Every time I go on a trip I take with me 2 or 3 indispensable friends, my books to read.

They are with me on the beach, when I like to hear the surrounding noises and to dive into action with the characters, or at the hotel, when I have a moment of pause from the trips planned daily with joy. Obviously, travel guides are a must, an indispensable source of inspiration to spend nicely each day of the holiday.

I usually read light, relaxing books but also fantastic, SF or thrillers.

Here is my short list of 5 books for the summer holiday

"The Painted Kiss" by Elisabeth HICKEY 

Do you like Gustav Klimt? "The Painted Kiss" by Elisabeth HICKEY is the book that will transport you to the fascinating world of the painter and his secret love for Emilie Flöge, the woman who posed for his masterpiece.

 

It also reminded me of Vienna, the city where I never get bored, whether it's summer or winter. You can admire Gustav Klimt's famous painting "The Kiss" at the Belvedere Palace in Vienna.

 

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"Cooking for Picasso" by Camille Aubray

Camille Aubray's book, Cooking with Picasso, harmoniously combines the tumultuous love story between a young girl and Picasso, with forays into the life, personality and work of the painter, wonderful descriptions of fabulous landscapes in the south of France and many lunches from French gastronomy which will leave your mouth watering.

 

It is the perfect book especially if you have chosen to spend your vacation in the south of France.

 

"The Lady and the Unicorn" by Tracy Chevalier

???If you have been to Paris and have not visited the Cluny Museum, after reading this book you will want to go to Paris again to visit it. If you have already visited it, then the book will be even more fascinating, because you have already seen the beautiful tapestries that inspired this story. In short, the book describes the life and worries of two families in medieval Paris. Each tapestry hides the story of a sense: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch.

But the most important work is the one that hides the most burning desire of the soul and that sounds so beautiful in French "A mon seul Desir".

"Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert

Three destinations in one book: Rome, India and Indonesia. It is the story of a woman who decides to travel in order to find her inner peace and happiness even if it takes her to reach the edge of the world. When I read this book I couldn't think of anything else but a pizza like only Italians know how to do!

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"The story of San Michele" by Axel Munthe

Is there anyone who hasn't heard of Capri Island? In the book "The story of San Michele" you will surely find out about this island of beauty, bathed in the sun, with luxuriant gardens, natural herbal perfumes and happy people. Axel Munte has built here a magnificent villa from where you have the most spectacular view over the Gulf of Naples, far to Sorrento and Vesuvius.

Do you want to know more about wonderful places to travel? Then you should discover out more about my travels in the Travel section.