You Can Now Live Out Your ‘Under The Tuscan Sun’ Fantasy By Renting The Actual Villa
We’ve all dreamt about living in the villa from Under The Tuscan Sun and now it’s for rent again.
Who hasn’t fantasised about throwing it all in and escaping to the Italian countryside? The intoxicating pull of sweet, slow living makes it seem so easy to exchange all your regrets and past hurts for a fresh start and a fresh plate of pasta.
But the reality of that change can be a bit much for a lot of us, so we revel in watching movies that allow us to live those dreams vicariously. Thankfully, the real-life villa from Under The Tuscan Sun is for rent again post-Covid, giving you the best of both worlds: a taste of the Tuscan life Frances (Diane Lane) created for herself alongside an idyllic Italian holiday.
In Under The Tuscan Sun, Frances (Diane Lane) doesn’t wind up needing a man to make her happy; the villa is her love interest and leading man, its transformation paralleling Frances’ own. Needless to say, the villa plays a starring role
In real life, it’s known as Villa Laura (Villa Bramasole in the flick) and it’s been recently renovated into the perfect Tuscan retreat. The property consists of a 17th century Villa with 10 bedrooms, a farmhouse, limonaia (a conservatory formerly used for growing citrus – ideal), a pool, hammock and even Bocce court.
But this is Italy, so the villa also has a casual pizza oven and wine cellar for guests to experience Italy’s best.
Located near the hilltop town of Cortona in Tuscany, the sprawling property is a literal dream. “Stroll the grounds and explore the lake, take a swim in the pool or a dip in the jetted tub,” says the listing.
The grounds are full of Italian shrubbery, fruit trees and poppy florals – not to mention stunning surrounding views. Sigh.
The villa’s ten bedrooms are divided between the main house, farmhouse and conservatory; each has an en-suite bathroom, air conditioning and Wi-Fi access.
Villa Laura’s redesign has kept the farmhouse charm while giving the property a much needed injection of bright, modern Mediterranean vibes. But the kitchen is completely unrecognisable from the movie, which is a good thing.
In the movie, the kitchen was a tight and older-style space. But it plays a big role as it’s where a shift took place; Frances had been wishing she had someone to cook for, until it dawned on her she had many – her workers helping her restore the villa. Her meals are so good, the men applaud, and friendships are formed.
Fortunately Villa Laura’s update has provided all the modern touches an aspiring chef would need, plus they’ve added a second much larger farm-style space with gorgeous island bench as well as hand-painted Italian tile back splash.
The villa from Under The Tuscan Sun requires a minimum seven-night stay, but honestly, that won’t be a problem. If you manage to leave the villa, you’re minutes away from Cortona, the beach at Lake Trasimeno, and an hour and a half from Florence.
It sleeps 20, so grab some mates and bookmark this one for your 2022 international travel comeback.
It’s for rent via Airbnb-owned site Luxury Retreats.
(Lead image: Touchstone).
