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If my friend Crista’s Art and Exuberance in Florence trip isn’t tempting me enough to head to Florence this summer (and, oh, is it ever….), the temptation was made even greater by reading Dan Brown’s latest novel, Inferno, which reads like a veritable travelogue of Florence. What Angels and Demons is to Rome and The Da Vinci Code is to Paris, Inferno is to Florence. While some Dante scholars are decrying Dan Brown’s blurring of facts in the novel, Italian tourism officials are thrilled that Inferno may draw more tourists to Florence during a downturn in the Italian economy.
Dan Brown was in Florence yesterday, as the keynote speaker at the opening of a literary festival, where he read passages from his book and explained the popularity of his books as a result of mankind’s “need for mystery”.
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Without giving away any plot spoilers, let’s take a virtual trip to Florence a la Robert Langdon, the protagonist of Inferno (as well as of Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code). For those of you who aren’t into the whole Dan Brown ‘art history meets literature meets thriller’ genre, then you will still enjoy some lovely photographs of Florence.
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| via Love letters left in front of the tomb of Beatrice, Dante’s great love and muse, at the Chiesa Santa Margherita de’ Cerchi. |
If you want to channel your inner Robert Langdon and spend a week with an intimate group studying the incredible art and culture of Florence alongside an acclaimed artist and other talented guides, there are a few spots left for Crista’s Art and Exuberance in Florence trip in August.
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That about wraps things up for this week…it went a little too quickly for me! I hope the weather is nice this weekend – I would love spend some time reading out by the pool. Any suggestions? I am on a reading binge lately – one of my favorite things about summer!
I have been to Cinque Terra, and that was it as far as Italy, but these iconic destinations MUST be seen before my light travels from beyond this earth! LOVELY POSTS!!!!! Anita
I would love to go to Florence. Good luck sitting by the pool this weekend. Rain, rain, rain.
I haven't been to Italy.. but it's at the top of my bucket list. These photos are beyond gorgeous Sandy .. can't wait to see INFERNO.
xxleslie
Thank you for the mention, Sandy! I haven't read this Dan Brown book, but I'll pick it up. I read two of his years ago and couldn't put them down! Your post has me thinking it's time to re-watch one of my top three favorite movies — A Room With a View. Have a great weekend!
Hello sandy,
I LOVE Florence, mainly because it is so easy to get around and honestly you can walk to everything. In addition, you can use Florence as a base to get to Sienna and so many other great little towns.
If you are a fan of Italy I am curious have you read the book 1000 days in Venice? All of the books by Marlana Di Blassi are wonderful, filled with interesting characters and beautiful food.
Also have you read any of the books by Kate mosse? If you like the Dan drown books these are similar.
Have a great weekend!
Florence is one of my favourite cities in Italy. It is a great walking city. I better grab the book now and read Dan Brown's adventure in Florence.
Oh I have to read that, it's absolute shame to be seen with his books, so I will employ the old brown paper cover but I loved the other ones, such fun summer reading!
Hi, love your post about Inferno! I work at The Florentine, which is mentioned on page 35 of the book when Langdon has amnesia, we're pretty proud. As a gift back to Dan Brown we actually wrote an app called "Inferno Florence Guide" which covers all the points in the city that Langdon visits. Check it out and email us if you would like a review copy of the app, ok? thanks! http://theflr.net/inferno
Alexandra
Dan Brown as expected has put in a lot of research into the book, but the book just drags along after the first half.
The detail to which the author explains the surroundings and the plot is amazing.
But I felt It's not as exciting as the Deception Point or the Da Vinci Code but I thought it was better than The Lost Symbol