19 BEST Books That Take Place in Italy (2024)
Looking for books that take place in Italy? I have a great list of recommendations for you that are engaging books, well-rated, and can get you excited about an upcoming trip to Italy, or bring you back if you’ve been to Italy.
There is a good mix of fiction that takes place in Italy – some are thriller, action and mystery, others are more beach reads.
I’m an avid reader and read 5-6 books every month. I’m a part of two book clubs, so I get a chance to discuss books and see what other people think of them besides only myself.
These books that take place in Italy will transport you back to the land of pasta, wine, medieval town centres and stunning coastlines; which will make you wish you were in Italy right now.
I also found that these books opened my mind to certain aspects of Italian way of life and culture that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise.
So, let’s jump in – books that take place in Italy!
Books That Take Place in Italy
1. The Temptation of Gracie
By Santa Montefiore
Published: 2019
Genre: Historical fiction, chick lit, romance
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5)
The Temptation of Gracie is one of my favourite books, of all time. It’s a light, but interesting and inspiring read, and illustrates the beauty of the Tuscan region.
It’s about an elderly widowed woman living in the UK, with a past in Italy that no one currently in her life knows about (including her kids.) The book flips back and forth from her youth living in Italy, and the present – being an elderly widow with grown children, in the UK.
Although she’s not close to her daughters, they take a trip to Italy together to uncover some mysteries from the past. It’s a good mother-daughter book. It’s about lost love, taking chances, and travel. Art is also a really big theme in this book too.
2. The Sicilian Inheritance
By Jo Piazza
Published: 2023
Genre: Historical fiction, mystery, thriller
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4)
The Sicilian Inheritance takes place in two timelines; from the past in Sicily, and in the present when the main character is trying to research their family history and find more information on the murder mystery of her great-grandmother.
Sicily is so beautifully described in the book, and this made me want to go there. It also touches a bit on Sicily’s past and what role it’s played in Italy, and what makes it unique.
I read The Sicilian Inheritance for a book club, and it was very popular – some people said it was their favourite book that we’d ever read as a group. There wasn’t anyone who didn’t like it.
So, the chances are you will love it too – especially if you’re interested in Sicily and its history.
3. My Brilliant Friend
By Elena Ferrante
Published: 2011
Genre: Historical fiction, Italian literature
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.0)
Unlike many of the books on this list, My Brilliant Friend (L’amica geniale in Italian) was written by an author who still lives in Italy.
Elena Ferrante is a famous Italian author who published this bestseller in 2011, about the current disappearance and past of an old friend of the main character; told in two timelines.
If this title doesn’t speak to you, Ferrante has published numerous books that have been translated into other languages. Another book, the Lying Life of Adults, has been turned into a Netflix series – you can watch the trailer on Ferrante’s website.
A copy of My Brilliant Friend might be a good souvenir from Italy to take home, from a bookstore that sells prints in English. (You can find a few of them in larger cities in Italy.)
4. The Villa
By Rachel Hawkins
Published: 2023
Genre: Mystery, thriller
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.1)
The Villa takes place at a villa in Orvieto, just north of Rome. Like the previous two books I mentioned, it also is told in two different timelines.
If you love the idea of renting a summer villa in Italy with your best friend, then this may be a book for you.
The villa that these two friends are staying at has a murder attached to it – famous rock stars stayed at the villa in the 1970s and one of them was murdered there during their stay.
The Villa has themes of music, writing, literature and travel. It’s has some murder mystery, as well as themes of being at a crossroads in life and not being where you expect to me by a certain age.
This book was recommended and lent to me by a member of my book club. I didn’t love the ending of it personally, but I enjoyed the read.
5. The Abomination
By Jonathan Holt
Published: 2014
Genre: Crime, thriller, mystery
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.1)
The Abomination is about a murder mystery in Venice. A body washes up on the Grand Canal around midnight during La Befana. The book follows a detective named Katerina Tapo who investigates to solve the mystery.
The Abomination has Da Vinci code vibes as a murder mystery, an investigation, and hidden messages and clues.
I picked up a copy of The Abomination at an English bookstore in Venice. It was a fitting book to read during the trip, as it takes place in Venice!
6. The Lemon Tree Hotel
By Rosanna Ley
Published: 2019
Genre: Chick lit, fiction
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3)
The Lemon Tree Hotel is about 3 generations of women running a restored old convent-turned-upscale hotel in the village of Vernazza, near Cinque Terre.
The book surrounds what happens when one day some unexpected guests check in; one of the women has a mysterious past with one of the guests, and another of the guests has some insider knowledge to the old convent’s history.
If you’re heading to the Italian Riviera region, this is a fun book that beautifully captures the sights, flavours and personality of the region. The food and ingredients, such as fresh olives and lemons are described with so much detail and will likely make you hungry as well.
7. Angels and Demons
By Dan Brown
Published: 2000
Genre: Mystery, thriller, suspense, crime
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5 stars)
Angels and Demons is the first book introducing the character Robert Langdon, and is one of two Robert Langdon books that take place in Italy. (The other one is called Inferno, published over a decade later.)
Angels and Demons deals with murder mysteries surrounding people being found dead with Illuminati symbols branded on their bodies. There are plans to murder cardinals and blow up the Vatican; Langdon is trying to solve the mystery and prevent further attacks.
I read Angels and Demons when I was a teenager; it is fun and fast-paced. I like The Da Vinci Code a little bit more; but if you like The Da Vinci Code, you should like this one too.
8. One Italian Summer
By Rebecca Serle
Published: 2022
Genre: Romance, chick-lit, magical realism
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.2)
One Italian Summer was read (and loved) by the women in my book club. It made everyone crave Italian food so much that we booked a dinner at a local Italian restaurant.
It’s about a woman named Katy who had planned a trip to Positano, Italy, as a mother-daughter trip – but her mom passed away before the trip, so she made the journey on her own.
Despite sounding a bit sad, it’s more of a beach read that will leave you dreaming of Italy in summer.
9. The English Patient
By Michael Ondattje
Published: 1992
Genre: Historical fiction, war, literary fiction
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.2)
The English Patient is a classic from the early 90s. Beware, it’s not an easy beach read. It takes place in Florence after WW2, about a burn victim.
It largely centres around his love affair with a married British woman named Katherine Clifton, and there are some intimate scenes that are meant to be poetic and emotion-based.
The English Patient, being a more literary book, is not for everyone, but the book has won many prestigious awards, and the film (starting Matt Damon) won an Oscar.
10. The Marriage Portrait
By Maggie O’Farrell
Published: 2023
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.2)
The Marriage Portrait is based on the true story of 16-year-old Duchess named Lucrezia whose murder sparked a mystery and was believed to have been committed by her husband.
The book is very detailed in the royal courts, architecture, and lifestyle at the time – if you like historical fiction, especially medieval times, then you will likely love it.
Of all the books that take place in Italy, there aren’t too many novels that take place in the medieval era, which sets The Marriage Portrait apart.
11. The Enchanted April
By Elizabeth Von Arnim
Published: 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4)
The Enchanted April is about modern-day story about a girl’s trip to Portofino in Northern Italy to stay at a medieval Italian castle.
The four women have become bored in their lives back home, and their time in Portofino (which is 2 hours from Pisa, and 2.5 from Milan) contributes to some self-development in the characters.
It’s about rekindled love, female friendship, romance, and empowerment. It’s an uplifting read, and especially fun to read if you’ve been to Northern Italy.
12. The Rome Affair
By Karen Swan
Published: 2017
Genre: Mystery, romance, fiction, chick lit
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4)
The Rome Affair is about two women, a wealthy Italian woman living in the 1970s in Rome, and a tourist in 2017 who uncovers some details regarding a secret surrounding the first woman.
The two women connect, and their storylines intertwine as a mystery is solved. It’s a great book to get excited about, or reminse about Rome, as the city is so beautiful described in the book.
13. The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti
By Jennifer Probst
Published: 2022
Genre: Romance, fiction
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5 stars)
The Secret Love Letters of Oliva Moretti is about three sisters (who aren’t particularly close) come across some unexplained mysteries regarding their mother’s death, and work together to solve them, while experiencing the magic and charm of Italy in the process. It takes place on the Almafi Coast.
14. The Talented Mr. Ripley
By Patricia Highsmith
Published: 1955
Genre: Mystery, psychological thriller, crime, classic
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3)
The Talented Mr. Ripley is a classic from the 50s, that was made into a 1999 movie starring Matt Damon. So, its likely you’ve heard of the story before – but there are some differences between the novel and the film.
Tom Ripley, the main character, is American but sent to live in Italy (to a fictional town called Montebello) for work. The book takes place mostly in Italy, but also in New York City and Greece.
15. Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy
By Frances Mayes
Published: 1996
Genre: Memoir, romance
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.0)
Under the Tuscan Sun is another big name in terms of books that take place in Italy; I remember as a child seeing the movie preview (but I was too young to watch it at the time.)
It’s about a recently divorced woman who decides to buy and fix up a villa in Italy to live in. She’s joined by friends, and eventually, by a new partner at the villa, which is located in the Tusan region.
16. From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily and Finding Home
By Tembi Locke
Published: 2019
Genre: Memoir, romance
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5)
From Scratch is a bestselling memoir by American actress, Tembi Locke that talks about her life as she falls in love with a Sicilian man while living in Italy and her time living in Italy as a single mother after he passes away.
Initially, Locke wasn’t accepted by her Sicilian husband’s family, but after his passing, she finds solace in the beauty of Sicily – his family who came around, the freshness of the food and the serenity of the beauty.
From Scratch was so successful that it was even turned into a Netflix series.
17. Eat, Pray Love
By Elizabeth Gilbert
Published: 2006
Genre: Memoir, travel, chick-lit
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4)
This list of books set in Italy wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.
Even though it came out nearly 20 years ago now, I only read it for the first time a few years ago – and it was worth it. Gilbert is a great storyteller and describes each destination (Italy, Indonesia and India) so vividly.
While in Italy, Elizabeth takes Italian language lessons. (She’s been studying it for years out of love of the language) and indulges in the cuisine, trying a variety of the local foods.
18. Beautiful Ruins
By Jess Walter
Published: 2012
Genre: Historical fiction, romance
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.0)
Beautiful Ruins is pretty different from other books mentioned on this looks – while the cover may look like a beach read, it’s actually more of a social satire about Hollywood culture.
If you enjoy celebrity gossip, vintage movies and stores that flip between the past and the present, then you might love Beautiful Ruins.
It takes place in both Italy in the 1960s as well as in modern-time (2010s era) in Hollywood. It has excerpts of novels, letters and screenplays written by the characters, and it deals with a love affair between two celebrities who starred in the 1963 movie Cleopatra which was filmed in Rome, and on the Mediterranian coast.
19. Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World
By Anthony Doer
Published: 2007
Genre: Memoir, parenting
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3)
Four Seasons in Rome is a memoir by Anthony Doer (the author of All the Light We Cannot See) about raising his twin boys in Rome in the early 2000s.
If you’ve read any of his novels, you know that he’s a great writer and storyteller. Rome is captured beautifully; through the markets they frequent, the ingredients they cook with, and their adventures.
It’s a very honest book, where Doer even details his sleep troubles and the challenges of raising babies in a foreign country.
Most parenting books I’ve read have been from the perspective of the mom, and this was a heartfelt Dad’s perspective on the highs and lows of new parenthood, mixed in with the the rich culture of Rome.
Books Set in Italy FAQ
Here are the commonly asked questions about books and literature that takes place in Italy
What is the most famous literature in Italy?
There have been a few famous literary works set in Italy. Some of them are The Talented Mr. Ripley and The English Patient.
Which Dan Brown books take place in Italy?
The Dan Brown book that takes place in Italy is called Angels & Demons, it is a sequel to the Da Vinci Code with takes place in France.
What is the famous Italian bookstore?
there are a number of famous bookstores in Italy, but one of the most well-known and unique is the Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice. There are other unique and special libraries located in Rome, Florence and other locations that you can read about here.
Final Thoughts on Books Set in Italy
I hope that this list on the best books that take place in Italy has filled you with inspiration, helped you find a book for yourself or someone else, and most importantly- mentally transports you to Italy.