Top 10 Cities That Inspired History's Greatest Artists and Writers
Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2011 showcases cities that ignited the imaginations of legendary artists and writers, leaving behind timeless legacies of creativity.
1. Edinburgh
Image by LunaMoth116
Scotland's literary heritage is extraordinary, profoundly shaped by its capital. Robert Louis Stevenson praised Edinburgh as 'what Paris ought to be.' The Writers' Museum off the Royal Mile reveals personal artifacts from Scottish authors, including Robert Burns' writing desk. Sir Walter Scott aided in rediscovering Edinburgh Castle's Crown Jewels. Sir Henry Raeburn favored the city over London and Rome; his masterpiece The Reverend Robert Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch is an iconic Scottish work. J.K. Rowling crafted early Harry Potter stories in cafés like The Elephant House.
4. Valparaíso
Image by Harry Plotter (original)
Chilean Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda immortalized Valparaíso in poetry, dedicating verses to his home La Sebastiana, now a museum. The city's vibrant, winding alleys have inspired novelists like Isabel Allende and cartoonist Renzo Pecchenino (Lukas), who urged architects to study its unique topography. A dedicated museum celebrates his works.
5. Mumbai
Image by Mark Broadhead
As Bollywood's hub, Mumbai blends cinematic flair with deep literary roots and avant-garde art. Scottish historian James Mackintosh founded the Literary Society of Bombay in 1804, now in the neoclassical Town Hall. Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children is partly set here. Post-independence, the city's Fort and Colaba districts host galleries showcasing India's leading artists.
6. Havana
Image by jon crel
Havana has long magnetized artists. Ernest Hemingway's former home is a museum preserving his cocktail-making gin bottles. Follow his trail to La Bodeguita del Medio for mojitos. Graham Greene drew from visits pre- and post-Castro for his thriller Our Man in Havana.
7. London
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London's literary landmarks abound, from Charles Dickens' Bloomsbury home-museum to Virginia Woolf's Bloomsbury Group haunts. Explore Sherlock Holmes' 221B Baker Street museum and Wilkie Collins' Regent's Park inspiration for The Woman in White. Historic East End pubs like The Prospect of Whitby (Whistler, Turner) and The Grapes (Dickens) evoke artistic pasts.
8. San Francisco
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Begin at City Lights Books, where Lawrence Ferlinghetti published Allen Ginsberg's revolutionary Howl in 1956. The Six Gallery reading launched the Beat Generation. Ken Kesey drew from hospital night shifts for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The Mission District's murals reflect its vibrant street art heritage.
9. Prague
Image by Nico Paix
With playwright Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk as its first president, Prague thrives as a literary hub. Franz Kafka's museum explores his bond with the city. Milan Kundera chronicled its 1960s-70s politics and romance. Tynska Literary Café draws contemporary Czech authors.
10. Mexico City
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Jack Kerouac dubbed Mexico City 'the bottom of the road' in On the Road, a Beat Generation muse. William S. Burroughs' infamous Zona Rosa incident marked wild times. Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo's legacies shine in the Museo de San Ildefonso mural, Kahlo's Coyoacán house, and Museo de Arte Moderno.
