Holidays and reading go hand in hand. From the chunky blockbusters found on the shelves of airport bookshops to lying back in the sun with a well-thumbed paperback, there’s something about relaxing with a book that just meshes perfectly with relaxing on holiday. But if you’re a real lover of literature, why just settle for reading on your holiday when you can stay somewhere that’s a rich evocation of some of your favourite books?
If you’ve ever imagined climbing into a book and living the life of your favourite hero or heroine, you can get a little closer to that dream thanks to some of the luxury holiday villas at Oliver’s Travels. They’ve got a huge portfolio of unique and beautiful villas to choose from, and here’s five of them paired up with the books that’ll make perfect reading during your stay!
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – Stockdale Manor
It’s quite possibly the world’s favourite novel, and everybody knows the story of the five eligible Bennet sisters and Elizabeth’s fractious romance with the arrogant Mr Darcy. If you fancy reliving passages from the novel yourself (saying nothing of that infamous scene with Colin Firth and a wet shirt) Stockdale Manor, near Northampton in the East Midlands, not only looks the part from the outside but is also full of beautiful period furniture and design. It’s pretty much the next best thing to Pemberley!
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières – Tiggi Beach House
Though the book itself (and its stormy tale of love and wartime occupation) is set on the Ionian island of Cephalonia, the charming and quirky looks of the Tiggi Beach House are sure to ignite the passion and romance of Greece. Found near the coast on the island of Mykonos, this gorgeous beach house mixes archetypal island design with the undiluted peace of its secluded location, and the outdoor living space makes the perfect place to relax with a tale of adventure and passion.
Dracula by Bram Stoker – Gunn Castle
The nefarious Transylvanian count might have initially landed in Whitby, but this Scottish castle is more than gothic enough if you like your reading a little darker and tinted with horror. With fantastic views out over the coast (you can even see the Northern Lights at the right time of year) it’s the perfect place to curl up with something thrilling in front of a roaring fire. The atmosphere might be bordering on the spooky, but the amenities and location at Gunn Castle are anything but spine-chilling.
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes – Finca Nouveau
The fabled Knight of the Mournful Countenance made La Mancha famous the world over thanks to his manic adventures across the region – adventures you can recapture on horseback in Finca Nouveau’s 3,000 acre estate. While tilting at windmills isn’t really recommended, this spacious and rustic holiday home will take you back to a simpler time, where you can kick back in rural tranquillity and enjoy everything about life in the heart of the Spanish countryside. After all, before he donned his shaving bowl, Don Quixote was a Spanish landowner – and now you can experience the same! Also, though it was reading too much that sent him over the edge in the first place, you probably won’t be in any danger so long as you stay hydrated!
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown – Torretta Di Bottazzi
Though it might have caused no little controversy on its release, nobody’s arguing that The Da Vinci Code isn’t a rip-roaring page turner. If you’d like to retrace the steps of the intrepid Robert Langdon you’ll need to head on a bit of a transatlantic adventure (the book heads to the Louvre and Westminster Abbey) but there’s no better place to start than Rome itself, along with all the art, history and cuisine that comes with it. Torretta Di Bottazzi is a beautiful Baroque tower found just outside Rome, and makes the perfect place to start your own investigation into what makes the city so special.
Disclaimer:- Featured post
Nice feature! I’m a writer of sorts and I live in Mallorca – Have you ever checked out The Pine Walk in Puerto Pollensa? It’s where Agatha Christie rented a villa and wrote Problem at Pollensa Bay and other stories. My wife and I planning a Fall trip to Greece. Tiggi Beach looks like a good suggestion. Thanks again for the article!
Wow those places look exquisite and it would be so nice to wander about them, they look pretty relaxing!