The summer has arrived and with it comes some much needed beach time with a great book. I hope your summer brings you travels to a warm and sunny destination … perhaps even the Amalfi Coast! If you can’t make it to the Amalfi Coast this summer, I’ve put together a list of books set on or about the Amalfi Coast to inspire your summer travel dreams. These aren’t your guide books to tell you where to eat or park your sun umbrella. These are the books that make you dream of sailing off to explore the Amalfi Coast when you close your eyes. I’ve included some of my favorite novels, travel books and memoirs set here, along with some excellent works of non-fiction and some cookbooks if you’re feeling hungry for something Amalfi Coast inspired after all that reading!
Novels Set on the Amalfi Coast
My perfect beach read is a novel, one that captures the beauty of a place and weaves a story that you don’t want to leave behind when you finish. One of my favorite authors, Santa Montefiore, has set two of her books on a fictional town of Incantelleria – an enchanting place you won’t ever want to leave!
The House in Amalfi by Elizabeth Adler
Sailing to Capri by Elizabeth Adler
The Night Villa by Carol Goodman (Capri)
Stones of the Madonna by Jan Mazzoni (Positano)
Last Voyage of the Valentina by Santa Montefiore
The Italian Matchmaker by Santa Montefiore (sequel to Last Voyage of the Valentina)
The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners by Luanne Rice (Capri)
Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani (Tuscany, New York City, Buenos Aires and the island Capri)
Travel Writing About the Amalfi Coast
If you’ve got the Amalfi Coast travel bug, you’ll enjoy following Chantal Kelly on her travels along the Amalfi Coast in Gelato Sisterhood on the Amalfi Shore. Here are a few other choices to enjoy, too!
Amalfi Blue: Lost & Found in the South of Italy by Lisa Fantino
Gelato Sisterhood on the Amalfi Shore by Chantal Kelly
Capri and No Longer Capri by Raffaele La Capria
My Amalfi Coast by Amanda Tabberer
Non-Fiction About the Amalfi Coast
Not a fiction fan or just curious to find out more about the history of the Amalfi Coast?
The Mystery of the Duchess of Malfi by Barbara Banks Amendola
Art and Patronage in the Medieval Mediterranean: Merchant Culture in the Region of Amalfi by Jill Caskey
Positano: La città verticale by Romolo Ercolino (I have the Italian, but it’s available in English as Positano: The Vertical City)
Amalfi Coast Cookbooks
How about a slice of Mamma Agata’s famous lemon cake while you’re reading? Here are some cookbooks that highlight the local cuisine in easy to follow recipes so you can enjoy the flavors of the Amalfi Coast at home.
The Lemon of the Amalfi Coast: Recipes History Art by Ezio Falcone and Maurizio Apicella
The Amalfi Coast: A Collection of Italian Recipes by Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi
Mamma Agata: Simple and Genuine by Chiara Lima
Amalfi Coast Recipes by Amanda Tabberer
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You may have noticed that I’ve included books set on Capri in this list, but not Naples, Ischia and other spots in Campania. I wanted to keep this list focused just on the Amalfi Coast, but I love Capri so much that I had to squeeze it in. If you’re interested in more books set in this beautiful part of Italy, check out this fuller list of Books Set in Campania that I put together for My Bella Vita. My summer read just arrived in the mail, and I look forward to diving in. When I spotted That Summer in Ischia by Penny Feeny online, I knew it was a must read. I’ll be sure to report back with a review when I’ve finished. Enjoy your summer reading!
Thank you for these recommendations. I will be spending 3 nights in Sorrento in November and am hopeful the weather will cooperate long enough for me to spend a day wandering around Capri, which I never get tired of.
Fondly,
Barb in Minnesota
Hi Barb, Thanks for your comment! I hope you enjoy some of the Amalfi Coast and Capri reads. Capri is endlessly beautiful, and I hope you’ve have wonderful weather in November for your trip!
Thank you for this list Laura!x
Happy to share, Anita! 🙂
A great selection Laura, thanks.
My mum remembers loving a novel set in Capri during a cholera outbreak. It must be at least 30 years old and she said it had a short, possibly one word, title. Can you help me track it down?
Hi Helen, thanks for stopping by and for your question. Hum, it’s not a novel and it’s much older, but might she be thinking of Axel Munthe’s book The Story of San Michele? if I come across something else, I’ll let you know!
My book club is taking a trip to Italy and we are looking to join up with an Italian Book Club to socialize with. We are a group of 10 and hope to connect with other book lovers.
Hi Kelly, That sounds like a fun trip! I don’t know if any book clubs in the area, but if I hear of something I will let you know. Have a great holiday!
Amalfi coast fiction involving Richard Burton and young actress. Set in small town hotel.
Forgot title and want to recommend
Found it! “Beautiful Ruins” by Jess Walter
Thank you very much for publishing this list. It has made gift giving to my wife a little easier. We are fans and frequent visitors to the Amalfi Coast. Praiano once and Positano twice (Le Sirenuse). We are in the planning stage for our third trip next May. Thanks again.
What a great list and what a wonderful way to connect with that beautiful part of Italy.
I thought this might be helpful. I was recently on the Amalfi Coast July 2015 for a week and stayed in the town of Amalfi and before I left Australia I booked all my transport but could not find recent information on websites or Trip Advisor ferries from Salerno, where I arrived by train from Florence, to Amalfi. One comment said that the ferry service had not operated since 2013! I then booked a private car & driver which was very nice & reliable but did cost €130. There is a ferry service operating from Salerno to Amalfi to Maiori & Minori & Positano. The cost from Salerno to Amalfi is €8.00 & takes 35 mins. I could then have taken my hotel’s free shuttle bus from Amalfi up the hill to my hotel the Grand Exchelsior, which was wonderful. This is a Travelmar ferry & departs in front of the Salerno station at the wharf on Molo Masuccio Piazza della Concordia. There seem to be departures on the hour from 8.40am all day. This schedule is probably only in the peak summer season. Hope that is helpful.
My wife and I will be visiting the Amalfi Coast this May. We hope to walk it. Is there a book preferably a Novel to get us excited and start planning for this adventure.