Cortona, Italy III

Cortona -- to some of us, Frances Mayes' book "Under the Tuscan Sun" (1996) may be the first thing that comes to mind.

She was a professor from San Francisco who fell in love with an old house in Cortona and bought and renovated it.  She then published a book about her new life in Italy.  It became a New York Times Bestseller and was for a long time.

Then the Hollywood movie (starring Diane Lane) under the same title followed (2003).  So many people were introduced, for the first time, to beautiful Tuscan landscapes and la dolce vita in Italy.

All of this and more helped Cortona become a very popular tourist destination.  Even today there are people who decide to visit there because of the book/movie.  It is true that small towns need tourism, but is the media hype really a good thing?  I guess that would be another topic...


Cortona, Italy III

A larger image of this painting is available on request.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 in. (9 x 12 in. paper)
Purchase: Please send me an email.