Frances Mayes - widely published poet, gourmet cook and travel writer -opens the door on a wondrous new world when she buys and restores anabandoned villa in the spectacular Tuscan countryside. She finds fadedfrescoes beneath the whitewash in the dining room, a vineyard under wildlyovergrown brambles - and even a wayward scorpion under her pillow. And fromher traditional kitchen and simple garden, she creates dozens of deliciousseasonal recipes, all included in this book. In the vibrant local marketsand neighbouring hill towns, the author explores the nuances of the Italianlandscape, history and cuisine. Each adventure yields delightful surprises- the perfect panettone, an unforgettable wine, or painted Etruscan tombs.Doing for Tuscany what Peter Mayle did for Provence, Mayes writes about thetastes and pleasures of a foreign country with gusto and passion. Acelebration of the extraordinary quality of life in Tuscany, "Under TheTuscan Sun" is a feast for all the senses.