The second thing is, people really respond to the Italians. So those terraced hills of olive trees and the punctuation points of the cypress and the wonderful silhouettes of the hill towns - all those things are imposed upon a landscape that is already beautiful. It's largely man-made in a way because over the centuries, it's been farmed so much. Mayes: The initial thing is the landscape. There is that shared hospitality and sense of everything happening at the table.ĬNN: Can you explain the magic of Tuscany? I do find some similarities among the people with the people I grew up with in Georgia in the South. Just everything to me comes together there.

The culture, the cuisine, the people, the landscape, the history. I find that other countries have this or this, but Italy is the only one that has it all for me. Is there any other place on earth where you have experienced this magic atmosphere beyond Tuscany?įrances Mayes: In a word, no. It's all about friends, trips, wine and food.

The following is an edited version of that interview.ĬNN: You get a very warm feeling reading your book. She recently talked about her life in Tuscany with CNN.com from North Carolina, where she lives part of the year. The book contains 25 recipes of some of the dishes Mayes likes to cook.Īuthor Frances Mayes spends up to six months in Tuscany every year. Everything from duck breast with caramelized spices and artichokes to steamed chocolate cake with vanilla sauce. In 'Every Day in Tuscany: Seasons of an Italian Life,' Mayes describes enjoying the bounty of her garden, buying a new house, going on trips to the resort town of Portofino, seeing Castello Brown (the castle where 'Enchanted April' was filmed), tasting wine and eating fabulous food - oh, the food. Her new book might tempt some more would-be Tuscans. 'I heard from somebody yesterday who said, 'I just read your books and I've never been to Tuscany, but I'm now planning to move there.' And I thought, oh no, please, don't blame me if it doesn't work out,' Mayes said with a laugh. About 20 expats have bought homes near Mayes' beloved country house, Bramasole, after reading about her experiences, Mayes said. The story inspired some fans to do much more than go out for an Italian meal. Mayes chronicled her decision to buy and restore a villa near the town of Cortona in 'Under the Tuscan Sun,' which became a best-selling book and the basis for the 2003 movie of the same name starring Diane Lane. (CNN) - Many authors can move readers with their words, but Frances Mayes has the power to actually make readers move.Īs in pack up and start a new life thousands of miles away in Tuscany - the enchanting northwest region of Italy known for its food, wine and scenic beauty - just as she did 20 years ago.

Frances mayes house