Italy is such an amazing country- I just can’t get enough of it. And when I can’t be in Italy, I do a little travel from home with books and movies set in Italy. I use them to research before a trip and to relive a vacation once I’m home.
A good book can transport you there mentally, giving you a sneak peek into the history, culture, and quirks of the place before your feet even touch the ground. After reading some of these books, you’ll have the inside scoop on Italy.
Movies, meanwhile, provide a visual taste, letting you soak in the scenery, pick up local slang, and maybe even spot the best street food to try. Think of it as travel prep with zero jet lag- you get to experience the vibes before dealing with airport security.
Plus, nothing impresses locals more than casually dropping a literary reference or quoting a classic film set in their hometown. By the time you land, you won’t just be another tourist- you’ll be a traveler in the know.
>> Hey! 🇮🇹 Planning a trip to Italy? Check out my Northern Italy Itinerary by Train. I’ve been lots of places in this lovely country but this part’s probably my fave.
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Books Set in Italy
I have a book problem. I know I should just get a Kindle to use when I travel, but I just can’t help myself- I must bring paper books.
One of the benefits of purchasing actual books is that I offload them as I go and then have extra room in my luggage for souvenirs. That’s what I tell myself anyway.
And sure, you *could* haul around a small library in your suitcase, but a sane person would just get a Kindle. Don’t be like me.
But whether paper or digital, snuggle in with a book or three and immerse yourself in this delightful country with these 16 books set in Italy.
>> And don’t forget to check out Audible! 🎧 📚 It’s great for those long flights and cross-country road trips!
Memoirs Set in Italy
Bella Figura is a journey of embracing the elegance of Italian culture and the joy of slowing down to savor life’s simple pleasures when a woman spends a year in Florence. There are fashion tips and recipes to help you live the good life just like her.
This heartbreaking memoir, a Reese’s Book Club pick and now a limited series on Netflix, is about love, and family loss. When an Sicilian man marries a black, American woman it creates a rift in his family. But when he’s diagnosed with cancer, it changes everything.
A Rosie Life in Italy- Rosie Meleady
An Irish woman packs up her camper van full of her family and everything she owns to try to start a destination wedding business in a 22-room villa that’s falling apart. What could go wrong?
See you in the Piazza- Frances Mayes
After you’ve watched (or read) Under the Tuscan Sun, read this book by the same author which follows the adventures of Frances and her husband as they explore parts of Italy known only to locals.
The Reluctant Tuscan- Phil Doran
An overworked Hollywood writer moves to Italy after his wife buys a house there (surprise!). Together, they renovate it and learn how to live life like the Italians where food, good company, and good wine are the most important things. I read this one when I was traveling in northern Italy last year.
Positively Pazzo- Michael Francis
Pazzo in English means crazy and this funny memoir is full of the crazy stories of a man who decides to drop everything and learn Italian in the best place to learn it- Italy.
Historical Fiction Books Set in Italy
The Marriage Portrait- Maggie O’Farrell
This Reese’s Book Club pick takes place in Florence in the 1500s and follows a girl forced into marriage to a duke. She is completely unprepared for life in the court of her new husband and struggles with her place, the court intrigues, and especially with her husband.
The Last Masterpiece- Laura Morelli
Two friends must save irreplaceable pieces of priceless Italian art from the Uffizi before the Nazis can complete their plan to destroy them.
My Brilliant Friend- Elena Ferrante
In 1950s Naples, two little girls meet and become fast friends in the first of four novels about these characters. It’s a story of community and changing relationships. It is also now a TV Show on HBO- check it out!
In 1944, as Allied troops advance and bombs rain down, two strangers cross paths in the ruined wine cellar of a Tuscan villa, sharing an unforgettable evening together. This is a GMA book club pick.
Beneath a Scarlet Sky- Mark Sullivan
A boy finds himself as the driver to Hitler’s right hand in Italy and spies in the hopes of ending the war and marrying the Jewish woman he helped escape.
Novels Set in Italy
Women in Sunlight- Frances Mayes
A novel by the memoir queen about three newly retired women who rent a villa in Tuscany and try to capture the Italian way of life.
The Patron Saint of Second Chances- Christine Simon
In this delightful book, the self-appointed mayor of a tiny Italian village is determined to save his beloved hometown—no matter the cost. So he starts a rumor that a movie will be filmed in the tiny village and everyone wants in on the action.
The Sicilian Inheritance- Jo Piazza
Sara’s great-grandmother Serafina, the family matriarch who was left behind while her husband worked in America, didn’t die of illness as family lore has it . . . she was murdered. The protagonist aims to find out the details behind why this strong woman who fought for all the women on her village was silenced.
The owner of a hotel in a remote Italian village is captivated by an American actress sent to recover from an illness. Fifty years later, he travels to Hollywood to try to find her.
A Wedding in Lake Como- Jennifer Probst
A picturesque destination wedding on Italy’s Lake Como reunites three best friends, forcing them to confront secrets from the past in this romantic novel. If you like this one, the same author has several more set in various parts of Italy.
TV and Movies Set in Italy
There’s one thing that rivals my love for books- movies and TV.
Being a visual person, I love getting a sneak peek of the places I’m about to visit, picturing what it’ll feel like to actually be there. So naturally, I binge-watch anything and everything filmed in or about my destination.
I want to see the customs, the fashion, the food- immerse myself in it all before I even step off the plane. Here are some great things to watch if you do too.
Travel Shows about Italy
Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy TV 2022
If you love food, you’ll love this show that follows the actor, Stanley Tucci, as he explores the regional cuisines of Italy. There are 2 seasons so far.
Anthony Bourdain TV 2006-2018
He was a legendary chef and hilarious travel guru whose foul mouth and zest for life took him to places all around the world and inspired millions to connect with people in other places.
He visited Italy lots of times over the years of his various travel shows. I think I found all his episodes but let me know if I left any out!
- No Reservations 2006-2012– Season 1- Sicily/ Season 3- Tuscany/ Season 5- Venice & Sardinia/ Season 6- Rome/ Season 7- Naples/ Season 8- Emilia Romana
- The Layover 2012– Season 1- Rome
- Parts Unknown 2013-2018– Season 2- Sicily, Season 10- Southern Italy
Drama Shows and Movies Set in Italy
White Lotus (Season 2) TV 2022
The plot of season 2 follows the lives of the staff and wealthy guests at a luxury resort in Sicily. Yes, there are Vespas, sun-soaked scenery, and dangerous exploits. Be sure to watch Season 1 in Hawaii and Season 3 in Thailand too!
Made in Italy Movie 2020
If you want sweeping Tuscan views, this movie will hit the spot. A man and his son fix up a dilapidated old villa while grappling with their strained relationship.
Hotel Portofino TV 2022-current
Set in the roaring 20s, this TV show has the most incredible scenery showcasing the Italian Riviera. Brought to you by Masterpiece Theatre, it follows an English woman who moves her family to Portofino to open a hotel. If you love Downton Abbey, you’ll love this one too.
Oceans Twelve Movie 2004
Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his crew are at it again in this fun thriller filmed mostly around the gorgeous Lake Como in northern Italy.
The Talented Mr. Ripley Movie 1999
One of my all-time favorite movies, this shows off various parts of Italy including the sun-splashed Ligurian coast, Venice, and Rome. Matt Damon plays an unassuming character who eventually begins to take over the identity of someone he called a friend (Jude Law) while his girlfriend (Gwyneth Paltrow) tries to figure out the truth.
The Borgias TV 2011-2013
Led by their ambitious patriarch Rodrigo, the Spanish Borgia family is determined to seize power in Renaissance-era Italy by conniving their way into becoming pope. This position, of course, holds control over not just Italy but all Christian nations.
The Italian Job Movie 2003
For fast-paced action, watch this movie about a crew of thieves who must recover the gold they stole from the man who double-crossed them during the theft. Or check out the original 1969 version. There are scenes in Turin (the mini cooper scene) and Venice as well as others. 🚗
Eat Pray Love Movie 2010
OK, so this doesn’t take place completely in Italy- Julia Roberts also travels to India and Bali in this memoir about a woman trying to make sense of her life. But the part in Italy and is magical and will have you booking a trip asap. I’ve watched it approximately 1 million times.
A Good Woman Movie 2006
Set on the Amalfi Coast in the 1930s, a young, high society newlywed (Scarlett Johansson) is devastated when her husband begins an affair with another woman (Helen Hunt). I watched this when it came out and still love it.
Comedy Shows and Movies Set in Italy
Under the Tuscan Sun Movie 2003
This absolute classic if you’re visiting this area of Italy. The book (a memoir) is amazing but the movie, starring Diane Lane, shows off the beautiful landscapes near Florence. In case you don’t already know, it’s about a newly divorced woman who buys a house in Tuscany on a whim and ends up falling in love with Italy.
Mafia Mama Movie 2023
Toni Collette stars in this fun comedy that has her unexpectedly inheriting her grandfather’s mafia empire and defying everyone’s expectations.
Letters to Juliette Movie 2010
This takes place in the lovely city of Verona and follows a young writer (Amanda Seyfried) who finds a love letter and sets in motion a plan to find its long-lost recipient. ❤️
Two Scoops of Italy Movie 2024
When an American chef visits a charming Italian village in search of inspiration, she falls in love with the flavors, culture, gelato- and the charming Italian gentleman who introduces her to it all. If you like Hallmark movies, you’ll like this one.
When in Rome Movie 2010
When a hopelessly unlucky-in-love woman from New York (Kristen Bell), embarks on a whirlwind trip to Rome for her sister’s wedding, she unexpectedly finds herself caught up in a surprising romance. It’s a fun bit of romance and comedy and completely silly.
All Roads Lead to Rome Movie 2016
A single mother (Sarah Jessica Parker) forces her teenage daughter travel to the Italian countryside to try and reconnect. The mother is surprised to find someone she knew when she was younger is still living there. Maybe she didn’t pick this village randomly after all.
Book Club: The Next Chapter Movie 2023
Four women embark on a girls’ trip to Italy, expecting relaxation and fun. But when plans go awry, their getaway transforms into a thrilling, cross-country adventure they’ll never forget. This all-star cast will have you laughing throught it all.
The Trip to Italy Movie 2014
Two comedians reunite for a tour of Italy’s finest food, hotels, and women in this hilarious tromp through the country of Italy. They have also made movies in the same style about northern England, Greece, and Spain.
My Favorite Travel Websites
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Questions about Books and Movies Set in Italy
How can I watch these movies and shows?
Things come and go on the streamers but you can always find them on Amazon through each of my links.
What are the best earbuds for travel?
I love love love my Airpods Pro because of the noise canceling feature- they’re great for those loud planes. They also have FindMy in case you misplace them along the way. They’re worth every penny to me but there are other options like Beats Studio Buds which are a little cheaper but still great. If you prefer over-ear headphones, Beats are always good and can take a beating (have I mentioned I have two teen boys?).
Whether you’re looking for a historical fiction novel or a romcom movie, I hope this list of books and movies set in Italy will inspire you to book (pun not intended) that trip to this amazing country.
Happy travels… ✈️ 📚 🍿 🇮🇹
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