Why a Booktrail?
2000s: In Sammezzano Castle, past meets present in the glorious Tuscan sun..
The Peacock Room
What you need to know before your trail
Allegra O’Brien has it all: a beautiful family, a loving husband and a stunning west London home. But when she discovers her husband’s infidelity, that world crashes down around her.
With an ageing mother and two teenagers to support, Allegra seeks solace in the bosom of her Italian family. But it is the ramblings of her elderly grandpapa that awaken an interest in historic, interior architecture, and their legendary Mama Cosima.
Inspired and invigorated, Allegra takes a trip to her grandpapa’s birth village in Tuscany to learn more about her heritage. Whilst there, a dangerous encounter with a handsome Italian man throws her off course, but in the wake of her grandpapa’s illness, Allegra makes an unexpected discovery, and commits to the promise she made to solve a family mystery.
Locations
ResetTravel Guide
Visit The Peacock Room in Samezzano Castle in Tuscany
This book captures a very special real place and weaves into into a story of history, romance and family drama.
Samezzano Castle
The castle so central to the plot. The Peacock is an iconic feature of the castle which attracts thousands of visitors every year. It’s one of the most dreamy castles you could imagine. Located in the hills some 40 kms south of Central Florence, and surrounded by an oak tree grove , it sits at the top of a hill and overlooks the surrounding countryside.
Sadly the castle is largely abandoned but the Peacock Room is still as stunning as ever. Built in Moorish style, the castle has 365 rooms, one for every day of the year. The architecture and ornate building work inside and out is breathtaking. Its abandoned state gives it that gothic, tragic edge.
When exploring the castle the characters in the book stay in the very real Grand Hotel Bagglioni. Right in the centre of Florence, it sounds and looks lovely in the book and its a good base from which to see the Duomo and other points of interest they explore in the story.
As well as the Duomo, Florence is ideal for Allegra as she loves art and history and visits the Stibbert Museum as part of her interest in the area where her grandfather lived.
Streetview Maps
A) Italy - Florence - Sammezzano Castle
B) Italy - Florence - Sammezzano Castle
Booktrailer Review
A remarkable location and setting for a mystery!
This is a novel of intrigue, family secrets, lost art and romance. And the most amazing gothic castle in Tuscany with a room the colours of a peacock!
Read TheBookTrail’s full bookreview of The Peacock Room on the blog
BookTrail Boarding Pass: The Peacock Room
Destination: Tuscany Author/guide: Merryn Corcoran Departure Time: 2000s, flashbacks to the past.
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