Tuscany, one of the top tourist destinations in Italy, is a beautiful and fascinating region. From the hills and mountains in the north of Lunigiana, to the coast of the Maremma, Tuscany must be savored slowly. Reading about Tuscany with its wealth of traditions and history is a great pleasure. Enjoy these recommended travel books and books on Tuscan life or gift one.
The hills of Tuscany: a new life in an old land
After a fun search for a home in Tuscany, Ferenc Mate and his wife finally find the perfect farm just outside the mountainous town of Montepulciano and start a new life there. Ferenc’s beautiful descriptions of his life, Montepulciano, and the Tuscan landscape will make you feel like you are there.
Vanilla and Brodo – Real Life in the Tuscan Hills
Isabella Dusi, an Australian, comes to live in the medieval town of Montalcino for a year. His book details the daily events of village life and the traditions and history of Montalcino and Tuscany. This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in the Tuscan way of life.
Tuscany hidden e-book
On
, Travel writer John Keahey spends 6 months in the northwestern Tuscan town of Pietrasanta, using it as a base and making short trips to smaller towns off the usual Tuscan tourist route. It’s a nice and interesting look at some of the small towns on the west coast and a short drive inland.
In Maremma – Life and a house in southern Tuscany
Stories of restoration of an old Tuscan farmhouse in the Maremma region of southern Tuscany, a part of Tuscany often overlooked by tourists.
Turning Tuscan: A Step by Step Guide to Going Native
Sam Hilt leaves a career in California’s Silicon Valley and moves to a small town in Tuscany with his wife and children. This is his story about buying the house and becoming a Tuscan. He and his wife now run a tour company.
A thousand days in Tuscany: a bittersweet adventure
Marlena De Blasi and her Venetian husband (whom she met and married in A Thousand Days in Venice) rent a farm in a small Tuscan town and start a new life there. This is his memory of his time there, often focused on food. Marlena is a writer for regional Italian cookbooks and this book also includes some Tuscan recipes. Also available for Kindle.
Under the Tuscan sun
In the most famous of the Tuscan books, American Frances Mayes buys a Tuscan villa near Cortona and recounts her experiences renovating it. In my opinion, the book is much better than the movie. Also available for Kindle.
You can also enjoy the sequel, Bella Tuscany (buy from Amazon).
War in the Orcia Valley
Iris Origo’s poignant story from her WWII days protecting children and refugees and hiding prisoners on her estate in Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia. La Foce, his estate, has pretty gardens that are open to the public for visits and guest apartments.
A Tuscan childhood
Kinta Beevor’s memories of her childhood in a castle in the Lunigiana region of northern Tuscany, another part of Tuscany often overlooked by tourists. The book gives you an insight into life in the early 1900s and takes you through WWII.
Too much Tuscan sun
If after reading all these books, you feel like you’ve had too much Tuscany, choose this humorous book written by an Italian who leads tours of Tuscany.
At least you’re in tuscany
Jennifer Criswell shares her adventures moving from New York to Tuscany, not as easy as she hoped.
Somewhere south of Tuscany
If you have read enough Tuscany books and want to move on to a lesser known but still interesting place, try
. In this fun book, Diana Armstrong, a food and travel writer, recounts her experiences buying and renovating a home in a small town in northern Lazio, the area south of Tuscany, and north of Rome.
. In this fun book, Diana Armstrong, a food and travel writer, recounts her experiences buying and renovating a home in a small town in northern Lazio, the area south of Tuscany, and north of Rome.
Buy a Kindle
Most of these books are available for Kindle. If you don’t have one, click the link above to see them on Amazon.
