Villa Villa Serenella

The American writer Frances Mayes bought an old house in Cortona during the nineties and totally refurbished it. It was there that he wrote the book “Under the Tuscan Sun” (1996). It became a bestseller and then a film in 2003. Since then Cortona has been highly visited by tourists. The city acquired additional publicity because it served as a backdrop for some scenes in the Roberto Benigni's film “La vita è bella”. On the slopes of the hills rises Cortona, a jewel of Tuscany. Its buildings are made of sandstone and are adorned with wooden balconies which highlight the medieval streets and squares. Cortona is a town of Etruscan origin located in the mountains of the province of Arezzo. The city was established on one of the earliest inhabited hills of the province and shares a similar topography with cities like Assisi and Volterra. Cortona is situated not far from the border of Tuscany and Umbria. To the west, the town spreads wide across the Valdichiana Valley, with the extinct volcano of Monte Amiata (1738 m) in the background. Lake Trasimeno in Umbria is visible from the higher elevations of the city. Cortona has a beautiful footpath full of cafes and restaurants. In summer there are several activities here. 12 kilometers from the residence lies Lake Trasimeno. It's like a small sea. There are beaches, ferries, islands, rocks and fishermen. Lake Trasimeno is one of the enchanted hearts of Italy, situated south of the Apennines. The Big Island is the only inhabited island of the lake. It has several dozen residents who live among the nice rocks. The island is known for its women who are adorned with expensive, almost centuries-old braids. Cortona is located 30 km south of the city of Arezzo, 75 km east of Siena and 115 km south of Florence. All facilities such as shops, restaurants and public transport are located within 3 km.