Many cities that once served as the backdrop for timeless novels are now bustling with fans eager to experience their stories firsthand amid the rapid rise of literary tourism.
But which European cities are the most adored by novelists over the past century?
The printing experts at Aura Print scoured the Google Books archive, analysing over 25 million works to uncover the 30 most written-about European cities between 1920 and 2019 – revealing the key locations that have most inspired the literary imagination over the past century.
Beating all its European counterparts by a landslide, London snags top spot on the list to be crowned Europe’s most popular city in literature. Featured an astonishing 286,675,501 times, London appears nearly three times more than all other cities analysed. From Dickens’ smoky alleys to Conan Doyle’s foggy mysteries, the British capital has served as both muse and stage for countless tales. As Dickens once described it, the city was his ‘magic lantern’ that fired his creativity.
For the complete data of all 30 European cities analysed, please click here.
London book recommendations: A Tale of Two Cities, Sherlock Holmes, The House by the Thames
Trailing behind is Britain’s age-old cross-Channel rival, the beguiling French capital, Paris. Accumulating a mind-blowing 95,290,475 literary mentions, the romantic and intriguing City of Lights has captured the imagination of romantics and philosophers alike, from Hemingway to contemporary novelists seeking beauty in chaos.
Paris book recommendations: Paris Is Always A Good Idea, The Little Paris Bookshop, The Paris Wife
The Eternal City, Rome, claims third spot (48,840,949 mentions), triumphing over its fellow Italian cities with an impressive 74% greater share of literary attention than Florence (5th), Venice (11th) and Milan (16th), on average. From its glorious imperial past to the vibrant present, the Italian capital makes a captivating backdrop for books of all genres.
Rome book recommendations: Eat, Pray, Love, Conclave, Four Seasons in Rome
Whipping up fourth place with a significant 37,079,709 mentions in books is Berlin. Steeped in history with a turbulent past, the German capital offers a striking cityscape, serving as a wellspring of inspiration for historical fiction and thriller writers.
Berlin book recommendations: Goodbye to Berlin, Alone in Berlin, The Artificial Silk Girl
Rounding out the top five most written-about cities is Florence. Renowned for its Renaissance art, storied past, and cultural allure, Florence has appeared in 19,414,470 literary mentions. From the grandeur of the Duomo to the picturesque lanes along the Arno, the city offers an enchanting and thought-provoking backdrop that has inspired writers across generations.
Florence book recommendations: A Room with a View, Inferno, The Birth of Venus
