Frances Mayes opens the door to a wondrous new world when she buys and renovates an abandoned villa in the spectacular Tuscan countryside.In sensuous and evocative language, she brings the reader along as she discovers the beauty and simplicity of life in Italy. An accomplished cook and food writer, Mayes also creates dozens of delicious seasonal recipes from her traditional kitchen and simple garden, all of which she includes in the book. A celebration of the extraordinary quality of life in Tuscany,Under the Tuscan Sun is a feast for all the senses.

"A model for the open, curious mind and the questing soul …Those who want to find parts of themselves they didn"t know existed,take risks, have an adventure…and discover another culture altogether, with its different rhythms, tastes, smells, and ways of being human--those readers will find in Mayes a kindly, eager, tough-spir-ited guide."--Houston Chronicle

"A report from our dream Italy, still rural, still devoted to beauties thatare not artificial Mayes has a profoundly sensual relation to everything she touches, from texture to food Her description of meals that we, alas, didn"t get to eat evoke in me satisfaction without jealousy, like paintings."--Boston Globe

PREFACE

BRAMARE: (ARCHAIC) TO YEARN FOR

A HOUSE AND THE LAND IT TAKES TWO

OXEN TWO DAYS TO PLOW

SISTER WATER. BROTHER FIRE

THE WILD ORCHARD

WHIR OF THE SUN

FESTINA TARDE (MAKE HASTE SLOWLY)

A LONG TABLE UNDER THE TREES

SUMMER  KITCHEN  NOTES

CORTONA.  NOBLE  CITY

RIVA, MAREMMA: INTO WILDEST TUSCANY

TURNING  ITALIAN

GREEN OIL

FLOATING WORLD: A WINTER SEASON

WINTER KITCHEN NOTES

ROSE WALK

SEMPRE PIETRA  (ALWAYS STONE)

RELICS OF SUMMER

SOLLEONE