Roman Stories, by Jhumpa Lahiri, is a collection of vignettes with an assortment of characters in various settings and classes. Fundamentally, the stories are character studies, and Rome itself is one of the characters. The writing is superb. Lahiri s awards include a Pulitzer and the National Humanities Medal. Writers who want to see how it’s done should read this book. Here’s what Kirkus Reviews says:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jhumpa-lahiri/roman-stories/