I am off to Venice, Florence and Rome - would love some recommendations

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We are going for half term in October with my kids and want to do lots of sightseeing there.

I would also like to read more about Leonardo da Vinci , a biography perhaps?

I also like history so anything either set up in those places or about them would be of interest.

You might want to try The Talented Mr Ripley as set in Rome and Venice, although obviously not historical fiction but a fast paced thriller

The Dan Brown books, Da Vinci code and Angels and Demons

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Durrant and of course Room with a View by E M Forster.

So, you are looking for more historical books? The Birth of Venus for sure and Room with a View is great.

VENICE:
In the Company of the Courtesan for Venice is great historical www.elleuk.com/magazine/book-club/holiday-reading-venice-tripfiction-3-best-books-to-read (plus a couple more choices for Venice).

I always give The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt to anyone going to Venice www.tripfiction.com/books/the-city-of-falling-angels/

ROME:
A Day in the Life of Rome is fabulous www.tripfiction.com/books/day-life-ancient-rome/

Blood and Beauty by Sarah Dunant www.tripfiction.com/books/blood-and-beauty/

FLORENCE:
Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King - a wonderful look at Sta Maria del Fiore
www.tripfiction.com/books/brunelleschis-dome/

The Sign of the Weeping Virgin by Alana White www.tripfiction.com/books/the-sign-of-the-weeping-virgin/

For LEONARDO:

Leonardo's Swans by Karen Essex is more Milan and Ferrara but will give you a lovely story with Leonardo in it; Leonardo and the Last Supper www.tripfiction.com/books/leonardo-and-the-last-supper/ is also more Milan

Well, I am sure others will add to the list - have fun choosing!

Thanks a lot for those suggestions!
tripficton your list looks great!

I will have great fun choosing - please keep them coming!

A room with a view by forester - read before if possible

Neither here nor there - bill Bryson for a more modern view

Romeo and Juliet

And just google their history and see where it takes you:)

Ooh- and Elizabeth barret browning bio - she eloped there with Robert browning- and Shelley was there with Mary ( she wrote Frankenstein).

For an alternative approach, there's a series of detective type novels by Donna Leon - I've not read them but I've downloaded a couple for my venice trip.

Donna Leon has written about 18 books & her earlier ones are the best.

Acqua Alta, Death at La Fenice & A Venetian Reckoning are my favourites.

Venice by Jan Morris is wonderfully evocative but maybe a better read after you have visited!