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In Tuscany
From the bestselling author whose memoirs Under the Sun and Bella Tuscany have captured the voluptuousness of Italian life comes a lavishly illustrated ode to the joys of Tuscany's people, food, landscapes, and art. In Tuscany celebrates the abundant pleasures of life in Italy as it is lived at home, at festivals, feasts, restaurants and markets, in the kitchen and on the piazza, in the vineyards, fields, and olive groves. Combining all-new essays by Frances Mayes and a chapter by her husband, poet Edward Mayes, with more than 200 full-color photos by photographer Bob Krist, each of this book's five sections highlights a signature aspect of Tuscan life:
La Piazza--the locus of Italian village life. With photgraphs of the shop signs, the outdoor markets, medieval streets, people, their pets and their cars, and snippets of conversations overheard, Mayes reveals the life of the Piazza in her town of Cortona as well as out-of-the-way places such as Volterra, Asciano, Monte San Savino, and Castelmuzio.
La Festa--the celebration. Essays and photos of feasts and celebrations, such as the Christmas dinner for twenty-seven at a neighbor's house and a donkey race around the church at Montepulciano Stazione, illustrate how the Tuscans celebrate the seasons--their open ways of friendship, their connection to nature, and most of all, their sense of abundance.
Il Campo--the field. Here Edward Mayes evokes the deep sense of the shift of seasons as he picks olives before he and Frances head off to the olive oil mill and enjoy the first bruscette with new oil.
La Cucina--the kitchen. An intimate view of the all-important role of the kitchen in Tuscan culture, including photographs of her own kitchen and gardens, menus from great local cooks, the elements of the Tuscan table, dishes with cultural and culinary notes on each, and, of course, delectable recipes.
La Bellezza--the beauty. From the quality of the light falling on sublime landscapes in different seasons and Tuscan faces in moments of laughter to a silhouette of cypress trees in the early evening and a wild bird perched on a neigbor's head, In Tuscany features views of beauty that reveal the singular splendor of one of the world's best-loved and most artistic regions.
La Piazza--the locus of Italian village life. With photgraphs of the shop signs, the outdoor markets, medieval streets, people, their pets and their cars, and snippets of conversations overheard, Mayes reveals the life of the Piazza in her town of Cortona as well as out-of-the-way places such as Volterra, Asciano, Monte San Savino, and Castelmuzio.
La Festa--the celebration. Essays and photos of feasts and celebrations, such as the Christmas dinner for twenty-seven at a neighbor's house and a donkey race around the church at Montepulciano Stazione, illustrate how the Tuscans celebrate the seasons--their open ways of friendship, their connection to nature, and most of all, their sense of abundance.
Il Campo--the field. Here Edward Mayes evokes the deep sense of the shift of seasons as he picks olives before he and Frances head off to the olive oil mill and enjoy the first bruscette with new oil.
La Cucina--the kitchen. An intimate view of the all-important role of the kitchen in Tuscan culture, including photographs of her own kitchen and gardens, menus from great local cooks, the elements of the Tuscan table, dishes with cultural and culinary notes on each, and, of course, delectable recipes.
La Bellezza--the beauty. From the quality of the light falling on sublime landscapes in different seasons and Tuscan faces in moments of laughter to a silhouette of cypress trees in the early evening and a wild bird perched on a neigbor's head, In Tuscany features views of beauty that reveal the singular splendor of one of the world's best-loved and most artistic regions.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1980
18 people are currently reading
2198 people want to read
About the author
Frances Mayes
48 books2,082 followersFrances Mayes's new book is See You in the Piazza: New Places to Discover in Italy published by Crown. Her most recent novel is Women in Sunlight, published by Crown and available in paperback in spring 2019. With her husband, Edward Mayes she recently published The Tuscan Sun Cookbook.
Every Day in Tuscany
is the third volume in her bestselling Tuscany memoir series.
In addition to her Tuscany memoirs, Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany , Frances Mayes is the author of the memoirs Under Magnolia: A Southern Memoir; A Year in the World; the illustrated books In Tuscany and Bringing Tuscany Home; Swan, a novel; The Discovery of Poetry, a text for readers; and five books of poetry. She divides her time between homes in Italy and North Carolina.
In addition to her Tuscany memoirs, Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany , Frances Mayes is the author of the memoirs Under Magnolia: A Southern Memoir; A Year in the World; the illustrated books In Tuscany and Bringing Tuscany Home; Swan, a novel; The Discovery of Poetry, a text for readers; and five books of poetry. She divides her time between homes in Italy and North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
July 14, 2017
When we can't travel in reality, a well-written book takes us there in mind and spirit. I'm a fan of Frances Mayes's Under the Tuscan Sun and much enjoyed returning to Tuscany and spending some delightful hours exploring the piazzas, celebrations, family meals, churches, statues, mushrooms, olives, flowers...everything that makes Tuscany a beautiful, even sacred place to live. The only regret is that the audio can't show me the photos or recipes, so I must find a copy at the library.
February 9, 2008
this is more of a travel guide book with beautiful photographs capturing the light and landscape of Tuscany. Not quite a coffee-table book and prettier than a standard travel guide, it falls between. Worth buying if you plan a visit or have visited and want a memento...but not at full price.
April 29, 2008
Though I could already visualize Tuscany through Frances Mayes written words, the book is definitely frosting on the cake. Now that I took it down from the shelf to add to my list here ,I will once again immerse myself in the pages and return to Tuscany.
September 20, 2023
In Tuscany by Frances Mayes.
Twenty years ago, Frances Mayes purchased a house in Italy and during years of restoration it became home. After living there seasonally for many years, since their retirement from teaching in California, Mayes and her husband now make Tuscany their home year-round. Bramasole, near Cortona, is no longer just a house in Italy – it has become home. Under the Tuscan Sun, published in 1997 and Bella Tuscany published in 2000, covered Mayes first decade at Bramasole. Every Day in Tuscany brings her story up to the present time, as Mayes continues the story of her life in Tuscany.
My first impression is a jealousy I can taste – why can’t I live in Tuscany!! Then I think about my cottage on Georgian Bay – my equivalent of Bramasole. Because what Mayes realized, as I do, is that this “holiday home” is really where the heart is – it is truly home – not just a place to live – but a place to LIVE. Mayes says “When I am away, I miss it as I miss a person I love..”
“In Tuscany I learned to take time”, writes Mayes. In retirement she can read into the night and sleep late, take time to make slow tomato sauce. Frances Mayes is now 69 years old, and I think she is sensing that she must make the most of the life she is living now even more than she did in the past. Joan Anderson, another writer just a few years older than Frances Mayes, writes about living the second half of life differently than we did the first – and Mayes writes the same thoughts “Living well in time means taking back time from the slave-masters – obligations, appointments, the dreary round of details …”. Mayes realizes that “time is elastic… that time, which devours, also stretches.” She knows that a big part of what made her home in Tuscany so special, while she was working in the United States, was that when she was at Bramasole her time was her own. Now in retirement it is completely her own choice how to use that time.
When I began this book, I expected to be reading about Italy and found that I was also reading about time and place, thinking about my own life and my own choices about how I spend my time. Life is too short to waste the time we have.
We follow Frances Mayes on day trips and holidays exploring other parts of Italy, and days at home at Bramasole and in Cortona, with visits from friends and family. Gardening and harvesting, and cooking – with recipes included - Mayes finds a natural renewal from being at home in nature, in the rural surroundings of her home. And in the kitchen, she finds “delight, joy, excitement, surprise”. In her kitchen there are many meals prepared – quiet meals to share as a couple – and massive spreads for dozens of friends and neighbours. In Italy every meal is a celebration – Mayes writes “Eating in Italy made me aware of how tortured the relationship to food is in my country.” In Italy food is eaten when it is in season and fresh, the menu changes with the harvest, “Dinner invigorates the spirit as it nourishes the body.”
This is not just another book about Italy. In rural Tuscany where Frances Mayes makes her home “work and play are happily still balanced, giving the chance not to just enjoy but to revel in everyday life.” As Frances Mayes travels, she explores, she learns, she absorbs, and she experiences “a joyous sense of release from the present tense”. So, travel along with In Tuscany, treat yourself to some Tuscan sunshine compliments of Frances Mayes – prepare a meal from this book, share it with a friend – and take time for yourself.
Twenty years ago, Frances Mayes purchased a house in Italy and during years of restoration it became home. After living there seasonally for many years, since their retirement from teaching in California, Mayes and her husband now make Tuscany their home year-round. Bramasole, near Cortona, is no longer just a house in Italy – it has become home. Under the Tuscan Sun, published in 1997 and Bella Tuscany published in 2000, covered Mayes first decade at Bramasole. Every Day in Tuscany brings her story up to the present time, as Mayes continues the story of her life in Tuscany.
My first impression is a jealousy I can taste – why can’t I live in Tuscany!! Then I think about my cottage on Georgian Bay – my equivalent of Bramasole. Because what Mayes realized, as I do, is that this “holiday home” is really where the heart is – it is truly home – not just a place to live – but a place to LIVE. Mayes says “When I am away, I miss it as I miss a person I love..”
“In Tuscany I learned to take time”, writes Mayes. In retirement she can read into the night and sleep late, take time to make slow tomato sauce. Frances Mayes is now 69 years old, and I think she is sensing that she must make the most of the life she is living now even more than she did in the past. Joan Anderson, another writer just a few years older than Frances Mayes, writes about living the second half of life differently than we did the first – and Mayes writes the same thoughts “Living well in time means taking back time from the slave-masters – obligations, appointments, the dreary round of details …”. Mayes realizes that “time is elastic… that time, which devours, also stretches.” She knows that a big part of what made her home in Tuscany so special, while she was working in the United States, was that when she was at Bramasole her time was her own. Now in retirement it is completely her own choice how to use that time.
When I began this book, I expected to be reading about Italy and found that I was also reading about time and place, thinking about my own life and my own choices about how I spend my time. Life is too short to waste the time we have.
We follow Frances Mayes on day trips and holidays exploring other parts of Italy, and days at home at Bramasole and in Cortona, with visits from friends and family. Gardening and harvesting, and cooking – with recipes included - Mayes finds a natural renewal from being at home in nature, in the rural surroundings of her home. And in the kitchen, she finds “delight, joy, excitement, surprise”. In her kitchen there are many meals prepared – quiet meals to share as a couple – and massive spreads for dozens of friends and neighbours. In Italy every meal is a celebration – Mayes writes “Eating in Italy made me aware of how tortured the relationship to food is in my country.” In Italy food is eaten when it is in season and fresh, the menu changes with the harvest, “Dinner invigorates the spirit as it nourishes the body.”
This is not just another book about Italy. In rural Tuscany where Frances Mayes makes her home “work and play are happily still balanced, giving the chance not to just enjoy but to revel in everyday life.” As Frances Mayes travels, she explores, she learns, she absorbs, and she experiences “a joyous sense of release from the present tense”. So, travel along with In Tuscany, treat yourself to some Tuscan sunshine compliments of Frances Mayes – prepare a meal from this book, share it with a friend – and take time for yourself.
June 5, 2019
When this book was published, I went to a book signing by the author and added a copy to my bookshelf. And, there it set for the next 19 years. In my campaign to finally get to some of those unread books I finally picked it up. While I found some of Mayes' comments informative about life in Tuscany I found much of the book forced. This is more of a coffee table publication than literary, many of the photos have a cloudy/hazy filter quality that I'm not especially fond of. I like sharp and clear unless the haze is natural, not forced.
March 26, 2025
Part travelogue, part cookbook, and part photo album, this collage memoir chronicles an American’s experiences in the village of Cortona and its environs in Italy, providing mouthwatering descriptions of the delectable local dishes (complete with recipes) and lavishly derailed depictions of village life, plus dozens of gorgeous photographs that evoke the special ambiance of Tuscany and document the area’s cultural riches and traditions.
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August 11, 2023A friend bought this for me many (many) years ago. I decluttered it a few years ago. I cannot say that I regret parting with it, but there are times when I feel a bit sentimental about the book. My friend and I had hoped to travel to Italy together...
September 24, 2023
Great follow-up companion to Under the Tuscan Sun, with beautiful photos of many items and places mentioned there. Even more abundance of poetic descriptive writing, since there's not a narrative 'plot' to advance.
October 21, 2018
ahhh beautiful writing, delightful recipes and magnificent photography
January 29, 2019
If you have ever been to Tuscany you'll love this book. If you haven't you'll want to go.
June 13, 2019
I will forever be a Frances Mayes fan. I love listening to her descriptives of foods, crops and the landscapes of Tuscany.
June 15, 2019
I think this is one of my favorite Frances Mayes books. The photography is stunning and the food looks amazing.
July 11, 2019
3.5-3.75 Wonderfully evocative and I love the descriptions!
August 30, 2019
More from the author of Under the Tuscan Sun. This volume contains the author's thoughts as well as recipes, and lots of photos including some of her house.
January 13, 2022
Fantastic
February 17, 2017
Beautiful photos of a beautiful place
September 4, 2007
First read this while in Belgie -- somewhere around 2001 maybe? Picked it up on a whim recently and read it right through again -- serndipitously encountering once again one of my favorite quotes as though for the first time! Mayes Tuscany talk speaks to me -- maybe because I naturally lean to the color palette encountered in her beloved Tuscan countryside and homes. Photography of amazing resonance. Recipes which make one's mouth water and her obvious love of her adopted city and country and the people -- what else could one ask?
September 2, 2011
This is a book for lovers of travel and Italian life. Based on Tuscany and villages around Cortona, where Frances Mayes and her husband have restored a house - Bramasole - (re her previous books "Under the Tuscan Sun" and "Bella Tuscany") this book focuses on the important aspects of Italian life - the Piazza - the Fiesta - the fields - the food. It isn't a recipe book but does contain some. The photography is just beautiful. A real "coffee table" book.
January 5, 2012
This was a super quick read for food lovers and/or lovers of Italian culture. Having spent some time in Tuscany eating our way from village to village I really enjoyed all of the food descriptions. It is nice that Mayes explores more than just the food though and talks about the people and the Tuscan attitude. It felt like I had escaped back to the rolling hillside and sunny days of my favorite places in Tuscany while I read this.
August 10, 2015
Another book in the style of ' Bringing Tuscany Home ' so my comments are the same for both.
Her books are a strange amalgamation of subjects.
They obviously confuse the Dewey system used by libraries in that this book and the one above, are in two different categories although almost identical in subject matters. She's also in a third category in the food section.
More a book to read, the recipes are almost incidental.
Her books are a strange amalgamation of subjects.
They obviously confuse the Dewey system used by libraries in that this book and the one above, are in two different categories although almost identical in subject matters. She's also in a third category in the food section.
More a book to read, the recipes are almost incidental.
April 4, 2013
This is a different take on Frances Mayes's always intoxicating view of Tuscany. I enjoyed getting to see photos of the places she's described in her previous books, although, as other reviewers have mentioned, I would have preferred less artistic blurriness and more detail. Still, this is yet another gorgeous book, full of gorgeous prose, celebrating a most gorgeous place. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 28, 2009
I "read" this book via the audio version and just did not like it. It was almost like listening to someone read from a travel guide that's too full of details. I usually love her books so perhaps reading it would have garnered a different reaction on my part. Very disappointed.
August 2, 2010
I cheated. I listened to the Author and her husband read it to me while I was driving to work.
Now I want to travel to Italy. I want to see and experience a piazza, center of town or the universe it seems.
Now I want to travel to Italy. I want to see and experience a piazza, center of town or the universe it seems.
September 8, 2010
Let's one look at another culture and an American can blend into that culture. Plus it had recipes to be made. This book is a travelog and makes one want to go to Tuscany and spend more time than usual. This book a keeper.
March 4, 2013
I really like Frances Mayes' books. They transport me to a place I love. I can relate to her and her stories very well. I loved this book because of the stories, pictures, recipes. It has everything rolled up in one.
April 21, 2013
Almost a travel guide, I'm not sure why this book was written. It might as well be a journal entry of a foreigner in Italy. I'm of Italian ancestry--and so I want to like this. But, the whole thing is so foreign to me, that I can't relate. Perhaps I need to get to Tuscany, and then re-read?
August 12, 2015
Beautiful photography paired with excellent narrative equals a very enjoyable read. What a great find for $2 at our library's used book sale. Oh, and don't read the recipes if you're hungry...you have been duly warned!!
September 2, 2007
Gorgeous photographs and sumptuous recipes!!
February 4, 2008
Book of beautiful Tuscan pictures.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews