Summertime

An unmarried, middle-aged woman who calls herself a 'fancy secretary' from Akron, Ohio, she arrives in Venice seeking romance and self-fulfillment. Initially cautious and self-conscious, she gradually opens to possibility as she pursues love across the city. Her summer in Venice becomes a journey of self-discovery and emotional growth.

A charming Italian shop owner who captivates Jane with a blend of artful romance and mystery. He is married with children, a fact he conceals from Jane, arguing that in Italy things are different. His allure forces Jane to confront her desires against loyalty and reality.

Eddie's wife, staying with the McIlhennys. She confides that her marriage is troubled, offering a perspective on the strain of infidelity and the complexity of love in a long-term relationship.

A young American painter married to Phyl, he pursues an affair with Signora Fiorini. His flirtatious behavior and desire for excitement highlight the fragility of his own marriage and the pull of temptation.

A widow who runs Pensione Fiorini, she becomes entangled with Eddie's affair. She offers hospitality and guides the social atmosphere of the pensione, complicating the moral landscape of the story.

An American traveler staying with Jane and Edith; he and his wife Edith represent the conventional, comfortable companionship of married life during a vacation abroad.

Lloyd's wife, part of the American couple on holiday who provide a counterpoint to Jane's romantic yearnings and help frame the social atmosphere of postwar leisure.

Renato's 'nephew,' actually his son, who reveals family truths that shock Jane and complicate her perception of Renato.

A friendly Italian street urchin who pesters Jane and serves as a go-between for Eddie and Signora Fiorini, highlighting the city's lively street life.