A great many readers were introduced to the Tuscan hilltop town of Cortona via a popular memoir, “Under the Tuscan Sun“, written by Frances Mayes about impulsively buying and then restoring an abandoned house, Casa Bramasole, near this beautiful town. The book was the basis of the film of the same name and one of the stars of the film was undoubtedly this very same Cortona farmhouse of Frances Mayes and “Under the Tuscan Sun”. However, since the real house had long since been restored, a “double” had to be found for most of the restoration scenes in the film and indeed there was a suitable property on the outskirts of Cortona. That villa has itself since been restored.
The Cortona farmhouse of Frances Mayes and “Under the Tuscan Sun“
In her 2010 book, “Every Day in Tuscany” Frances Mayes describes finding another, very different, abandoned house located much higher up on Monte Sant’Egidio near Cortona.
The subject matter of these books is definitely interesting to anyone keen on Tuscany and the Tuscan people, or for that matter house restoration. Alas, they are written for the most part in an appalling, non-idiomatic form of English apparently popular in creative writing classes, a kind of present continuous. I found it almost impossible to read but it evidently hasn’t deterred Frances Mayes’ legion admirers.
More about Frances Mayes and Cortona.
About Elena Spolaor
Although Elena was born in Venice, she was brought up in Tuscany and is a historian and frequent contributor to online articles about life in Tuscany and Umbria. Her specialities are Tuscan and Umbrian local history and folklore.
- Web |
- More Posts(58)
Here are some similar topics:
A beautiful Tuscan garden, the Piccolomini Gardens at Pienza in southern Tuscany
Pienza is one of the gems of Tuscany and should on no account be overlooked. Although located near the Val d’Orcia south of Sienna, it is readily accessible as a day trip from Chianti. A beautiful Tuscan garden, the Piccolomini Gardens at Pienza in southern Tuscany, overlooking the Val d’Orcia with Monte Amiata in the… 
Villa Medici at Fiesole, the first true classic Renaissance villa in Tuscany, Italy
Villa Medici at Fiesole, the first true classic Renaissance villa in Tuscany, Italy, was commissioned by Giovanni, the second son of Cosimo il Vecchio and, among other owners over the centuries, belonged to the mother of Iris Origo in the early part of the 20 C. Life there during that period is described by Iris… 
The garden of Villa Gamberaia in Tuscany near Florence
Of all the Renaissance villa gardens of Tuscany, perhaps none is so perfect as the garden of Villa Gamberaia in Tuscany near Florence. The garden of Villa Gamberaia represents one of the finest examples of the integration of an italianate garden into the architecture of a Tuscan villa. Among the outstanding villa gardens of Tuscany,… 
A Tuscan farmhouse – the beauty of a Tuscan casa colonica
The Tuscan farmhouse is among the most attractive of all forms of vernacular architecture, perhaps equalled in aesthetic appeal only by the villages of the M’zab in the Algerian Sahara. In contrast to the M’zab, Tuscany is, of course, easily accessible to all and a great many of these beautiful Tuscan farmhouses have been sensitively… 
History of Tuscany and Tuscan Culture
Usually I confine my posts to bite-sized morsels of practical Tuscany tourist information. However, today let’s try something cultural and historical. I’ll try to provide some pointers on one way to think about the huge topic of the history of Tuscany and Tuscan culture. One approach is to see the culture of Tuscany in terms… 
Church of San Miniato al Monte, above Florence in Tuscany, Italy
The Church of San Miniato al Monte, above Florence in Tuscany, Italy, was Michelangelo’s favorite church and it’s easy to see why. Both inside and out, this Basilica is an architectural gem that should not be missed by anyone visiting Florence, both for the church and the magnificent view out over Florence. The facade was… 
The Chianti hamlet of San Leolino in Tuscany, Italy
The hamlet of San Leolino very near Panzano in Chianti is home to the parish church of the same name. The Pieve di San Leolino is first recorded in the year 982, under the name of San Leolino in Flacciano in a parchment held in the Abbey of Passignano, but two sculptural fragments housed in… 
Posted in 
Tags: 
