Areala

Let's say your traveling to Italy, do you like to read books about Italy, like for example "Under the Tuscan Sun" or watch movies that are Based in Italy to get you in the mood and to help with your excitement level of taking this trip.

If so, what books or movies would you recommend?

Like for my trip to France last year I read all the Peter Mayle books and "The Girl at the Lion D'OR" by Sebastian Faulks.

Now I am going to Italy and would like some good reads on Italy or even movies. I watched Roman Holiday so far...that was pretty good...anymore.....

Thanks,

teena1014

I do the same thing. Two years ago on the plane to Italy (Venice specifically) I read the book City of Fallen Angels. The book was fantastic and set in Venice! This year I am going to the Liguria and I am going to read the book Extra Virgin which is set in that area.

Vttraveler

Here is a recent thread with suggestions about books about Italy
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35105935

I think it will send you to other threads. There are many including several about Rome. You could try a search for Rome books (or probably Angels and Demons) Without knowing where exactly you are going this general list would be a good place to start

For movies about Italy try this thread
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35131573
(Just ignore the long acrimonious argument about the setting of The Italian Job which I think results largely from confusing the two versions, one first in Turin, the remake in Venice....)

Areala

Thanks, this is what I'm looking for.

Funny, I did do a search and came up with nothing...hence this particular inquiry...

I guess it's all in how you phrase it.

I saw a similar thread regarding France so I used that same phrasing for my search on Italy but got nothing so thanks for lead vttraveler....)

Vttraveler

I agree it is often hard to find what you are looking for with searches. Hope you find what you are looking for and enjoy getting in the mood for your trip. When do you leave?

GaryCA

I recommend Best of Youth. I heard about it on this forum. It was a mini-series on Italian TV lasting many hours. You can rent it at some independent video rentals. It is an excellent portrayal of a family over several decades and takes place in Rome, Turin and Sicily.

Areala

My goodness...just the threads I was directed to directed me to even more threads and I started copying and pasting to a Word document and I already have 3 pages of books to look for...and I'm not even done...well actually I am done cause I already have way more to read than I can ever possibly read before I go.

Thanks again...

Areala

vttraveler,

I am going in September...9 days France and 9 days Italy.

I have been a few times before but this time I am going with my 2 sisters who have never been to europe and I am afraid they may never get to go again so I am sorta doing one of those 55 countries in 4 days or less sort of thing...not really my ideal way of travel but I want them to see as much as possible because I am 99.9% sure they will never get to go again. Since I have been I can get them straigt to the heart of things and forget a lot of not so important stuff...nice and interresting stuff to be sure but since not enough time for everything I will skip a bunch for them. However, I did this once before with a few girl friends of mine and it worked out very well but I usually add at least one or 2 things in each country to see that I have never seen before so that even I can get something out of it.

Don't take me wrong, I still get something out of seeing the same stuff over and over again in europe. I never tire of it.

Are you going anywhere this year ?

If so where and when ?

Happy Travels

Vttraveler

Areala
I am planning a trip to Brussels to visit friends this fall. I am "owed" a solo trip to make up for the one my husband took to Mendoza last December.

I am also hoping to fit in a few days in Paris and a day trip to Antwerp

I hope you have a great time introducing your sisters to France and Italy