James Joyce Centre, Dublin

Occupying a grandiose 18th-century Georgian townhouse from a time when Dublin's north inner city fancied itself the belle of the ball, the JJC throws a literary fiesta celebrating Ireland's most imaginative yet intricate wordsmith. Joyce, who once called the inner northside home, spun his tales from the fabric of his surroundings, weaving characters and settings with the finesse of a spider knitting a web.

Decked out with fancy stucco mouldings by Michael Stapleton, the building houses a quaint ground-floor shop brimming with Joyce-related memorabilia, including books and prints. An airy courtyard showcases the authentic period door of 7 Eccles Street, the fictional residence of Leopold and Molly Bloom, central figures in "Ulysses", alongside a puzzling Joyce-inspired sculpture of a cow.

On the upper floors, guests are transported to a recreation of Joyce's modest room in Trieste. Here, an array of books, pianola music-rolls, and a remarkable collection of hats evoke the atmosphere of his creative sanctuary, while touchscreen consoles offer insights into the the evolution of "Ulysses" and its diverse cast of characters. Visitors can delve deeper into the writer's life through three short docu-films.