10 book recommendations for Italy

There's nothing like a good book, especially when you're travelling. We've partnered up with our friends at TripFiction to bring you some recommended books, which go hand in hand with some of our tours. For example, whilst immersing yourself amongst the remote isles and ancient temples on our exclusively solo, A Snapshot of Western Sicily tour, add some of these reads into the mix.  

Pair aperitivo hour with an icy refreshment, some snacky bits, and one of the page-turners listed below, ideally in a shaded Sicilian piazza of your choosing.  

The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri 

Inspector Salvo Montalbano strives to do the right thing for the right reason. Food and crime mix in this inspired series. 

Conclave by Robert Harris 

Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, 118 cardinals from all over the globe will cast their votes in the world’s most secretive election. 

Still Life by Sarah Winman

In 1944 in the ruined wine cellar of a Tuscan villa, as bombs fall around them, two strangers meet and share an extraordinary evening. 

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant 

Alessandra must make crucial decisions about the shape of her adult life, as Florence itself must choose between the old ways of the Medicis and the asceticism of Savanorola. 

The Savage Shore by David Hewson 

Roman police detective Nic has been sent undercover to Italy’s Calabrian coast to bring in the head of the feared mob, the ‘Ndrangheta. 

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante 

A modern masterpiece from one of Italy’s most acclaimed authors, this is a rich, intense and generous-hearted story about two friends, Elena and Lila.  

The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper 

An engaging, female-focussed novel set in ancient Pompeii, from an exciting new voice in historical fiction. 

The Lemon Tree Hotel by Rosanna Ley 

In the beautiful village of Vernazza, the Mazzone family have transformed an old convent overlooking the glamorous Italian Riviera into the elegant Lemon Tree Hotel. 

Flowers Over the Inferno by Ilaria Tuti 

In a quiet village surrounded by the imposing Italian Alps, a series of brutal assaults take place. 

Explore Italy on our exclusively solo tour, A Snapshot of Western Sicily.