A Literary Journey through Southern Europe

From page to place: Step into Europe’s most loved stories

There is something about reading on holiday. A paperback resting open beside a sun-warmed pool. The soft clink of glasses drifting across the terrace. The scent of grilled seafood or fresh basil carried on the evening air.

But what if the story did not end on the final page? What if you could step inside it?

From the golden hills of Tuscany to the lavender fields of Provence, some of the UK’s most beloved novels are love letters to Europe. And with a handpicked James Villas home waiting at the heart of it all, turning fiction into reality feels beautifully effortless.

Here is where your favourite stories meet their setting.

Italy: Sun-drenched reinvention and long, languid summers

Under the Tuscan Sun

Frances Mayes’ enduring bestseller has become shorthand for the Italian dream. Crumbling farmhouses reborn. Long lunches beneath olive trees. The slow rhythm of rural life.

In Tuscany, that dream feels very real. Picture a honey-coloured stone villa perched among vineyards, your private pool glinting in the afternoon light. Morning coffee on a shaded terrace. Evenings filled with fresh pasta, local wine, and laughter that lingers long after sunset.

Ciao, Tuscany. Your chapter begins here.

My Brilliant Friend

Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels brought southern Italy into living rooms across the UK. The intensity of Naples. The pull of the sea. The quiet magnetism of the Amalfi Coast.

Base yourself in a contemporary coastal villa with panoramic views across impossibly blue water. Spend mornings wandering pastel-hued towns, afternoons stretched beside your infinity pool, and evenings dining alfresco as the sky softens to peach and gold.

It is Italy at its most atmospheric, experienced at your own pace.

Call Me By Your Name

Few books capture the feeling of an Italian summer quite like this. Gardens heavy with fruit. Dappled sunlight. Lazy swims before dinner.

In the Italian Lakes or Lombardy countryside, elegance comes naturally. Think grand villas framed by cypress trees, outdoor dining tables set for simple, beautiful meals, and the hush of warm evenings settling over the water.

This is slow travel, perfected.

Spain: Passion, mystery, and Mediterranean light

The Shadow of the Wind

Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s Barcelona is rich with secrets, shadowed alleyways, and hidden stories. A city of atmosphere and intrigue.

Stay just beyond the bustle in a stylish Catalonian villa where modern design meets rustic warmth. Days can be spent exploring Gothic streets and lively markets. Evenings belong to your private terrace, a jug of sangria on the table, and a soft “salud” as the sun slips into the sea.

Barcelona’s drama by day. Effortless comfort by night.

The Return

Victoria Hislop’s powerful story set in Granada captured the imagination of UK readers with its emotion, history, and Andalusian soul.

In southern Spain, whitewashed villages tumble down hillsides, flamenco rhythms drift through warm air, and orange blossom perfumes twilight streets. Your villa might feature a courtyard pool, terracotta tiles beneath your feet, and mountain views stretching far beyond the horizon.

It is soulful Spain, with space to breathe.

France: Markets, memories, and joie de vivre

A Year in Provence

For many British travellers, Peter Mayle’s memoir defined French escapism. Sunlit markets. Lazy lunches. The gentle humour of village life.

In Provence, bastide-style villas sit among olive groves and lavender fields. Mornings begin with flaky pastries and fresh coffee on the terrace. Afternoons are for cooling dips in your private pool. Evenings unfold slowly, with rosé in hand as cicadas hum in the background.

This is the art of living well. Pure joie de vivre.

Chocolat

Joanne Harris’ beloved novel brought small-town France to life with warmth, flavour, and quiet charm.

In the Dordogne or southwest France, stone cottages and elegant country homes offer the perfect base for your own culinary adventure. Wander through local markets, basket filling with crusty bread, ripe peaches, and regional cheeses. Return to your villa kitchen to create something delicious, then dine outdoors beneath a blush-pink sky.

France feels intimate here. Personal. Unhurried.

Croatia: Adriatic beauty and cinematic drama

Game of Thrones

While the story itself may be fantasy, Dubrovnik’s starring role captured the imagination of millions of UK viewers. Towering stone walls. Sparkling Adriatic waters. Dramatic coastal views.

Today, Croatia offers a different kind of epic escape. Sleek seafront villas with glass-fronted terraces. Private pools overlooking hidden coves. Freshly grilled seafood enjoyed as fishing boats drift across the horizon.

From Split to Hvar, the Dalmatian Coast blends old-world beauty with contemporary comfort. Dobar dan to your new favourite destination.

Turn the page, book the villa

Stories transport us. They stir something deeper than wanderlust. They invite us to imagine a different rhythm, a different light, a different way of living.

At James Villas, we believe a holiday is more than a trip. It is the warmth of sun on skin. The clink of glasses beside the pool. The reassurance of knowing your villa has been carefully chosen for comfort, character, and style.

From first click to final swim, your escape is seamless, thoughtfully curated, and designed around you.

Some stories are too beautiful to stay on the page.

Live them.