I enjoyed Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany is even better. Mayes writes with humor, grace, and sensitivity. The love she feels for her summer home, Bramasole, all of Tuscany, and her Italian neighbors shines through. You are transported through her wonderful exposition on the beauty of the landscape, the joy of the Italian people, and the cornucopia of fine food that she describes throughout Bella Tuscany right to Cortona. La Dolce Vita! ( )

Very much more of the same from Under the Tuscan Sun but with more travel and more poetry and more philosophical musings.

I really just wanted to hear about the house and their village, so I found myself skimming whenever the chapters covered their travels. I usually love the travel bits, but a combination of my mood and her tendency to write about their trips within Italy the way academic historians write about battles made it all feel too tedious. But I loved hearing about the house, the restoration, re-building the gardens, and harvesting the olives. That took up about half the book, so I went with a down the middle rating of three stars. ( )

Not quite as fresh and fun as Under the Tuscan Sun, but a good sequel. Read it if only for the ode to tomatoes beginning on page 241. ( )

If you liked "Under the Tuscan Sun",you will like this one.It continues on with her months/life spent in Bramasole each year. Frances and Ed and become part of the community and enjoy living the italian lifestyle.They continue to renovate the house italian style! very good read. She gets a bit long in some spots,but a very worthwhile read!!!!!This is a good book that "takes you away!"Good summer read. ( )

Sequel to Under the Tuscan Sun, and just as good. ( )