naples italy Archives

View across the Bay of Naples to Mount Vesuvius.

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Welcome back to the Glam Italia Bookclub! I missed our March entry because even though I read voraciously and listened to several audiobooks, I was also packing up the Arizona house and flying to my home in Tuscany. We also launched the Glam Italia Photo Presets which have been HUGE! I knew people would love the presets, but had no idea quite how much! It has been such fun going through the hundreds of emails we have received with customers sending us their before and afters using the presets on their photos.

Anyway, I’ve just been in Naples for a few days. I absolutely love Naples and of course want everyone else to love this sensational city as well. My latest book is about Naples – Glam Italia! 101 Fabulous Things To Do In Naples: Adventures, Intrigue and Glorious Mayhem In Europe’s Most Exciting City and I honestly just cannot get enough of the place, so decided the April bookclub picks will be books I’ve loved that are set in Naples.

I always find that reading books set in the destinations you are traveling to makes the entire travel experience even more exciting. When you get back home it helps keep the experience alive. So with that in mind I want to share with you books set in Naples that I have loved, and that will enhance your Naples experience 1000 fold!

The Guardian Of Mercy by Terrance Ward

Even if you think you don’t love Caravaggio or you think you don’t love art, you still need to read this wonderful book!

Author Terence Ward was living in Florence with his girlfriend, when she took a fateful trip to Naples and met Angelo, the government worker charged with watching over Caravaggio’s Seven Acts of Mercy. An unlikely yet adorable friendship evolved amongst the trio over multiple subsequent trips to Naples. Along the way Angelo teaches the couple the nuances of the painting, while drawing them into the craziness of his life. Ward’s powerful and electrifying writing style is superb. It draws you in from the beginning and keeps you mesmerized throughout.

I couldn’t wait to get back to Naples to re-see the painting through Angelo’s eyes! Terence Ward weaves a glorious tapestry with his words, giving you wonderful understanding of Caravaggio and Naples both historically and in recent modern life.

I loved this review: This is a story of grace! Terence Ward’s powerful, moving narrative interweaves Caravaggio’s life story with those of people in contemporary Naples whose lives are transformed by the power of art and mercy.” Elaine Pagels, Harrington Professor of Religion, Princeton University

Available on Kindle, Paperback and Audible Audiobook. Check here on Amazon.

Lost In The Spanish Quarter by Heidi Goodrich

As seen in the New York Times Book Review.

Set in the passionate, intense, and crumbling neighborhood known as the Spanish Quarter of Naples, comes a tale of two students searching for love and belonging in the city they so desperately want to call home.

This achingly gorgeous (true) story takes place in Naples’ notorious Spanish Quarter. Heddi, an American foreign exchange student decides to stay on in Naples after high school and go to university. She is already living a dreamy, somewhat bohemian life with her fascinating and fun roommates in an old palazzo apartment, when she meets Pietro. The two fall into a romance doomed from the beginning, yet glorious throughout.

As she leads you through the story, Heddi also takes you on a journey through Naples. You discover its wonderful university and she introduces you to a compelling cast of characters who make up her daily life. You get a strong sense of how life works in Italy’s southern capital and I found myself wishing that I too had gone to university in Naples and lived in the Spanish Quarter.

A Love Letter to Naples—and a Doomed Romance That Burns Bright

Lost in the Spanish Quarter is a stunningly intimate and lyrical memoir set against the chaotic beauty of Naples’ infamous Spanish Quarter. Heddi Goodrich, an American foreign exchange student, chooses not to return home after her high school year in Naples, instead throwing herself headlong into the gritty poetry of Neapolitan life as a university student. Her world—a crumbling palazzo shared with a cast of eccentric, vibrant roommates—feels like something out of a Fellini film.

Then comes Pietro.

Their love story is both inevitable and impossible: intense, radiant, and ultimately destined to unravel. But even as their romance frays, the book never loses its emotional intensity. Goodrich writes with a raw, unflinching honesty that makes you feel every heartbreak, every stolen moment of joy.

Beyond the romance, this memoir is an intriguing exploration of Naples itself. Heddi is a brilliant guide to the city’s tangled alleys, anarchic charm, and hidden warmth. Through her eyes, we meet professors, fellow students, lovers, and friends—each adding richness to the colorful tapestry of her life abroad.

By the final page, I found myself not only heartbroken for Heddi and Pietro, but also aching for a life I never lived—studying in Naples, falling in love under its faded balconies, and being swept up in the city’s stubborn, breathtaking pulse.

Available in Paperback, Kindle and Audible Audiobooks. See here on Amazon.

Falling Place by Dan Hofstadtler

A beautiful portrait of the sun-drenched volcanic city from an American who has lost his heart to the place and to a beguiling Neapolitan woman.

In Falling Palace Dan Hofstadter brilliantly reveals Naples, from the dilapidated architectural beauty to the irrepressible theater of everyday life. We witness the centuries-old festivals that regularly crowd the city’s jumbled streets, and eavesdrop on conversations that continue deep into the night. We browse the countless curio shops where treasures mingle with kitsch, and meet the locals he befriends. In and out of these encounters slips Benedetta, the object of the author’s affections, at once inviting and unfathomable. Weaving the tale of an elusive love together with a vivid portrayal of a legendary metropolis, this is a startling evocation of a magical place.

I loved this book, especially the insight he gives into the complexities and nuances of life in Naples. This was another fabulous read that left me aching to move to Napoli.

Available in Kindle and paperback. Check here on Amazon.

The Collaborator by Gerald Seymour

My absolute favorite genre to read is thrillers, so this book hit all the right notes. Set between London and Naples, Seymour’s 26th book features brilliantly developed characters – a Camorra killer, a hostage negotiator, a kidnap victim, and the daughter of a Camorra clan leader, all hurtling through time as the story builds to a frantic conclusion. Thriller readers will love this book.

A friend’s death drives an Italian woman to collaborate against her criminal family in this “propulsive, neatly structured thriller” (Guardian (UK)).

She is an Italian accountancy student in London, and her boyfriend Eddie teaches at a language school. But the prime reason Immacolata Borelli came to Britain was to look after her gangster brother, wanted for multiple murders back home in Naples. For the Borelli clan are major players in the Camorra, a crime network more close-knit and ruthless than the Sicilian Mafia.

Mario Castrolami is a senior Carabinieri investigator of the Camorra, his career dedicated to destroying the corruption and violence of the clans. When Immacolata calls from London to say she is prepared to collaborate with justice—to betray her own family—he knows she is setting in motion a terrifying and unpredictable series of events.

The Borellis will not lose their criminal empire without a vicious fight. They will use anything and anyone to prevent her from giving evidence against them. Even Eddie, and Eddie’s life.

Available in Kindle, Paperback and Audio CD formats. See here on Amazon.

The Night Villa by Carol Goodman

If you will be traveling to The Amalfi Coast, Capri and Ischia, or to Naples, this book is a must read. Having spent 13 consecutive summers on the Amalfi Coast with my Glam Italia Tours (broken only by 2020’s Covid pandemic) everything about this book resonated with me. It is beautifully written, combines current day with 79 A.D, and locations you are bound to visit all wrapped up in a compelling, unputdownable story.

An evocative tale of intrigue, romance, and treachery, Carol Goodman’s spellbinding new novel, The Night Villa, follows the fascinating lives of two remarkable women centuries apart.

The eruption of Italy’s Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79 buried a city and its people, their treasures and secrets. Centuries later, echoes of this disaster resonate with profound consequences in the life of classics professor Sophie Chase.

In the aftermath of a tragic shooting on the University of Texas campus, Sophie seeks sanctuary on the isle of Capri, immersing herself in her latest scholarly project alongside her colleagues, her star pupil, and their benefactor, the compelling yet enigmatic business mogul John Lyros.

Beneath layers of volcanic ash lies the Villa della Notte–the Night Villa–home to first-century nobles, as well as to the captivating slave girl at the heart of an ancient controversy. And secreted in a subterranean labyrinth rests a cache of antique documents believed lost to the ages: a prize too tantalizing for Sophie to resist. But suspicion, fear, and danger roam the long-untrodden tunnels and chambers beneath the once sumptuous estate–especially after Sophie sees the face of her former lover in the darkness, leaving her to wonder if she is chasing shadows or succumbing to the siren song of the Night Villa. Whatever shocking events transpired in the face of Vesuvius’s fury have led to deeper, darker machinations that inexorably draw Sophie into their vortex, rich in stunning revelations and laden with unseen menace.

Available in Kindle, Paperback and Audible Audiobook. See here on Amazon.

Secrets Of The Italian Island by Barbara Josselsohn

I don’t normally read WWII fiction, but this book is set on a fictitious island off the coast of Naples and it combines modern day with 1943, so I decided to give it a go. And I am so glad I did! This is a fabulous book and is book one in a series of three, each focusing on the life of a different sister. ** This book is based on the true story of another island and castle off the Ligurian Coast.

Italy, 1943. A castle once full of love and laughter is left in ruins by the Nazis, as three sisters are torn apart by one terrible mistake…

New York, present day. Mia is heartbroken by the loss of her beloved grandmother Annalisa, the only family she had left in the world. But she is shocked when she finds a fraying letter sent from Italy in her grandmother’s belongings. She had no idea Annalisa once lived in a magnificent, vine-covered castle on an isolated Italian island. What secrets was she hiding there? Could retracing her steps finally help Mia heal from her grief?

Arriving on the stunning Italian coast just a boat ride away from Isola di Parissi, Mia instantly falls in love with the crumbling castle surrounded by lush olive groves. And when she meets handsome local guide Leo, she’s charmed by the sparkle in his eyes and his passion for the beautiful country he calls home. With his help, they sneak into the closed-off areas of the isolated island in search of clues…

Soon they find handwritten notes hidden in the walls of the castle. But Mia is left reeling when she discovers that her grandmother had sisters… and rather than the happily-ever-after Mia thought she’d find, she uncovers a terrible secret that causes her to question everything she ever thought she knew. What happened to them all those years ago when the Nazis stormed onto the once peaceful island? And will it force Mia to leave Leo and Italy forever?

An epic, heart-wrenching tale based on the incredible true story of an island at war. Fans of Lucinda Riley, Fiona Valpy and Victoria Hislop will be utterly gripped.

Available in Kindle, Paperback and Audible Audiobook formats. See here on Amazon. *** at the time of writing this post this book is only 99 cents if you have an Audible membership. Check out a free audible trial here.

The Poison Keeper by Deborah Swift

Based on the true story of Giulia Tofana, a professional poison maker in Renaissance Italy, this is another book you just cannot put down! 17th century Italy was a treacherous place for women. Girls were married off young to much older men. Many of them were raped and beaten, even tortured by their husbands. The only way out was to procure the magical Aqua Tofana from Giulia, and slowly poison your abusive husband to death…

Wishing Shelf Book of the Decade

BookViral Book of the Year

Naples 1633

Aqua Tofana – One drop to heal. Three drops to kill.

Giulia Tofana longs for more responsibility in her mother’s apothecary business, but Mamma has always been secretive and refuses to tell her the hidden keys to her success. But the day Mamma is arrested for the poisoning of the powerful Duke de Verdi, Giulia is shocked to uncover the darker side of her trade.

Giulia must run for her life, and escapes to Naples, under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, to the home of her Aunt Isabetta, a famous courtesan. But when Giulia hears that her mother has been executed, and the cruel manner of her death, she swears she will wreak revenge on the Duke de Verdi.

The trouble is, Naples is in the grip of Domenico, the Duke’s brother, who controls the city with the ‘Camorra’, the mafia. Worse, her Aunt Isabetta, under his thrall, insists that she should be consort to him.

Based on the legendary life of Giulia Tofana, this is a story of hidden family secrets, and how courage and love can overcome vengeance.

Available in Kindle, Paperback and Audible Audiobook formats. See here on Amazon.

Do You Listen To Audiobooks?

As much as I read all the time, I also tend to have audiobooks on as I go about my day. Especially now, while the news is so angst inducing, I prefer to escape into a compelling story while I’m exercising, commuting, doing housework, even while I’m cooking.

Audible has several different options for audiobook memberships. The Unlimited Plus membership gives you a free one month trial, and you have access to the thousands of Unlimited Plus audiobooks, podcasts and original Audible shows. The Audible Premium Plus Annual Membership gives you all of this plus 12 titles from the best seller collection.

If like me you consume books digitally, a Kindle Unlimited Membership gives you access to thousands of books, free with your membership. I read on a Kindle Paperwhite. I’ve had the same one for years now and it’s still going strong. Before buying my Kindle I read eBooks using the free Kindle App on my iPad.

Glam Italia! 101 Fabulous Things To Do In Naples

Naples is one of the coolest, most exciting cities on earth, yet strangely has remained mostly below the tourism radar. Much more than just pizza and Pompeii and being the gateway to the Amalfi Coast, Naples is historically one of the most important cities in the world.

In the space of 100 meters you can see and touch ancient Greece, ancient Rome, the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque and modern day architecture. For centuries Naples and Paris were the two cultural centers of Europe, famous for art, music and incredible foods. Add to that the magnificent views from all over Naples, and it becomes a must-see stop on any Italian trip. My book Glam Italia! 101 Fabulous Things To Do In Naples takes you on a glorious journey through the city, showing and explaining the incredible site the tourists just don’t know about. It is designed to make you fall in love with Napoli the way I have. If you are anything like me, it will make you ache to get back to Naples as often as you can!

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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Traveling to Naples? Read these 7 Sensational Books Before You Go