Cortona

Books by Frances Mayes about her house "Casa Bramasole"
and her life in Tuscany and Cortona

 

Books about life in Italy by Frances Mayes


Under the Tuscan Sun Frances Mayes Under the Tuscan Sun (1996)

This is the memoir of her buying, renovating and living in an abandoned farm house, Casa Bramasole, in Tuscany near Cortona that made Frances Mayes famous and rich enough to move there semi-permanently. If you can stand the style (continuous present tense, gushing) you'll learn a lot about living in rural Italy and a lot about Frances Mayes. I enjoyed the book - it's a lot of fun.

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Bella Tuscany Frances Mayes Bella Tuscany (1999)

If you enjoyed "Under the Tuscan Sun" you will enjoy this sequel. Frances Mayes continues work on Casa Bramasole and starts renovation of a new property. There are descriptions of more extensive excursions around Italy, including Sicily. There's plenty on cooking, gardens as well as interior decoration.

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In Tuscany Frances Mayes In Tuscany (2000)

Renovation of Bramasole complete, this new book by Frances Mayes is dominated by the extremely good photographs of Bob Krist, including the house and Cortona. Good commentary, good recipes, relaxed style - armchair traveller fodder at its best.

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Bring Tuscany home Frances Mayes, Edward Mayes, Steven Rothfeld Bringing Tuscany home. Sensuous Style From the Heart of Italy

Good photography, text mainly for Mayes fans. In addition to recipes, Frances Mayes offers recommendations on where to find good things Tuscan from antiques and furniture to ceramics and textiles. But this is not an interior decoration book (despite the cover design) - it's a continuation of the story of Mayes' love affair with Tuscany.

Buy it from Amazon


Iris Origo

Iris Origo

For insight into the history and character of Italy and the Italian people during both Renaissance times and the 20th century, we strongly recommend the erudite and extremely readable books of Iris Origo who was brought up at Villa Medici at Fiesole and with her husband developed the famous villa and garden of La Foce in the Val d'Orcia.

 

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