4 Places That Hosted World Famous Novels

Art and travel have had a special relationship that has influenced each other for centuries. And now, travel lovers can truly lose themselves in their favorite novels, movies, or plays. Peter Jackson's box office hit The Hobbit has focused the world's attention on New Zealand, making the region the latest trend for luxury travelers. With the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and the 27th Hay Festival also taking place there, the country's popularity has soared. In this article, we've decided to present locations that have hosted five famous books and offer accommodation options for your visit.

The Luminaries, Eleanor Catton – South Island, New Zealand

Catton's epic novel, set during New Zealand's gold rush years, takes place on the West Coast of the South Island. The Man Booker Prize-winning book paints a picture of 19th century New Zealand with its mysterious rivers searched for gold. A trip to this region today, which still holds all the wild beauties of nature, offers a contrast between the two islands and an unforgettable experience. We highly recommend arranging a special helicopter tour for a champagne picnic while watching the sunset over the distant mountains at Milford Sound. It will be a unique experience to explore the country.

Romeo & Juliet, William Shakespeare – Verona, Italy

Just steps from the famous balcony, Palazzo Victoria is a unique boutique hotel that reflects 15th-century romanticism and Renaissance life in a modern way. Its jacuzzis, baths, soothing lighting, and all technological equipment harmoniously integrate with original frescoed ceilings, Verona marble, and traditional wooden floors. It's much easier to dream looking down from the balcony of the Victoria Suite, which dates back to the era of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, onto the old city where tirades and duels took place.

Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert – Bali

Life at Shambala Estate Como imitates art. Located in Ubud, the spiritual center of Bali, surrounded by rainforests, it offers modern suites and villas. The award-winning spa's wellness programs provide an experience similar to the enlightenment Julia Roberts' character had during her visit to Bali in Eat, Pray, Love. Visitors who engage in cultural explorations and exercise can take gymnastics lessons in the forest, cycle through rice fields, go rafting in frothy waterfalls, and relax in the vitality pool afterwards.

The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt – New York

Donna Tartt's latest novel, which won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Best Fiction, features the famous Dutch painter Fabritius and his masterpiece of the same name. The novel, triggered by a tragic event at the New York Metropolitan Museum, tells a tale of loss and passion in a fairy-tale language while the city hosts ongoing suspicion throughout the novel. Located in the heart of Manhattan, The Quin Hotel, where famous actors Georgia O’Keeffe and Marc Chagall have stayed, will enchant you with New York's cultural heritage. We also recommend visiting the hotel's ongoing exhibitions and meeting artists inspired by the region's inspiring atmosphere.