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I’ve always wanted to leave my country and see the world, but honestly, the idea of stepping out of my comfort zone is pretty nerve-wracking.
Just like everyone else, I do get that spark of wanderlust occasionally, and aside from the financial impossibility of actually travelling abroad, I know I’m going to be a fish out of water.
So, instead of actually travelling, I’ve taken to stoking my wanderlust with books set in other countries.
I started reading The Heirloom by Jessica Rosen last week and, ever since then, all I’ve had in my mind are the wonderful beautiful rolling landscapes of Italy and the living, breathing culture that follows you everywhere.
That’s why I put together this list of must-read books set in Italy. From historical epics to modern love stories, each one gives a unique taste of Italian life.
Whether you’re dreaming of Italy or just love a good story, there’s something here for everyone and you won’t even have to leave your home.
1. The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
Alessandra Cecchi, a young girl not yet fifteen, falls in love with a painter hired by her father to decorate their home in Florence.
But her parents arrange for her to marry a much older, wealthy man and at the same time, Florence is in turmoil because of a strict monk named Savonarola, who is clashing with the city’s art and politics.
Now, Alessandra must try to cope with her forced marriage while secretly enjoying the painter’s art, all during a time of great change in Florence.
I love, love, love a coming-of-age book about a girl who grows into a fierce woman who knows what she wants and is able to manipulate her surroundings until they cough up her desire, so you just know I gobbled this up.
And, if you’d like to read a fantastic piece of historical fiction set in Italy and steeped in history, then this is it for you.
The Birth of Venus is a fresh, riveting story with characters who feel well-rounded and I promise it’s an absolute delight to read.
2. Arturo’s Island by Elsa Morante, translated by Ann Goldstein
On a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, Arturo, a young boy cared for by black-clad women after his mother’s death.
Since his father is largely absent and has remarried, he’s something of a loner and he hates his father’s new wife, Nunziata, who is almost his age.
As time passes, their strained relationship evolves into one characterised by passion and tragedy that haunts them all.
Arturo really takes the lemons he’s been handed and makes…well, a lemonade (even though it’s so sour it might give you a crick in your neck).
That said, this is yet another fabulous piece of literature set in Italy that everyone NEEDS to pick up and I promise it’s 100% worth reading.
3. The Tuscan Girl by Angela Petch
After her fiancé dies in an accident, twenty-six-year-old Alba is overwhelmed by guilt and grief, so she returns to her childhood home in the remote Tuscan village of Rofelle.
While hiking, she finds a hidden mahogany box with silverware near the ruins of a WWII-era house.
Eager to find its owner and ease her own pain, Alba befriends Massimo, an elderly man haunted by war memories and as they bond over their shared sorrow, Massimo tells Alba about Lucia, a young woman who defied the Nazis.
For Massimo, sharing his pain and secret sorrow eased his heart and Alba, who listened patiently, felt her burden reduce significantly.
Look, I have a weakness for books about intergenerational friendships and, in this case, these two found an unlikely ally in each other and it was the most heartwarming ever.
Come for the lovely Tuscan scenery, but please stay for the lush, beautiful prose, the fantastic, heart-melting storyline, and the wholesome friendship between two complicated characters.
4. Oil and Marble by Stephanie Storey
At the height of his career, Leonardo da Vinci was being attacked from all ends; the worst of all being his complex relationship with Lisa, who inspired his Mona Lisa painting.
Meanwhile, the young sculptor Michelangelo Buonarroti is battling poverty and family opposition while doing his best to create the statue of David from a difficult block of marble.
Storey’s Oil and Marble digs deep into their rivalry and relationship in the artistically charged setting of Renaissance Florence.
Ever wondered what went down between Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo? Here’s a fantastic book that puts a fictional spin on it.
The relationship between these two moved swiftly from strangers to rivals to reluctant partners and then rivals again, and trust me when I say you’ll be seated all through.
5. The Silent Duchess by Dacia Maraini, translated by Dick Kitto and Elspeth Spottiswood
Marianna Ucrìa is a noblewoman in early 18th century Sicily who became deaf and mute due to childhood trauma.
She lives in a very restrictive society and is married to an abusive uncle, but she takes her fate into her own hands and goes after education and self-empowerment.
This acclaimed historical novel won the Premio Campiello and has been translated into fourteen languages.
As feminist as can be, this wonderful book shows Marianna’s efforts to assert her autonomy in a society where women were regarded as objects.
Needless to say, it was one hurdle after the other, but I promise you’re going to be rooting for Marianna every step of the way.
6. The Temptation of Gracie by Santa Montefiore
Gracie Burton, a grandmother living in Devon, impulsively decides to spend her life savings on a weeklong cooking course in Tuscany after seeing an ad.
Her daughter Carina, is a busy London businesswoman, and her granddaughter Anastasia, who is at boarding school, are surprised by her decision.
During the trip, Gracie reveals long-hidden secrets about her extraordinary past and the women learn about her life before she settles into quietude.
I always say that everyone has lived a book-worthy life and you simply need to be patient enough to sit, listen, and ask the right questions.
Gracie’s revelations help her daughter and granddaughter understand her more and, unexpectedly, she learns more about herself in the process.
This is yet another must-read book that should be on your TBR if you’d like to experience the uniquely pervasive energy of a book set in Tuscany.
7. The Color Line by Igiaba Scego, translated by John Cullen and Gregory Conti
Igiaba Scego’s novel shows the delicate connection between the lives of two very different women who face lookalike problems.
On one hand, there’s Lafanu Brown, a pioneering Black woman artist who rises to prominence in Rome by 1887 even though she has been on the receiving end of adversity for a long time.
And, on the other hand, we meet a contemporary Italian-Somali art curator who is struggling to bring her young migrant cousin to safety in Europe.
Even though they’re different, their problems of identity and belonging mirror each other and it’s something any black woman can understand.
They’re resilient, though, so expect lots and lots of bouncing back and a somewhat timely story that may just fill a gap in your fractured soul.
8. Antoinette’s Sister by Diana Giovinazzo
Maria Carolina Charlotte is the archduchess of Austria and sister to Marie Antoinette.
But after her sister’s sudden death, Charlotte is forced into an arranged marriage with King Ferdinand IV of Naples.
With political turmoil and the threat of revolution in France looming above her, Charlotte must learn to use her power to safeguard her family and her kingdom.
There’s literally no universe in which I would walk away from a book about a woman who takes her destiny into her own hands, so reading this one was a no-brainer.
And, need I say how much I loved it? Charlotte went through it all – personal issues, political strife, an odd marriage – but she kept showing up every single day.
Just like several other historical fiction books on this post, this lovely one is set in Italy and thoroughly steeped in history, but it never feels overwhelming.
This is very much Charlotte’s story and you’re going to oscillate between different extreme feelings, but be patient and I know you’ll love it as much as I did.
9. The House by the Sea by Santa Montefiore
This book spans decades and continents, but it begins with ten-year-old Floriana’s dream of a future at a grand Tuscan villa with Dante, the owner’s son, but this future isn’t uncertain the more time passes.
Years later, in England, Marina, who runs a struggling country house hotel, hires Rafael Santoro as an artist-in-residence, and her new employee’s presence is at once curious, but he has a certain healing energy.
In the spirit of not giving everything away while BEGGING you to check out this book, here’s what I’ll tell you for sure: you can literally never go wrong with a sweeping narrative.
I mean, I know some people find them long-winded and I’ll be the first one to admit that sometimes, the storyline in such a book might meander, but that isn’t the case in this book.
Every single page of this was carefully written and the amount of love the author had poured into its creation was clear at every point in time.
You are going to love this historical fiction about love and forgiveness if you’re in the mood for an interesting book set in Italy and England.
10. The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani
As Matelda, the strong-willed matriarch of the Cabrelli family, approaches the end of her life, she decides to reveal a long-hidden family secret about her mother Domenica’s lost love.
We then get swept up in Domenica’s story which takes place during World War II and moves from the coastal town of Viareggio to Marseille, Scotland, and wartime Liverpool.
I’ll be 100% honest and tell you right now that I started this book a couple of times, but I never could get past the 5% mark – Something kept holding me back.
But, I gave it another chance last month and, you guys, I was ugly sobbing in some parts and then ugly laughing shortly laughter.
The Good Left Undone is raw and provocative in the best way possible, and there’s literally no way you won’t be entranced by the writing and captivated by Matelda’s reflections on life and her legacy.
I’ve learned that, sometimes, a book comes to us at the wrong time and so we need to be patient (with ourselves and the book).
This is just to say that if you do take my recommendation and start this book but it doesn’t work for you immediately, give it some time; I am 100% sure you’ll emerge from your reading fog totally in love.
11. Hotel Portofino by J.P. O’Connell
Hotel Portofino follows Bella Ainsworth, who owns a newly opened hotel on the Italian Riviera during Mussolini’s Italy.
While running her hotel, Bella must deal with demanding guests, political intrigue from a corrupt politician, and personal issues including a troubled marriage and family struggles post-World War I.
And, to add to these problems, a potential love interest for her son Lucian triggers events that impact the whole family.
Hotel Portofino is set against the beautiful Italian Riviera and it’s simply the most stunning novel about life during a time of global uncertainty.
Bella finds her world slowly shifting and this wrestle to either hold on for the bumpy ride or keep her feet firmly planted in the past will rip her apart.
And, it has been adapted into a series, which I haven’t watched, but I have no doubt it’ll be just as amazing.
12. The Last Masterpiece by Laura Morelli
Set during World War II, two women are caught in a high-stakes race across Nazi-occupied Italy in this historical fiction book.
Eva Brunner is a German photographer documenting looted art in Austrian salt mines, and Josephine Evans is an American typist from Yale Art Gallery.
They are both summoned to Italy to help save priceless artworks as Italy’s alliance shifts and Hitler’s plans to destroy them become clear.
Their mission, inspired by true events involving the Monuments Women and the Fifth Army WACs, is a fantastic and gripping story of bravery, rivalry, and sacrifice in the chaos of war-torn Italy.
Eva and Josephine were the most unlikely friends and I absolutely loved the way their relationship blossomed before they even became aware of it.
Aside from this being an essential WWII read, The Last Masterpiece is also amazing because we get to see our leads’ moral dilemmas and the intricacies that come into play when preserving cultural heritage.
13. The Sicilian Inheritance by Joe Piazza
After facing successive personal setbacks, Sara Marsala inherits land in Sicily and accidentally discovers a family secret.
It turns out that her great-grandmother Serafina may have been murdered; That is, she did not die of a natural illness as she previously thought.
The novel alternates between Sara’s modern-day investigation and Serafina’s early 20th-century story, where she boldly strides against societal norms in Sicily.
If you’ve never even thought about it, then this is the sign you’ve been waiting for – You absolutely need to pick up a multigenerational mystery book ASAP.
The Italian setting was a major selling point of this wonderfully written book, but I also loved watching Serafina come into her own while Sara kept digging until she got to her truth.
14. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
Beautiful Ruins tracks a sensual romantic affair from the Italian coast in 1962 to Hollywood fifty years later.
The blurb of this book is incredibly confusing, so I won’t reproduce it here since that’ll be a waste anyway, as it doesn’t tell much about the story.
That said, Beautiful Ruins, which is set on the beautiful Amalfi Coast of Italy, has the most unique set of characters, but what stands out about all of them is that they’re so incredibly flawed.
The plot meanders and expands and then turns on its tail (hope this metaphor works), but the ensemble cast was enough to carry it until the very end.
15. Courage, My Love by Kristin Beck
Set in Rome during the Nazi occupation of 1943, this novel follows two brave women, Lucia Colombo, a single mother struggling to survive, and Francesca Gallo, a polio survivor and activist.
Both are drawn into the Italian Resistance as German forces threaten their lives and loved ones and they must face constant danger.
In time, they confront their pasts and develop strong bonds of love and courage in war-torn Rome while hoping for an oppression-free future.
For these two, the physical dangers are multiple; but the real danger which will sooner see than collapse is their loss of identity.
As I said earlier, a book about a woman who comes into her own is essentially irresistible in my books and this one, which features two such women, was everything.
I’ll spare you the details since the blurb provided above really does provide enough information, but rest assured that it’s just as sublime as it sounds.
16. An Italian Affair by Caroline Montague
In 1937, Alessandra Durante moves with her daughter Diana to a villa in Tuscany after her husband’s death.
And when World War II approaches, the villa becomes a refuge for those in need.
Diana’s feelings become complicated when a young man named Davide enters their lives.
Meanwhile, Alessandra’s son Robert fights in the war as a pilot, taking on dangerous missions against Fascism.
Every single member of the Durante family was going through it and this is an excellent WWII book that really shows the effect of the war on normal people.
It’s just as heart-rending as it is hopeful, and I have a good feeling you’re going to enjoy watching all of them send silent prayers across the universe every day.
17. Beneath A Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
Pino Lella, a carefree teenager in Milan during World War II, is thrown into chaos when his home is bombed.
He then joins an underground network to help Jews escape and falls in love with Anna.
To avoid combat, Pino enlists as a German soldier and becomes a driver for General Hans Leyers, a high-ranking Nazi officer.
While secretly spying for the Allies, Pino is driven by his love for Anna and the hope for a better future beyond the war’s horrors.
Beneath A Scarlet Sky is one of the few historical fiction books on this list that leans into the romance factor without any form of pretence.
So, I think anyone keen to read an incredible love story would adore every page of it.
Pino is a reluctant protagonist if I could call him that, but there’s no way you won’t absolutely be rooting for him by the time you get to the final page.
18. Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson
In the autumn of 1943, with Nazi control tightening over Italy, Jewish woman Antonina Mazin must hide in the countryside to avoid imprisonment.
She takes refuge with Nico Gerardi, a former priest who now runs a farm and they agree to pretend to be a married couple to stay safe.
Life on the farm is tough for Nina who’s essentially a city girl with dreams of becoming a doctor.
And, with their many suspicious neighbours and a Nazi official lurking around, protecting their secrets becomes a life-or-death affair.
As you’d expect, Nina and Nico do end up falling for each other even though they are in a fake relationship, but they wake up with the fear of separation every single day.
I won’t spoil the rest of the book by telling you what finally happens to the lot of them (you’ll need to read to find out), but I firmly believe this is going to be a new fave.
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What do you think? Do any of these books set in Italy sound like a good time? Which ones will you pick up?
Let me know in the comments section and don’t forget to check out the related posts to get even more fantastic book recommendations.
