Seven Books That Enhanced My Trip to Italy

Whether you’re taking a trip to Europe or traveling via a fictional story, Leslea Wahl recommends several books to enhance your journey.

The reason I began reviewing faith-based books was to help families who struggled to find good fiction for their children and teens. It didn’t take long, though, to realize that I was benefitting from these books as much as anyone. This fact was on full display during my recent trip to Italy when I kept being reminded of the following books, which all provided extra insights into the wonders I encountered.  

Discovering Saint Peter’s Remains 

While the millions of tourists who visit Saint Peter’s Basilica often stop by what is referred to as Peter’s tomb, located on the floor below the altar, few realize that his bones are actually a level below that in the catacombs, which were only discovered in the 1930s. And, even more surprisingly, it wasn’t until the 1970s when a female archeologist made the final discovery of Saint Peter’s remains. The Fisherman’s Tomb is one of those must-reads for any faithful Catholic. 

The Fisherman’s Tomb by John O’Neil 

This was a fascinating non-fiction story about the many decades it took to finally discover the actual tomb of St. Peter. To protect his remains, it is believed that the bones of our first Pope had been moved by early Christians. There are several theories about who moved them, but where they were placed remained a mystery for centuries. The Catholic Church has long claimed that the Vatican was built on Peter’s tomb–fulfilling the verse “upon this rock I will build my church.” A few decades back, during the perilous times of World War II, a determined Pope and a few friends decided to explore the newly discovered catacombs under the Vatican in an attempt to prove this belief.   

This true story, filled with deceit, recklessness, politics, war, scandal, and destruction, is as riveting as any work of fiction. When long-believed theories turned out to be false, one determined archaeologist risked her reputation to finally uncover the truth. The Fisherman’s Tomb is a fascinating tale that many faithful Catholics seem to be unaware of. It wasn’t until fairly recently that the Scavi tour at the Vatican opened for visitors to view the uncovered catacombs and the actual remains of Saint Peter.  

Reflecting on the Holy Doors 

During the Jubilee celebration, pilgrims enter St. Peter’s Basilica through the Holy Doors. When you are surrounded by tourists herding you through the entrance, you are unable to take the time to fully appreciate the beautiful bronze sculptures on the doors. Author Joan Watson has created a lovely devotional that reflects on the panels of these special doors and encourages readers to contemplate the images from Scripture. 

Opening the Holy Door: Hope-Filled Scripture Reflections from St. Peter’s Basilica by Joan Watson 

What an inspirational book. While we hear about the Holy Doors and some are able to walk through them. Few people have the opportunity to spend time gazing at these works of art. If the doors are so important, shouldn’t it also be important to understand and reflect on their images? In Opening the Holy Door, Joan Watson provides us with that opportunity, guiding the reader to contemplate the images and delve into the Bible passages that these sculptures reflect. 

Understanding the Swiss Guard 

While I thoroughly enjoyed this Catholic romance that I read last year, I was surprised by all that I’d learned when bits of knowledge came back to me as I toured the Vatican. Rebecca Martin’s inspiring writing not only created a heartwarming love story full of real-life complications, but she also did an outstanding job of providing insights into the history and tradition of the Swiss Guard and their role in protecting the Pope. 

Love in the Eternal City: Swiss Guard Romance by Rebecca W. Martin 

This love story set in Rome was a wonderful surprise. I was set to be swept away with the beauty of the Eternal City as I enjoyed a clean romance, but this book delivered more than that. Love in the Eternal City by Rebecca Martin has considerable depth, as it tackles complex real-life issues and offers insights into the inner workings of the Vatican amid a hint of intrigue. 

Appreciating the Many Relics from Christ’s Life 

This book, perfect for a teen audience, is a little older, but it does an incredible job of introducing the reader to Emperor Constantine, his mother Saint Helena, and their journeys to Christianity. Rome is filled with precious relics, many of which were protected and brought to Rome from the Holy Land by Saint Helena, including the Passion Stairs that Christ climbed to meet Pontius Pilate, wood from the Last Supper table, and even a part of the True Cross. No wonder a statue to honor this remarkable woman stands at one of the four pillars that support the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. 

Saint Helena and the True Cross by Louis de Wohl 

What a fantastic, fictional story about the lives of Saint Helena and her son Saint Constantine. While they are known as amazing early saints of the church, they weren’t always believers of Christ. Saint Helena and the True Cross by Louis de Wohl tells the fascinating story of their lives during a very violent, pagan period when being a Christian could cost you your life. I knew little about Constantine and Helena, so I thoroughly enjoyed discovering more about this mother/son duo. While Constantine brought Christianity to the Roman Empire, Saint Helena brought many relics of Christ, including the cross on which He was crucified, from Jerusalem to Rome. I always had a fondness for these two saints, but now, thanks to this book, they are two of my favorites. 

Honoring the First Millennial Saint 

While we were in Rome, we encountered numerous groups of young people who had traveled there to be present for the Canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis. Unfortunately, due to the passing of Pope Francis, this final stage of sainthood had to be put on hold. And when our travels took us to Assisi, we were able to view the displayed body of Carlo Acutis. It was awe-inspiring to witness the many groups of young people gathered to honor this young man, who spent so much of his short life sharing about the faith with others.  

Friends in High Places: Carlo Acutis by Corinna Turner 

This teen novel by Corinna Turner is a fabulous introduction to the extraordinary life of Blessed Carlo Acutis. Carlo was an incredible, modern teen who died at the young age of 15 from leukemia. Amazingly, this young man is already on the road to sainthood. It’s incredible for young people to have such an inspirational role model with whom they can identify with. Carlo enjoyed playing soccer, video games, and hanging out with friends. He was also deeply devoted to his faith and used his interest in computers to create a website about Eucharistic miracles. Turner’s fictional story about another teen boy fighting cancer and his dedication to Carlo Acutis is a wonderful way for anyone to learn about Carlo and provides a powerful reflection on how we are living our own lives. 

Exploring the Catacombs 

One of the more fascinating tours we took while in Rome was to the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian. We were able to walk through the underground passageways where early Christians placed the bodies of their deceased loved ones. While we only viewed a small section, I could imagine the perilous times of those early Christians and the miles of tunnels that author Sophie de Mullenheim had brought to life through her fictional book, The Secret Tomb. 

The Secret Tomb by Sophie de Mullenheim 

This middle-grade book is part of the In the Shadows of Rome series published by Ignatius Press. I had not read any of the previous books before delving into this novel and was easily able to understand the characters and the storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and am now quite curious about the other books in the series. This fast-paced read is full of excitement and intrigue. Set in ancient Rome, the reader will learn about the early Church and what Roman society was like during that time through the adventures of these likable characters. This series is definitely one to check out! 

Visiting the House of Loreto 

Did you know that The Virgin Mary’s home in Nazareth was carried by angels to the little town of Loreto, Italy? I had never heard of such a thing until I read about it in Miraculous!, a chapter book by Catholic Mom contributing writer Kathryn Griffin Swegart. I’m pretty sure my family remained skeptical until we visited the Church where the home is now located and had the opportunity to read about the eyewitness accounts and subsequent investigation. My husband was so interested he ordered an in-depth book about the miraculous event.  

Miraculous!: Catholic Mysteries for Kids by Kathryn Griffin Swegart 

I absolutely loved this book! It is written for kids, but I learned a few new things as well! I’m always astounded by the incredible miracles that exist in the Catholic faith and that so few people seem to be aware of them. This collection of mysteries is a beautiful testament to our faith and will provide children some powerful examples of the wondrous works of God. 

This summer, whether you’re taking a trip to Europe or traveling through a fictional story, check out some of these Catholic books — with options for the entire family — that will enhance that journey. 

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Copyright 2025 Leslea Wahl

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