Armchair Travel Books to take you to South Tyrol
Nothing like travel allows us to broaden our horizons, challenge our stereotypes, push us out of our comfort zone and most importantly teach us about other cultures, way of life and culinary traditions.
Unfortunately we find ourselves in unprecedented circumstances where, for most of us the perimeter of our homes are actually our current borders. As frustrating and sad as this is, it doesn’t mean that we cannot continue to travel and explore other “worlds”, it doesn’t have to be a death sentence to our curiosity nor does it have to feel we have been grounded with no options or alternatives. Perhaps, it can offer us the opportunity to re-discover activities that in our busy before-COVID-19-life, were set aside.
Reading is perhaps one of those activities and what better way than to choose some interesting, engaging and exciting stories related to South Tyrol? Learn about our beautiful, awe-inspiring Dolomites but most important you can learn all about the people, their lives, backgrounds, and in some cases, there will be an unexpected twist!
“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” ― Ernest Hemingway
And we couldn’t agree more! What a better moment to get back in touch with the loyalest of friends?
We realize that it won’t be the same kind of travel, but a good book with a good sense of imagination can transport you almost as far or at the very least, it can give you ideas and tips to help you plan your future trip to South Tyrol.
We've have put together a reading list of books from different genres, so let’s fight this cabin fever together with some good reading!
Enjoy!
Photo from Amazon.com
Luca D’Andrea is a Bolzano native-born writer and Beneath the Mountain was his debut novel and fastest-selling book in 2016, sold in more than 30 countries before it was first published in Italy.
It's an atmospheric and brilliant thriller, set in a small mountain community in the majestic Italian Dolomites, an outsider must uncover the truth about a triple murder that has gone unsolved for thirty years.
Photo from Amazon.com
Gerhard Steinacher, is a History and Hymen Rosenberg Professor of Judaic Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
This is the story of how Nazi war criminals escaped from justice at the end of the Second World War by fleeing through the Tyrolean Alps to Italian seaports, and the role played by the Red Cross, the Vatican, and the Secret Services of the major powers in smuggling them away from prosecution in Europe to a new life in South America.
Photo from marksullivanbooks.com
Mark Sullivan, acclaimed author and winner of several writing awards, tells the real story of 17 years old Pino Lella one of many unsung heros of Second World War. It's 1944, Pino's parents after the destruction of their Milan home from the Allies, send their son to the mountains. Here he joins an underground organization and help smuggling Jews and political dissidents over to Switzerland. His life though, is bound to get more complicated and dangerous.
Beneath a Scarlet Sky is the triumphant, epic tale of one young man’s incredible courage and resilience during one of history’s darkest hour.
Photo from Amazon.com
This is the memoire of Franz Thaler, a farmer from Sarntal Valley-Val Sarentino in South Tyrol, who was arrested and sent to Dachau for refusing to pledge allegiance to the Third Reich.
In 1939 the German speaking population of South Tyrol had to decide either to stay and become Italian citizens under the Fascism regime, or emigrate to the Third Reich and start a new life as Germans. Although his family decided to stay and became Dableiber - "Those that stayed" , in 1944, after the invasion of Nazi Germany of South Tyrol, he was asked to enlist in the Wehrmacht. He escaped but in order to save his family he had to return and began a tormented odyssey that will take him all the way to Dachau.
Photo from Amazon.com
A bestselling novel in Italy and Elle magazine's book of the year, Eva Sleeps is a sweeping modern story about family, forgiveness, and conflict. At its heart is the story of a woman searching for the truth about her origins.
Eva sleeps is also a beautiful trip through the opposite corners of Italy, from the peaks of the Dolomites to the sparkling Mediterranean Sea of Calabria and a journey back in Italian history.
