First Stop Cortona

Continuing with our recent trip to Tuscany: Our little cottage in the olive grove was about a thirty minute drive (east) to Cortona, so it was first on our list of places to visit.

Piazza della Repubblica

Cortona sits at the very top of a very steep hill, and all of the parking lots being down below. They have had so many visitors in recent years that they have even installed an escalator to get you to the top. As you can see, there were no crowds the day we visited.

So, we walked around town taking photos like normal tourists.

I  as usual was enthralled with the side streets. Seemed like the perfect day, until the skies opened up and had us searching for our umbrellas. Since it didn't appear that it was going to let up, we found a place inside and out of the rain to have lunch. 

Ultimately we decided to cut our day short due to the weather, but not without finding Bramasole. Bramasole (an Italian Villa) was made famous by the 2003 movie Under the Tuscan Sun. A movie that closely follows Frances Mayes best selling book by the same name. Ms Mayes who was an American professor of English and Creative writing (at the time) really did buy and renovate an old villa,

and this was the finished product...but when they made the movie they needed old ruin.

not my photo

Above is Villa Laura that was restored during the movie,  also in Cortona and has become a vacation rental.

Many people, (yes there is almost a cult following for this movie) search in vain for the fountain in the piazza. Well, it was temporally constructed for the movie, and torn down afterwards.

If you are curious about Cortona (and not the movie) go HERE.