I received so much help from the forum here for reading suggestions before my recent trip to Italy. I've put together a list and reviews of the books I ended up reading - please feel free to add to it to make the list more complete!

You'll find it here: https://polloplayer.wordpress.com/20...u-go-to-italy/

What a wonderful list - thank you so much.
If you want to do some more reading, 'Whispering City' by RJB Bosworth and 'Naples Declared: A Walk Around the Bay' are a couple of I love.
As well, there is also 'Almost Invincible' which is a biographical novel of Mary Shelley (author of Frankenstein) who - for those who don't know - spent many years in Italy with her husband, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and their mutual friend Lord Byron.

Well it would help it I added authors
Almost Invincible - Suzanne Burdon
http://www.amazon.com/Almost-Invinci.../dp/0992354005

Naples Declared - Benjamin Taylor

http://www.amazon.com/Naples-Declare.../dp/0143123467

and if you are a fan of the travel writing genre in general, do not miss 'The Art of Travel' by Alain de Botton

I am currently reading and very much enjoying That Awful Mess on the Via Merulana , a mystery based novel taking place in Rome by Carlo Emilio Gadda.

For starters,

Andrea di Robilant: A Venetian Affair
Sarah Dunant: In the Company of Courtesans
Sarah Dunant: The Birth of Venus
Sarah Dunant: Sacred Hearts
Anne Fortier: Juliet
Jeanne Kalogridis: The Borgia Bride
Jeanne Kalogridis: The Devil's Queen
Jeanne Kalogridis: I, Mona Lisa
Jeanne Kalogridis: The Scarlett Contessa
Paula Weideger: Venetial Dreaming
David Yeadon: Basilicata

Great thread!

Another vote for the Sarah Dunant books.

@Holly_uncasdewar I downloaded The Birth of Venus but forgot I had it. Thank you for reminding me!

Blood and Beauty - Sarah Dunant's first book on the life of Lucretia Borgia; I can hardly wait for the second one!

Any of Dona Leon's 'Brunetti' series...so much more than just mysteries. Plus there are companion books that walk you through Venice and its cooking.

Thanks for making the effort to compile your list.

Lindsay Davies Falco series a detective in ancient rome

The Scarlet City Hella Haasse

The Palace Lisa St Aubin De Teran

A Room with a View E M Forrester

Elena Ferrante's novels
Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose

Italo Calvino's novels

The Garden of the Finzi-Continis Giorgio Bessani

Oh! Thank you so much! This is very helpful!

I'm leaving for Italy at the end of March - visiting Rome, Positano and Venice.

If you had to choose just one book that is set in each of these 3 cities, which would you select? Actually that would be 3 books, one set in each city.

I'd love to read all of the books listed in this thread, but I will just run out of time.

Suggestions appreciated!

@Judy_Rosa gosh that is a tough order! Maybe narrow it down - are you interested in history or culture or more of a travelogue?

@maxima Putting The Garden of the Finzi-Continis on my to-read list!

Room with a View was superb!

So many wonderful suggestions here!

I'm not actually sure what would be the most appropriate.

I suppose I'd go with easy reading historical, to get a better sense of Rome and Venice's history.

For Positano maybe more of a travelogue? That said, a travelogue for each city sounds helpful too.

When I traveled to Spain a few years ago, I read a novel that touched on the historical significance of Cordoba, Seville and Granada which was really helpful, yet it was a novel not a history book so it was a really enjoyable read.

a few more to check out -

<i>The Italians</i>, by John Hooper

<i>The Secrets of Italy: People, Places, and Hidden Histories</i>, by Corrado Augias

<i>Florence and Tuscany: a Literary Guide for Travellers</i>, by Ted Jones

<i>My Italians: True Stories of Crime and Courage</i>, by Roberto Saviano
(but mightn't be a good idea to take it to Italy)

I would recommend
The Genius in the Design by Jake Morrissey
Basilica the Splendour and the Scandal R A Scotti
Michelangelo by William E Wallace
Iris Origo Marchese of Val d' Orcia
The Popes Daughter Caroline Murphy.
The Agony and Ecstasy.
I love any books about the construction of the magnificent buildings. Especially loved Bruschelli's Dome. Loved that more than the city of Florence.
There are numerous others I have struggled (David Gilmour) thru but I really enjoyed them all. I will read anything that takes me back!