Under the Tuscan Sun in August

The Tuscan Sun Festival in August is 9 days of music, art, cuisine, wine, and wellness. Besides gathering well known artists from the classical music world, the program also includes lectures on wellness, cooking demonstrations, art exhibitions, pre-concert receptions with locally made products and a wide range of Tuscan wines. In 2008 the festival starts August 2. Find details in August Festivals in Italy.

Cortona is an attractive hill town in Tuscany made famous by Francis Mayes in her book Under the Tuscan Sun (compare prices). Surrounded by 3000 year old Etruscan walls, Cortona's compact medieval center is easy to explore on foot. Etruscan tombs dot the valley below the town and a short distance from town is a convent founded by St. Francis of Assisi, Le Celle. Cortona is near the border between Tuscany and Umbria so makes a good base for exploring both regions (see Tuscany map for location). Since there's a big expat community in Cortona, English-speaking travelers get by easily.

Find out more about Cortona with our Cortona Travel Guide or take an armchair visit with our Cortona Pictures.