Italy Leads 2026 Spa Destinations as Rome Tops Global Literary City Rankings

Rome Crowned the World's Premier Literary City

According to УНІАН — Туризм: In May 2026, Rome secured the top spot in Holafly’s ranking of the 50 best cities worldwide for literature, earning an impressive score of 79.6. This ranking was based on the city’s abundance of bookstores, libraries, and literary tours. Rome boasts 897 literary tours, 326 bookstores, and 87 libraries, including the renowned Angelica Library.

Among its iconic bookstores are:

• Antica Libreria Cascianelli, established in 1909, housed in a former tailor’s shop preserving its original wooden furnishings and glass-fronted bookcases.
• Libreria Palazzo Esposizioni, which specializes in art, photography, and design literature and magazines.

The city is also home to the Keats-Shelley House, a museum and memorial dedicated to poets John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Lord Byron. Following Rome, Berlin ranked second with a score of 53.7, featuring 418 bookstores, 44 libraries, and 46 literary tours. London claimed third place with 875 bookstores and approximately 403 literary tours, scoring 49.6 overall. Other cities rounding out the top ten include Vienna, Barcelona, Paris, Prague, Lisbon, Amsterdam, and Budapest.

Italy Shines in Wellness and Literary Excellence

Italy’s recognition extends beyond literature, having earned the World Spa Awards 2026 title for the best spa destination globally. The Lefay Spa World at Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti spans nearly 5,000 square meters and features:

• 9 saunas,
• multiple pools,
• a hydro-massage area with magnesium-rich saline water,
• alongside services such as massages, phytotherapy, Qigong, and meditation.

Additionally, Palazzo Fiuggi was honored as the world’s top wellness retreat, offering cutting-edge treatments like cryotherapy, intravenous therapies, drips, blood tests, saunas, light therapy, and sound therapy.

Meanwhile, New York received the award for the best hotel spa of 2026. The Guerlain Wellness Spa at Waldorf Astoria New York provides guests with massages, a sauna, steam baths, an arctic cave, and a comprehensive wellness center. Holafly’s team noted,

“For a city better known for its cuisine and history, New York’s literary achievements are also remarkably strong.”

For literary enthusiasts visiting Rome, City Unscripted offers private tours titled 'Rome’s Literary Heritage,' featuring visits to second-hand bookstores and Italy’s oldest café. There is also an audio walking tour called 'Rome for Readers: A Literary Journey Through the Eternal City,' which includes stops at Hotel de Russie-once frequented by Charles Dickens-and the Terrazza del Pincio, a scenic terrace and park where Henry James once sat.

Holafly’s ranking highlights Rome as not only a major tourist destination but also a vibrant cultural hub with a rich literary tradition. This accolade is expected to boost literary tourism and encourage new cultural initiatives, further strengthening the city’s identity as a global center for literature and the arts.

In addition to its literary accolades, Italy has also made a significant mark in the wellness sector, as evidenced by its recent triumph at the World Spa Awards 2026. The Lefay Spa World was recognized as the best spa destination globally, highlighting Italy's commitment to providing exceptional wellness experiences that complement its rich cultural heritage.