guide of the 'Hundred Cities and Towns' of Italy
by Paul Hofmann
Brief, interesting and helpful descriptions of 100 Italian cities.
Songbirds, Truffles and Wolves: An American Naturalist in Italy
by Gary Nabhan
An American naturalist who hiked from Florence to Assisi talks about nature in Italy.
Walking and Eating in Tuscany and Umbria
by James Ladsun
Wonderfully specific suggestions for hikes and country walks with beautiful picnics and luscious restaurant meals.
Fiction
After Hannibal
by Barry Unsworth
A dark comic novel of deceit set among the lanes of Umbria where an assortment of oddball characters all consult the same devious lawyer.
Summer’s Lease
by John Mortimer
This amusing mystery centers around a villa rental with an overly curious tenant, an ominously mysterious absentee landlord and a trip along the Piero della Francesca trail.
Shopping Books
Born to Shop Italy
by Suzy Gershman
The ultimate guide for travelers who love to shop.
The Civilized Shopper's Guide to Rome
by Pamela Keech, Margaret A. Brucia
The Antique and Flea Markets of Italy
by Marina Seveso, Oonagh Stransky (Translator)
Made in Italy
by Laura Morelli
Shopper's guide to Italy's best artisanal traditions
Cooking Books
Umbria: Regional Recipes from the Heartland of Italy
by Julia della Croce
Explore the fresh earthy flavors of Umbria--and the very soul of this region.
Children's Books
Italy Discovery Journal
by P.L. Byrne
If you are traveling to Italy with children, they will love seeing the country from the perspective of the unusual, weird or exciting. Kids will discover Italy, popular Italian culture, and even some art and history, plus hundreds of free or inexpensive activities for family travel in Italy.
Strega Nona book
by Tomie de PaolaStrega Nona — "Grandma Witch" — is the source for potions, cures, magic, and comfort in her Calabrian town. Her magical everfull pasta pot is especially intriguing to hungry Big Anthony.
Da Vinci (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists)
and
Michelangelo (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists)
by Miroslav Sasek
These are short, 32-page, children’s books which provide a neat introduction to some of the most important artists of the Renaissance.
Did we miss your favorite wanderlust book? Let us know in the comments.
