Discovering the Magic of Bramasole: A Journey of Restoration and Rebirth in Italy

🏡Buying and restoring a house in a foreign country can be a transformative experience.

🌞The name Bramasole, meaning 'to yearn for the Sun' in Italian, symbolizes the desire for a new beginning.

🍷Living in Italy offers opportunities to explore a whole new culture, language, and literature.

🌆Cortona, an ancient medieval city in Tuscany, became famous through Francis Mays' book, 'Under the Tuscan Sun'.

🧱The restoration process of Bramasole took time and effort but brought a sense of fulfillment and connection to the place.

What inspired Francis Mays to write 'Under the Tuscan Sun'?

—Francis Mays' journey and restoration of Bramasole, along with her love for Italy, inspired her to write the book.

What is the significance of Cortona?

—Cortona is an ancient medieval city in Tuscany that became famous through Francis Mays' book, 'Under the Tuscan Sun'.

How did Francis Mays and her husband restore Bramasole?

—Francis and her husband restored Bramasole themselves, working tirelessly to bring the old Tuscan farmhouse back to life.

What does living in Italy offer?

—Living in Italy offers opportunities to embrace a new culture, language, literature, and experience simple pleasures.

What did Francis Mays learn from her experience in Italy?

—Francis Mays learned to appreciate simple pleasures, nurture local connections, and find beauty and inspiration in the Italian landscape.

00:11Francis Mays is about to buy a house in Italy called Bramasole, meaning 'to yearn for the Sun' in Italian.

00:23Bramasole is an old Tuscan farmhouse that Francis and her husband plan to restore during their summer vacations.

01:12Cortona, an ancient medieval city in Tuscany, played a significant role in Francis Mays' book, 'Under the Tuscan Sun'.

01:47Francis Mays and her husband started their restoration journey by renting different houses in Tuscany.

02:47It took three years for Francis and her husband to restore Bramasole with their limited resources.

05:13The key to their successful restoration was their deep love for Italy and their connection with the place.

08:33Francis Mays has become a significant figure in Cortona and has been officially made a citizen of the town.

10:04Francis Mays shares tips on buying and restoring a house in Italy, emphasizing the importance of personal involvement and understanding local customs and regulations.

11:28Francis and her husband are embarking on a new restoration project of a 12th-century style Hermit's house in the hills above Cortona.

19:19Francis Mays and her husband are driven by their love for the restoration process and the connection it brings to the place.