An autographical book, written by Frances Mayes in 1993 was adapted into a successful film called 'Under the Tuscan Sun' starring Diane Lane. Both book and particularly the film helped to bring awareness of the beauty and way of life of Tuscany to the a wider audience.

Without giving much away, Frances Mayes, a recent divorcee and film critic, who decides to take a holiday in Tuscany to get away from it all. While travelling around, she comes across an old house, rather the worse for wear, with which she feels an affinity and decides to buy it. While renovating the house and discovering the Tuscan way of life, she begins to 'find herself', which is classic 'chick flick' fodder, but the casting of Diane Lane gives the film some appeal to a 'wider audience' and it is a nice yarn.

The house is called Bramasole and is perched on the hill behind the town of Cortona, with fantastic views. The fictional house, rented for the film, is also close to Cortona, but in a village at ground level. Those who have seen the film, will remember a modest house, but as you can see from the photos, the actual house is rather less modest and rather nore 'mansionesque'.

There is also a side story of an old man, who visits a small shrine in the wall opposite the house, who Frances sees each day from her balcony, leaving a fresh flower. In actuality, while there is a shrine, it is not possible to see it from the balcony.