Literary journey through the most beautiful cities in Europe

Books that may inspire your next trip

Sometimes when you read a book and enjoy its story, you start to imagine the location and places and think to yourself “I would like to go there!”… Some novels can become also travel guides thanks to the detailed description of spectacular cities, interesting locations and unique places that create the hunger for travel within you. Here are some authors and books that may inspire your next trip

Lagoon city in the books by Donna Leon

No other city has fascinated writers more than Venice. The mysterious city attracted very important writers such as William Shakespeare and Thomas Mann, just to mention a few. Its narrow canals, little streets, magnificent palaces, churches, bridges and gondolas can be very inspiriting, therefore no wonder that Donna Leon's Comissario Brunetti is one of the best known and most beloved investigator in Venice. The stories about Comissario Brunetti and his “Venetian” cases are both exciting as well as provocative and present us with an intimate insight into the daily life of the Italian family. Donna Leon's books are also original travel guides, you can find insider tips for your trip to Venice where to buy fish and bread in Venice, find out the oldest ice cream shop or the best “tramezzino” place and learn more about customs, traditions and social values in the Lagoon city. The name of shops and description of the city correspond to reality and sometimes are very provocative since they correlate to the real cases, no wonder why the books about Comissario Brunetti are not translated into Italian.

With Daniel Sempere to Barcelona of Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Many readers have discovered Barcelona again thanks to Carlos Ruiz Zafon's novels. The most famous are 'The Shadow of the Wind“, „The Angel's Game“ and „Marina“ The heroes of the novels give to the reader a different view of the city, with its narrow places, shady gardens and crowded cafes. Thanks to these books you can see Barcelona's Gothic quarter with Daniel Sempere's eyes and discover the quarter by Calle Fernando, where Gustavo Barceló has his bookshop. By reading “Marina” you will reach the Plaza Real, where Clara Barceló plays the piano, but also where Daniel frequently passes and the hero of The Angel's Game David Martín will take you into a house in Calle Flassaders, in the Ribera district, where you will see all its mysterious Gothic buildings. Zafón's books have been translated into over 40 languages and inspired many passionate travelers for a trip to Barcelona

Stockholm by Stieg Larsson

Stockholm is especially attractive for fans of Stieg Larsson's trilogy 'The Millenium' who are coming now to the capital to discover the dark side of calm and peaceful Sweden. There are also many „tours within the books“ for your trip to Stockholm which give you the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the protagonists of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest. The most popular place is the island of Södermalm, where the main character, Mikael Blomqvist lives, so you can see all the bars, cafes, and Lisbeth Salander’s apartment. At the end take a moment to drink a coffe in Mellqvists kaffebar in Hornsgatan 78 Sodermalm, that is Mikael Blomkvist's favourite local café and at the same time it was very dear to Stieg Larsson. He spend a lot of time there working on its novels and characters.

In Lisbon with Antonio Tabucchi

There are those who dream of visiting some travel destinations because of their splendid beaches, world famous museums and challenging traditions, and Lisbon is one of these places. But novels of Antonio Tabucchi show you the city in a special light: a sunny and busy capital and a cosmopolitan city by day, and a dark and mysterious place at night, which you will discover by following the characters of Italian writer Antonio Tabucchi in his famous novels. Pereira, the melancholy journalist from a minor Lisbon newspaper “The Lisboa” who is the main character of “Pereira Maintains„ will take you to his house in Rua da Saudade, under the walls of the castle of Sao Jorge, to the main squares of the Baixa and by yellow tram on his way to publishing house by Rua Rodrigo da Fonseca. With 'Requiem' Antonio Tabucchi takes his readers on a dream trip to Portugal, get them meet many characters of the city such as young junky, a taxi driver, a gypsy, a cemetery keeper and also the special Guest, the ghost of the poet Fernando Pessoa. 'Requiem' and other novels of Tabucchi become an homage to a country and its people.