Dear readers,

Prepare to walk the literary paths of Venice, a city that has inspired writers from Carlo Goldoni to Ernest Hemingway. Venice is not just a living museum of visual art and architecture; it is also a fertile ground for narrative, poetry, and drama, capturing the imagination of generations of authors.

We begin with Carlo Goldoni, the great reformer of Italian comedy, whose 18th-century works vividly and critically portrayed Venetian life of his time. Walking through the alleys and squares that were the stage for his comedies, one can almost hear the echoes of the laughter and conversations of his characters, which still resonate among the ancient stones today.

Moving on to the legend of modern literature, Ernest Hemingway, who found in Venice not only a refuge after World War II but also inspiration for “Across the River and Into the Trees.” His descriptions of the Grand Canal at sunset or hunting in the lagoon offer an intimate look at a quieter, less-known Venice, away from the tourist hustle.

We cannot forget Henry James and Thomas Mann, whose works, “The Wings of the Dove” and “Death in Venice,” respectively, explore themes of beauty, decay, and desire, all intensified by the lagoon city as a backdrop. These stories continue to influence the literary perception of Venice, painting it as a place of extreme beauty and emotional complexity.

Every writer who has walked through Venice has left a mark, a footprint that has enriched the city’s cultural fabric. Venice, with its breathtaking landscapes and millennia-old history, remains an eternal muse for poets, novelists, and dreamers.

I invite you to discover the books inspired by this enchanting city and to walk the literary paths of Venice yourselves, following in the footsteps of those great authors who found in its waters and alleys the inspiration for some of the finest pages in world literature.

Until our next literary adventure