Barzini, a politician, author, and journalist does just that by digging into every corner of Italian life. No corner of Venice is left untouched by Morris’s extremely sharp eye.Ī book of Italy travel tips might give you a window into Italian etiquette, but it likely won’t provide a picture of the Italian soul.

Widely considered one of the greatest English-language travel books, Venice covers Venetian temperament, tradition, architecture, as well as its colorful and impressive history. If you like books set in Italy that give you a full immersion experience, Jan Morris’s book is a must read. Beautifully written with a lot of specific local examples, this book will help you fall in love with Italian cuisine from afar. Goulding’s book comes from the Roads & Kingdoms publishing house that was co-founded with Anthony Bourdain. Robert Hughes has spent a lot of time in the city, giving the history a personal angle.Īn Italy travel book with a cuisine-oriented lens, Pasta Pane Vino is a deeply personal take on Italy’s food culture. Robert Hughes, one of the sharpest arts and culture critics, take an eye to Rome as a city, as an empire, and as the cornerstone of Western Civilization. You can’t discuss Italy without speaking about Rome, the Eternal City. A great way to get a taste of a city that’s less represented in literature than some of its more famous cousins. An ongoing story of intense female friendship throughout the years. It also explores the gritty day-to-day experience of living in Naples. My Brilliant Friend is the first book in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan trilogy - a series of novels set in Naples that has exploded in popularity in recent years.

Read on for six books about Italy that will get you primed for your journey.įiction: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante We recommend you go beyond reading an Italy guide book, and take in a variety of different books that can help you better understand and anticipate your journey. Whether you’re all booked or just beginning to plan your trip to Italy, reading the right books before you go is a great way to begin discovering Italy long before you board your flight.

Pasta, Pane, Vino by Matt Goulding