Italy has long been a destination for American writers, artists, and travelers. From the early 19th century to the present day, Italy has provided inspiration and a sense of freedom for many American writers and artists. In this blog post, we will explore the lives and work of 15 famous Americans who lived in Italy, including Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, and Elizabeth Gilbert. Through their writing and experiences, these Americans have helped to shape our understanding and appreciation of Italy and its culture.

1. Ernest Hemingway: 

Ernest Hemingway is one of the most famous American writers to have lived in Italy. He first traveled to the country in 1919 as a journalist, covering World War I for the Toronto Star. It was in Italy that Hemingway experienced the horrors of war firsthand, an experience that would shape much of his later writing. After the war, Hemingway settled in Paris, but he often returned to Italy to visit and to work on his writing.

One of Hemingway’s most famous novels, “A Farewell to Arms”, is set in Italy during World War I. The novel tells the story of an American ambulance driver named Frederic Henry and his love affair with an English nurse named Catherine Barkley. The novel is based on Hemingway’s own experiences in Italy during the war, and it is considered one of his greatest works. Hemingway’s time in Italy had a profound impact on his writing, and it continues to be an important part of his literary legacy.

2. John Steinbeck: 

John Steinbeck is another famous American writer who spent time in Italy. In the 1950s, Steinbeck and his wife, Elaine, traveled to Italy for several months to work on a travel book. The result of their trip was “Travels with Charley: In Search of America”, which was published in 1962. In the book, Steinbeck writes about his travels through Italy and his experiences with the Italian people.

During his time in Italy, Steinbeck was struck by the beauty of the country and the warmth of its people. He wrote about the Italian landscape, the food, and the customs of the people he encountered. His time in Italy also inspired some of his later writing, including his novel “The Winter of Our Discontent”. Steinbeck’s experiences in Italy are an important part of his literary legacy, and they continue to inspire readers today.

3. Ezra Pound: 

Ezra Pound was an American poet who lived in Italy for over 50 years. He first traveled to Italy in 1908, and he spent much of his life there, living in various cities including Venice and Rapallo. Pound was a central figure in the modernist movement in literature, and he was a close friend and collaborator of many other famous writers, including Ernest Hemingway and T.S. Eliot.

During his time in Italy, Pound wrote many of his most famous poems, including “Hugh Selwyn Mauberley” and “The Cantos”. He also translated many Italian works into English, including the poems of Dante and the plays of Sophocles. Pound’s time in Italy was an important part of his life and work, and he remains an important figure in Italian and American literature.

4. Elizabeth Gilbert: 

Elizabeth Gilbert is an American author who lived in Italy while writing her bestselling book “Eat, Pray, Love”. The book tells the story of Gilbert’s journey to Italy, India, and Indonesia in search of self-discovery and happiness. In Italy, Gilbert spent four months in the town of Lucignano, where she studied Italian and explored the country’s rich food and culture.

Gilbert’s time in Italy is an important part of her book, and she writes about it with great detail and affection. She describes the beauty of the Italian countryside, the delicious food, and the warmth of the Italian people. Through her writing, Gilbert captures the essence of Italy and the joy of discovering its culture and traditions. Her book remains a popular and inspiring read for many readers.

5. Henry James: 

Henry James was an American novelist who lived in Italy for many years. He first traveled to Italy in 1873, and he spent much of his life there, living in various cities including Florence and Rome. James was a master of the psychological novel, and his writing explores the inner lives of his characters in great detail.

During his time in Italy, James wrote many of his most famous novels, including “The Portrait of a Lady” and “The Wings of the Dove”. He also wrote several travel books about Italy, including “Italian Hours” and “Italian Backgrounds”. James’s time in Italy had a profound impact on his writing, and it continues to be an important part of his literary legacy.

6. Gore Vidal: 

Gore Vidal was an American writer who lived in Italy for several decades. He first traveled to Italy in 1950, and he spent much of his life there, living in various cities including Rome and Ravello. Vidal was a prolific writer, and he wrote many novels, plays, and essays during his time in Italy.

One of Vidal’s most famous homes in Italy was his villa in Ravello, which he bought in the 1960s and lived in for many years. The villa, known as La Rondinaia (The Swallow’s Nest), was built in the 11th century and it is perched on a cliff overlooking the Amalfi Coast. Vidal often hosted guests at the villa, including many famous writers and artists.

Vidal’s time in Italy was an important part of his life and work, and he wrote about his experiences in the country in his memoir “Palimpsest”. Vidal’s villa in Ravello is now a museum, and it continues to be a popular destination for fans of his work.

7. Truman Capote: 

Truman Capote was an American author who spent time in Italy during the 1960s. He traveled to Italy to work on his famous non-fiction novel “In Cold Blood”, which tells the story of a murder in Kansas. While in Italy, Capote rented a villa in the countryside near Rome, and he spent his days writing and exploring the country.

Capote’s time in Italy was an important part of the writing of “In Cold Blood”. He wrote about the beauty of the Italian countryside and the peace and quiet it provided, which allowed him to focus on his writing. He also wrote about the Italian people and their hospitality, which he greatly appreciated. Capote’s time in Italy was an important part of his life and work, and it continues to be an interesting aspect of his literary legacy.

8. Henry David Thoreau:

Henry David Thoreau was an American author who traveled to Italy in 1849. He was a follower of the transcendentalist movement, and he was known for his writing on nature and human independence. Thoreau’s trip to Italy was his first and only trip outside of the United States, and it had a profound impact on his writing.

During his time in Italy, Thoreau traveled through the country, visiting cities such as Rome and Florence. He wrote about his experiences in his journal, and he was struck by the beauty of the Italian landscape and the history of its people. Thoreau’s trip to Italy influenced his writing, and it can be seen in his later works such as “Walden” and “Civil Disobedience”. Thoreau’s trip to Italy was an important part of his life and work, and it continues to be an interesting aspect of his literary legacy.

9. Mark Twain

Mark Twain was an American writer who traveled to Italy in 1867. He was known for his humorous writing, and his trip to Italy provided material for several of his later works. During his time in Italy, Twain traveled through the country, visiting cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice. He wrote about his experiences in his travel book “The Innocents Abroad”, which was published in 1869.

Twain’s writing about Italy is humorous and often critical. He writes about the crowds and the heat in Rome, and he pokes fun at the tourists and the vendors. Despite his criticisms, Twain also writes about the beauty of the Italian landscape and the rich history of the country. Twain’s time in Italy was an important part of his life and work, and it continues to be an interesting aspect of his literary legacy.

10. Nathaniel Hawthorne:

Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American author who traveled to Italy in 1850. He was known for his writing on morality and human nature, and his trip to Italy provided material for several of his later works. During his time in Italy, Hawthorne traveled through the country, visiting cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice. He wrote about his experiences in his travel book “The Marble Faun”, which was published in 1860.

Hawthorne’s writing about Italy is full of observations and reflections on the country and its people. He writes about the beauty of the Italian landscape and the rich history of its art and culture. He also writes about the Italian people, and he reflects on the impact of religion and superstition on their lives. Hawthorne’s trip to Italy had a profound impact on his writing, and it continues to be an interesting aspect of his literary legacy.

11. Edith Wharton: 

Edith Wharton was an American author who lived in Italy for several years. She first traveled to Italy in 1906, and she spent much of her life there, living in various cities including Rome and Florence. Wharton was a prolific writer, and she wrote many novels, short stories, and essays during her time in Italy.

One of Wharton’s most famous works, “The Age of Innocence”, is set in New York City, but it was inspired by her time in Italy. The novel explores the constraints of society and the consequences of breaking free from them. Wharton’s time in Italy also inspired her to write about the country and its culture, and she wrote several essays and travel books about Italy, including “Italian Villas and Their Gardens” and “Fighting France”. Wharton’s time in Italy was an important part of her life and work, and it continues to be an interesting aspect of her literary legacy.

12. F. Scott Fitzgerald:

F. Scott Fitzgerald was an American author who lived in Italy during the 1920s. He first traveled to Italy in 1924, and he spent several years there, living in various cities including Rome and Venice. Fitzgerald was known for his writing on the decadence and excess of the Roaring Twenties, and his time in Italy was an important part of his life and work.

While in Italy, Fitzgerald wrote many of his most famous works, including “The Great Gatsby” and “Tender is the Night”. He also wrote several short stories set in Italy, including “The Rich Boy” and “Babylon Revisited”. Fitzgerald’s time in Italy was marked by his love of the country and its culture, and it continues to be an interesting aspect of his literary legacy.

13. James Fenimore Cooper: 

James Fenimore Cooper was an American author who traveled to Italy in 1828. He was known for his writing on American history and the wilderness, and his trip to Italy provided material for several of his later works. During his time in Italy, Cooper traveled through the country, visiting cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice. He wrote about his experiences in his travel book “Gleanings in Europe: Italy”, which was published in 1838.

Cooper’s writing about Italy is full of observations and reflections on the country and its people. He writes about the beauty of the Italian landscape and the rich history of its art and culture. He also writes about the Italian people, and he reflects on their customs and traditions. Cooper’s trip to Italy had a profound impact on his writing, and it continues to be an interesting aspect of his literary legacy.

14. Washington Irving:

Washington Irving was an American author who traveled to Italy in 1829. He was known for his writing on American history and folklore, and his trip to Italy provided material for several of his later works. During his time in Italy, Irving traveled through the country, visiting cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice. He wrote about his experiences in his travel book “A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus”, which was published in 1828.

Irving’s writing about Italy is full of observations and reflections on the country and its people. He writes about the beauty of the Italian landscape and the rich history of its art and culture. He also writes about the Italian people, and he reflects on their customs and traditions. Irving’s trip to Italy had a profound impact on his writing, and it continues to be an interesting aspect of his literary legacy.

15. Edgar Allan Poe: 

Edgar Allan Poe was an American author who traveled to Italy in 1826. He was known for his writing on mystery and the macabre, and his trip to Italy provided material for several of his later works. During his time in Italy, Poe traveled through the country, visiting cities such as Rome and Venice. He wrote about his experiences in his travel book “Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket”, which was published in 1838.

Poe’s writing about Italy is full of observations and reflections on the country and its people. He writes about the beauty of the Italian landscape and the rich history of its art and culture. He also writes about the Italian people, and he reflects on their customs and traditions. Poe’s trip to Italy had a profound impact on his writing, and it continues to be an interesting aspect of his literary legacy.

Want To Follow In The Footsteps Of These American Writers?

Italy has long been a popular destination for American travelers and writers. Many famous Americans have lived in Italy, and their experiences in the country have had a profound impact on their lives and work. From Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck to Elizabeth Gilbert and Henry James, these writers and artists have contributed to the rich literary and cultural legacy of both Italy and the United States. Follow their example and discover the wonders of Italy – get in touch with our expert planning team now for your complimentary itinerary.