Glossy sightseeing companion full of colour illustrations and maps supported by first-rate writing. Practical travel information is included, albeit scarcely, in the back pages.
Originally published in 1938, this is Orwell's classic account of his experiences during the Spanish Civil War. In what is one of his finest books he describes the calamity and humanity of a chaotic war.
A hugely entertaining novel centred around a failing newspaper in Rome. The eccentric employees seek venal distractions as their lives and livelihoods slowly disintegrate.
A wonderful guide to 46 Italian hotels where the owners put time and affection into everything they do. Specialises in the environmentally responsible, regional and community-focused places to stay.
Eco's masterpiece is a labyrinthine historical murder story in which a 14th century monk turns detective. A remarkable illumination of the Middle Ages as well as a cracking mystery.
By some distance Calvino's most popular work, this is an highly cerebral work of metafiction that seems to fold in on itself so often that the reader must cling on for dear life. Thankfully the remarkably inventive exercise is founded on a great sense of absurd humour, and is shot through with enough warmth and humanity to justify its twists and turns. Unique and worthy of investigation.
A sublimely unusual detective story that presents a scathing picture of fascist Italy, Gadda's much-loved classic is also a rich baroque social novel. Wonderful.
A singular book by one of our favourite historians, 'Rubicon' is ambitiously conceived and exquisitely realised. Lucid and pacy, it charts the last century of the Roman Republic, culminating in its catastrophic demise. Brilliant.
Increasingly Time Out's main focus, the annually-updated Shortlist gives a brief introduction to the city then cuts right to the chase, directing you to the best sights, bars, restaurants and so on. Pocket-sized and perhaps all you need for a weekend visit.
An unusual and insightful guide with a strong personal touch, as the author leads us through her favourite haunts, illuminating as she does so the rich cultural history of the city.
Authors Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls have written dozens of first-rate guides for Cadogan, and this one is another success. In highly readable prose they explore the region honestly and insightfully, balancing practical know-how with wider context. Aimed mid-range for a relatively comfortable trip.
Perhaps the most terrifying and haunting story ever penned, 'Don't Look Now' renders Venice an eerie and spectral backdrop to a magnificently chilling exploration of grief. 'Not After Midnight' and 'The Breakthrough', also included here among others, are equally potent.
Modestly titled, this is as far as we are concerned the only history of Venice worth reading. Norwich approaches his subject with great knowledge and passion, and tells its story with consummate skill. Monumental in scope, rich in detail and brilliant in execution, this is a truly fine book.
Setting the standard as ever for historical and cultural coverage, this formidable guide offers deeply detailed insight into sights across the region, with colour photographs and the odd hotel and restaurant recommendation.
Part of Bloomsbury's marvellous 'The Writer & The City' series, Leavitt's fine exploration of expatriate life in Florence is evocative, measured and insightful in the utmost.
Two fantastically rich portraits of two great cities, in which the considerable artistic and architectural splendours of the past persist in the daily spectacle of carnival and commerce. The quality of McCarthy's writing is astonishing - utterly hypnotic - and it cannot be recommended highly enough.
A gritty, graceless, unflinching account of the Camorra, the Naepolitan mafia-esque crime organization that Saviano believes is destroying one of Italy's great cities. Brutal but utterly brilliant.
A scintillating, sensual novel of immoral behaviour and criminality played out in the taverns of southern Italy. Underrated French novelist won the 1957 Prix Goncourt for this, his finest achievement.
Not only one of the great pieces of Italian travel writing, but one of the great journalistic works of the twentieth century. This brilliant book beautifully evokes a city falling apart at the end of the war, as well as capturing the heat and complexity of Southern Italian culture. An absolute classic.
Two thirds of the book is devoted to the city itself, highlighting the best sights, bars, restaurants and so on, giving a great flavour of the place. The remainder covers surrounding spots like Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.