There are many ways to travel, and one of them is literature. Great lovers of literature or books know that being transported to other places, experiencing exciting adventures or torrid love stories is possible if there is a well-told story that anyone can identify with. On the occasion of International Book Day, which is celebrated on 23 April, Civitatis presents five literary tours to enjoy some emblematic destinations that have served as inspiration to create great literary works.
In a locality in La Mancha
If there is a work of Spanish literature recognized throughout the world, it is ‘The Ingenious Hidalgo, Don Quixote of La Mancha’ by Miguel de Cervantes. The literary tale narrates the exploits of a knight and his faithful squire, whose journey takes place across almost all of Castile La Mancha. A characteristic element of the landscape described in the novel are the windmills, typical of the Campo de Criptana, which Don Quixote mistakes for ‘Giants’.
It is said to be the place that inspired the writer Miguel de Cervantes to create some chapters of the book. And by the way! It is also the place where the video clip “De aquí no sales”, by singer Rosalía, was filmed. In short, it is a landscape that serves as inspiration for true geniuses of all disciplines.
The terrifying Transylvania
If there is one place in the world that is surrounded by an aura of mystery and terror, it is the Transylvania region of Romania. The writer Bram Stroker was inspired by Bran Castle to create a character known throughout the world: Dracula, whose name derives from Vlad Dracul. This character from Romanian history was a prince of the Wallachian region and was known for his great cruelty in killing his victims. He used the impalement method, which is why he was known as “Vlad the Impaler”.
The sobriety of the castle, its privileged rural setting and the mysterious aura that surrounds it make it one of the essential monuments to visit in Romania.
The romantic Verona
The city of Verona in Italy was the inspiration for the greatest love story ever told: “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare, one of the most famous writers of English and world literature. From the picturesque Capello family residence, one of the most visited monuments in the area as it is the famous “Juliet’s House”, to the tunnel that leads to this residence (where lovers leave notes) or to the Lamberti tower…
With the pink platform tour, you will visit all the emblematic places of the Italian city and of romance par excellence.
Revolutionary Paris
Paris is also a place where true classics of world literature were set. Even the work “Les Miserables” by the famous writer Victor Hugo could not be missing from the list. The Bastille fortress, the Sewer museum, Montfermeil (20 minutes from Paris) or the Place des Vosges are some of the places cited in the work to set the adventures of Jean Valjean.
The streets of Paris were used to recreate the atmosphere of the play based on a real character: Eugène François Vidocq, a real ex-convict very committed to the social cause of revolutionary France.
The picaresque of Salamanca
Another work of Spanish literature closely linked to a city is “El Lazarillo de Tormes”. The author of the work has never been known, but one thing is clear: the character is closely linked to the city of Salamanca. Its name indicates this, given that the Tormes river is the one that crosses the Castilian-Leonese city. A bronze sculpture of the character is located at the entrance to the Roman Bridge, and in the same place one of the most important passages of the novel is recreated: the moment in which Lazarillo and the blind man encounter a stone boar.
