travel Archives

Are you planning or dreaming about a trip to Italy? or to anywhere? I always am. Whether I’m in the U.S dreaming about my home in Tuscany, or whether I’m here in my little Tuscan town, I tend to read loads of books set here in Italy. I also read thrillers and mysteries voraciously.

My Glam Italia Tour travelers and I invariably talk about creating a list of books set in places we’ve traveled to, or a list of books set in places we’ve talked about. So I’ve decided to create a Glam Italia Book Club. Every month I will give you a list of books I’ve enjoyed, and let you know which formats they’re available in. (Paperback/kindle/audiobook.) The books won’t necessarily be new releases – I read everything, so want to share it all.

Amazon is the world’s biggest bookstore, with the largest selection in the world, along with all 5 of my books, so I’m going to provide links for the U.S Amazon.com where appropriate. If you’re not in the U.S you will be able to check your own country’s Amazon store.

This blog post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through an affiliate link the blog may receive a small commission.

Kindle and Kindle Unlimited

If you’ve been around here for a while, or if you belong to my monthly newsletter you’ll already know that I consume books on a Kindle Paperwhite. There are newer models of Kindles and there are more tricked out ones, but I started with the basic Kindle Paperwhite and years on it’s still going strong, so I’ve never felt the need to upgrade.

Before getting my Kindle I read digital books using the Kindle App on my iPad. I prefer the Kindle Paperwhite as it doesn’t have light flare, I can be on the beach or in the pool and not have light bouncing off the page. I don’t need blue blocker glasses and don’t get sore eyes the way you do after endless hours in front of a screen. It’s slimline, fits in my handbag easily, and is the greatest thing ever for travel.

You will also hear me talk about KU or Kindle Unlimited. This is a monthly/6 monthly/annual membership that lets you download as many Kindle eBooks as you want, for free. All 5 of my books are in Kindle Unlimited. Although the books are free, Amazon still pays the authors. So don’t worry about authors not benefitting from your Kindle Unlimited membership.

Libraries and the Libby App

The Libby App connects your Kindle to your regular library and lets you borrow eBooks the same way as you would borrow a regular book. I read books from my hometown library on my Kindle, wherever I am in the world. It’s fantastic! If you read on a Kindle be sure to get the Libby App and connect to your local library. Many of the books in the bookclub will be available via your library, so you don’t always need to buy books.

BookBub

If you read on a Kindle or e-Reader I recommend signing up for BookBub. It’s free. During the sign up process it surveys what books you’ve read and loved, who your favorite authors are etc. Then you start receiving daily emails with books you would be interested in that are having a BookBub promotion. Typically books are free/$0.99/$1.99.

The BookBub algorithm will also send you emails periodically with other authors you may enjoy. I have discovered so many authors I now love through these recommendation emails.

Paperbacks & Hardcovers

Of course all these books are available in paperback and hardcover too.

Audible Audiobooks

Where possible I will also provide links to Amazon’s Audible. Audible is Amazon’s audiobook server. There are various options for Audible subscriptions including basic memberships and annual memberships. I also have a link for a free trial of Audible so you can see if it’s right for you.

I consume loads of audiobooks, especially when I’m exercising or doing repetitive things like driving, housework etc – things that don’t allow me to read. Some of my friends only consume audiobooks.

The Libby App has loads of books available in Audiobook form, and there are also other ways to get audiobooks, from Spotify to Apple Books to Google books and more. No one seems to have everything on audiobook, so I often click around looking for specific books.

Books I’ve Read This Month

I consume an enormous number of books each month both as e-Books and as audiobooks. I mostly read books set in Italy or thrillers.

A Refiner’s Fire by Donna Leon.

A Refiner’s Fire by Donna Leon

I’m a huge fan of the Commissario Brunetti series, of which this is book #33. If you’ve not read any of them yet, start with the first in series, Death At La Fenice, especially if you have any plans or dreams of visiting Venice. Commissario/Inspector Brunetti solves murder mysteries in his hometown of Venice. Along the way he introduces you to Venetian foods, culture, and all kinds of cool places to visit in the city. In A Refiner’s Fire Brunetti links a twenty year old mystery with a current crime wave in Venice, taking the reader on a fascinating adventure along the way.

Available on Amazon in Kindle e-Book, Paperback and Hardcover. See it on Amazon here.

The Venetian Sanctuary by Phillip Gwynne Jones

This is book 8 of a series of 8 books, so I have to wait at least a year for the next installment. Again set in Venice, this series is fantastic. Nathan Sutherland is a Brit living in Venice, working as a translator of boring lawn mower manuals and the such like, but also acting as the Honorary British Consul, an unpaid job with great cocktail party benefits. Nathan stumbles his way into murder mysteries, which he helps solve along with his friend Dario. Frequently hilarious but at the same time gripping, this series is just fantastic. More fun for readers of my book Glam Italia! 101 Fabulous Things To Do In Venice, Nathan lives on a street I talk about in my book, the street of the Assassins, and he hangs out at a bar I talk about too (on his street). This mystery takes place on one of the lagoon islands I talk about in my book, San Francesco del Deserto, an almost deserted island with a small monastery. My readers have lots of fun messaging me about things from my book that they discover in this series too. Start with book one in the series – they’re a fast but fabulous read!

The Venetian Sanctuary by Phillip Gwynne Jones is available in Kindle e-Book, Paperback and Hardcover. See here on Amazon.

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins

The propulsive and powerful new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Train

Welcome to Eris: an island with only one house, one inhabitant, one way out. Unreachable from the Scottish mainland for twelve hours each day. Once home to Vanessa: A famous artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared twenty years ago. Now home to Grace: A solitary creature of the tides, content in her own isolation.

But when a shocking discovery is made in an art gallery far away in London, a visitor comes calling.And the secrets of Eris threaten to emerge….

A masterful novel that is as page-turning as it is unsettling, The Blue Hour recalls the sophisticated suspense of Shirley Jackson and Patricia Highsmith and cements Hawkins’s place among the very best of our most nuanced and stylish storytellers.

Don’t be surprised if you stay up all night reading this one!

Find The Blue Hour here on Amazon, in Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle e-Book and Audible Audiobook.

AUDIOBOOKS

As much as I love to read I also consume audiobooks, normally while I’m out walking, driving and when I’m on planes. This month I have two audiobooks I want to tell you about.

Righteous Prey by John Sandford

I started reading the Prey books back in the 90’s. It is one of my all time favorite series, set in Minnesota and featuring Lucas Davenport, a brilliant cop who became a BCA officer and is now a U.S Marshall. If you enjoy fast moving, cleverly written thrillers you’ll love this series, and it’s spinoff Virgil Flowers series. I have consumed all the Virgil Flowers books as audiobooks, and am currently listening to Righteous Prey on audiobook. (Although I read the book when it came out, I am still enjoying the audiobook.)

Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are up against a powerful vigilante group with an eye on vengeance in this thrilling novel in the beloved series by the #1 New York Times bestselling author.

“We’re going to murder people who need to be murdered.”

So begins a press release from a mysterious group known only as “The Five,” shortly after a vicious predator is murdered in San Francisco. The Five is made up of vigilante killers who are very bored…and very rich. They target the worst of society—rapists, murderers, and thieves—and then use their unlimited resources to offset the damage done by those who they’ve killed, donating untraceable Bitcoin to charities and victims via the dark net. The Five soon become popular figures in the media …though their motives may not be entirely pure.

After The Five strike again in the Twin Cities, Virgil Flowers and Lucas Davenport are sent in to investigate. And they soon have their hands full–the killings are smart and carefully choreographed, and with no apparent direct connection to the victims, the killers are virtually untraceable. But if anyone can destroy this group, it will be the dynamic team of Davenport and Flowers.

Check it out here on Amazon

Dead Watch by John Sandford

This month I also listened to another John Sandford book, Dead Watch. It seems to be a standalone – not part of a series, but still was fast paced and wickedly clever. I loved it. John Sandford writes brilliantly suspenseful, consistently surprising thrillers filled with rich characters and exceptional drama.

Early morning, Virginia, and a woman is on the run. Her husband, a former U.S. Senator, has been missing for days. Kidnapped? Murdered? She doesn’t know, but she thinks she knows who’s involved, and why. And that she’s next.

Hours later in Washington, D.C., a cell phone rings. The White House chief of staff needs Jacob Winter now. His chief investigator and an Army Intelligence veteran, Winter knows how to move quickly and decisively, but he’s never faced a problem like this. The disappearances are bad, but when the blackened body shows up barbed-wired to a tree, Winter knows there is much worse to come. And soon enough, there is. Large forces are at work, determined to do whatever it takes to achieve their ends. Winter will have to use all his resources not only to prevail but also to survive. And so will the nation.

You can find Dead Watch here on Audible

I hope you enjoy these books! If you have books you would like to see on the list here, either books set in Europe, or mysteries and thrillers, bounce me back a reply from my monthly newsletter. I am always looking for new books to read! They don’t need to be new releases either – I don’t care how old they are!

Until next time, Ciao!

Naples is so much more than just piazza and Pompeii. Naples is a vibrant, exciting city, bursting with history, archaeological sites, shopping, and an abundance of art. Every artistic era and style and genre is here, and in surprising volume.

For centuries the two cultural centers of Europe were Paris and Naples. The most famous musicians in history coveted playing the Teatro San Carlo. From Mozart to Verdi, from Pavarotti to Maria Callas. Operas opened here, everyone wanted to perform here.

Artists came too, from as far back as at least 2300 B.C, through every era that followed until today, Naples has been an art hotspot. Did you know it was one of the main centers of renaissance art? Naples is amazing.

Whether you are an art aficionado or just have a fleeting interest in art, no trip to Naples is complete without seeing at least one of the following masterpieces:

Botticelli: Madonna And Child With Two Angels

Painted in around 1468, here we see a beautiful, pensive Mary, lost in thought, while two angels lift a column baby Jesus up to her. Mary gently caresses her baby’s feet as he extends his arms to her, almost spellbound by her beauty.

This masterpiece is at the Capodimonte museum up on the hill. You can combine a visit to the museum (it’s amazing!) with a walk in the park and gardens of the former royal family, taking in the astounding views across the bay to Capri and the Sorrento Peninsula, with Vesuvius looming off to your left.

Location: Capodimonte Museum

Jago: Pietà

I have a chapter about Jago (Yah – Goh) in my best selling Naples travel guide: Glam Italia! 101 Fabulous Things To Do In Naples. He is quite simply the most exciting artist of my lifetime.

Jago is a self taught sculptor who takes historical themes such as the Pietà, and puts his own spin on them. He leaves it to the viewer to decide who the players are. His Pietà has a man in the throws of absolute agony, holding the body of his dead son. We get to decide who it is. A Palestinian in Gaza? The father from a school shooting in the U.S? Someone whose child died from cancer/Covid/a car crash? A father with a child who drowned during a boat crossing to Greece? I tend to attribute whichever horrendous story is in the news that day.

You’ll find yourself wondering how someone can take a cold slab of stone and infuse it with so much emotion you can barely breathe. Jago is just magic.

Also exciting is his exhibition space. He restored an abandoned church in a formerly run down part of town (that has now become one of the coolest neighborhoods in Naples)

Location: the Jago Museum is at the Church of Sant’ Aspreno Ai Crociferi, Piazza Crociferi, 4

Caravaggio: The Seven Works Of Mercy

I go into great detail about this masterpiece in the book. There are so many stories within the main story, and each character is taken from another piece of history. I definitely recommend reading this one chapter before coming to Naples – once you understand what’s happening, the painting becomes even more sensational!

I also tell you about a tremendous book called The Guardian Of Mercy, by Terence Ward. While living in Florence several years ago, the author and his girlfriend made multiple trips to Naples and befriended the custodian charged with watching over the painting. The book is fantastic and will have you clamoring to get to Naples. You’ll end up putting the Caravaggio at the top of your must-see list in Naples!

Location: This huge altarpiece is in the Church of Pio Monte Della Misericordia, in the heart of Naples’ historic center.

San Martino: The Veiled Christ

Only 5 minutes’ walk from the Caravaggio you can see another brain-bindingly brilliant work of art, The Veiled Christ. Carved from a single block of white marble, a freshly deposed Jesus lies with a diaphanous veil draped over his body. In places the humidity of Naples or maybe the sweat from his body(?) makes the veil cling to him. It is so life-like it will take your breath away.

The sculpture is so lifelike that when the piece was completed in 1753, people thought there was a dead body beneath the veil.

Again, I have an entire chapter in my book telling you about this piece as well as a multitude of completely fascinating things to look for while in this tiny church. The chapel was built for the Prince of Sansevero, who amongst other things was a freemason. From the official entrance to the chapel (not the one we go through) initiates could follow a series of secret symbols hidden in the sculptures, the walls and other interesting spots. I give you a road map of them in the book.

Location: The San Severo Chapel, Naples’ historic center.

Guido Mazzoni: Lamentation Over The Dead Christ

Guido Mazzoni’s Lamentation Over The Dead Christ (1492) is a life sized group of terracotta sculptures. Jesus has been deposed from the cross and lies on a stone in front of you. Joseph of Arimathea kneels on the left and Nicodemus is on the right. The Virgin Mary is behind Jesus’ head, overwhelmed with pain to the point of fainting, as Mary of Salome reaches out to help her. To the right, Mary of Cleophas clasps her hands, opposite Mary Magdalene crying out in desperation. The final figure in the back is John the Evangelist.

Part of what made this, the last of Mazzoni’s Lamentations, so compelling is the crushing level of emotion in the piece. Standing in front of it you feel an intensity and sense of urgency to it. It’s quite fantastic.

Location: The Church of Sant’ Anna dei Lombardi, historic center of Naples. Be sure to read the entire chapter on this church complex. There is an incredible amount to see here, (some of it will blow your mind) and you will absolutely want to know about all of it before coming. Trust me.

I really hope you will come to Naples, be it for a day trip from Rome or the Amalfi Coast, or to stay for a few nights. Naples feels like the last great secret. There is so much to see and do here and most people don’t have a clue! I have had so many people reach out to me to say they’d been to Naples several times yet had never heard about most of the things in my book.

Glam Italia! 101 Fabulous Things To Do In Naples is available worldwide in paperback and ebook formats, exclusively on Amazon.

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If you’re planning a trip to Italy, make sure Naples is on your itinerary! Often overlooked by travelers heading to Rome or Florence, Naples offers a unique combination of rich history, authentic culture, and stunning coastal views.

Most travelers seem to stumble when it comes to things to do in Naples, so rather than explore this dynamic city they just grab a pizza, swing by the Pompeii ruins, and head onward to the Amalfi Coast. It’s hard to wrap your head around the volume of amazing things to see in Naples, and harder still to understand why travelers don’t spend more time here. I am crazy about Naples, Italy. I come here as often as I can, and even wrote a book about the city. Glam Italia! 101 Fabulous Things To Do In Naples: Adventures, Intrigue and Glorious Mayhem In Europe’s Most Exciting City

I can’t give you 101 specific things to see and do in Naples in this blog post, but I can give you ten incredible reasons why visiting Naples should be at the top of your travel list.

The Birthplace of Pizza – Try Authentic Neapolitan Pizza

One of the top things to do in Naples, Italy, is to enjoy a slice (or more) of authentic Neapolitan pizza. Known as the birthplace of pizza, Naples takes its pizza-making seriously. So much so that UNESCO declared the specialty art of Neapolitan pizza making part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Head to famous spots like Pizzeria da Michele or Sorbillo’s, or really, just stop into any pizza joint in the city to taste pizza that’s soft, fresh, and unforgettable.

Explore Ancient Ruins Near Naples

Ancient Roman road in Pompeii — Walk along the ancient Roman roads in Pompeii.

Naples is near some of Italy’s most fascinating archaeological sites, like the rich history and ancient ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Just a short drive away, these well-preserved sites offer a glimpse into Roman life, with streets, frescoes, and buildings preserved by volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius.

In my book I explain why Pompeii is the single most important archaeological site in the world, but I also tell you about other archaeological sites in and around Naples that will also blow your mind. This list includes an underwater city where you can snorkel over or scuba around Roman ruins, 2000 year old Roman mosaics, and swim through Roman statues. It’s amazing!

Hike Mount Vesuvius For Stunning Views

Mount Vesuvius is one of the few active volcanoes in mainland Europe, and it’s one of Naples’ top attractions. A hike up Vesuvius offers incredible views of the Bay of Naples and a unique chance to experience a geological wonder that shaped Italian history. If you’re no into hiking up volcanoes you can still enjoy a view of Vesuvius from almost anywhere in Naples. The mountain is either the background or the arch villain in most of the photos you’ll take!

Discover Naples’ Art And Architecture

Naples, Italy, is a treasure trove of art and architecture, with museums, churches, and historic sites everywhere. For centuries the two cultural centers of Europe were Paris and Naples. Visit the Naples National Archaeological Museum to see one of the best Greco-Roman collections in the world, and don’t miss iconic churches like the Naples Cathedral and Santa Chiara. I go into depth in my book about the incredible museums here that you have never heard of before, and unbelievable churches, replete with spooky crypts, cloistered nunneries.

Scenic Day Trips To The Amalfi Coast

Naples is the gateway to Italy’s breathtaking Amalfi Coast. A day trip from Naples along the Amalfi Coast Road will take you to Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi, where cliffs meet crystal-blue waters. Exploring the Amalfi Coast is one of the best day trips you can take from Naples, offering unforgettable views and experiences.

Experience Bustling Local Markets In Naples Italy

Pignasecca market naples — Naples street market in Pignasecca

For an authentic Naples experience, head to local markets like Mercato di Porta Nolana or Mercato di Pignasecca. These bustling markets are packed with fresh produce, Italian delicacies, and street vendors. Visiting Naples’ markets is a must-do for anyone looking to experience local culture.

Explore The Catacombs Of Naples

A visit to the catacombs is one of the more unique things to do in Naples. The Catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso offer an intriguing journey through Greek, Roman and early Christian history in Naples, Italy, with underground tunnels and historic frescoes. These are nothing like the catacombs you’ve seen elsewhere (like Paris). In Glam Italia! 101 Fabulous Things To Do In Naples I go into depth about each of the catacombs, tell you what makes them so unique, and how to see them. They are sensational! (And very quirky)

Immerse Yourself In Authentic Italian (Neapolitan!) Culture

Naples offers an unpolished, genuine look at Italian life that’s hard to find in other tourist-heavy destinations. From the friendliness of locals to the city’s lively atmosphere, Naples is perfect for travelers looking to experience true Italian culture.

Take A Day Trip To The Nearby Islands

Naples is ideally located for easy day trips to nearby Italian islands like Capri, Ischia, and Procida. Each island offers something different: Capri is known for glamour and the Blue Grotto, Ischia for thermal spas, and Procida for its peaceful vibe and colorful homes. In my book I go into depth about each island, how to get there and what to see and do while you’re there. When I’m in Naples I love to pop over to Procida (pictured above) for lunch and wander around.

Enjoy Neapolitan Espresso And Sweet Treats

Naples, Italy, is known for its coffee culture, and for having the very best coffee in all of Italy, which is really saying something! Be sure to try a Neapolitan espresso, macchiato or cappuccino at one of the city’s historic cafes. Pair it with a classic sfogliatella (a ricotta-filled pastry) or babà (a rum-soaked cake) for an authentic taste of Naples’ sweet side.

If you haven’t yet bought it, please buy a copy of my new book Glam Italia! 101 Fabulous Things To Do In Naples: Adventures, Intrigue And Glorious Mayhem In Europe’s Most Exciting City. This is your ultimate Naples travel guide, not only full of famous things to do in Naples, Italy but also lesser known, magical places to add to your Naples travel itinerary. Order your copy today!

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