I keep hearing all the buzz on Tuscany lately. Now even my mother, who never goes anywhere, wants to rent a Tuscan farmhouse for a month! I was just wondering if this is a new trend resulting from the publicity surrounding the "Under the Tuscan Sun" book/movie, similar to the way Peter Mayle propelled Provence to such popularity when his first book came out. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

Hi Babette,

People have been visiting Tuscany for a couple of hundred years. It's nothing new.

Tuscany was popular among Americans and Brits long before Peter Mayle surfaced and way before Under the Tuscan Sun came out. I don't think there's any kind of "new trend" at work.

Hi
I've unfortunately only seen a few bits of Tuscany, for very brief visits, but I'll say that yes, probably the current popularity has a lot to do with the book and movie.
When the last version of "101 Dalmations" came out, lots of people bought Dalmations, unfortunately too many of them knew little about the dogs.

If the books and movies make more people go to Tuscany (or anywhere) in July and August, that's fine with me.
It's very hot at that time, and extremely crowded. Ditto Provence. A friend of mine took a first trip to Europe this summer.
Aside from the record heat, she talked about crowds even more than the sights.

I was recently reading an autobiography by the author Edith Wharton. When she was reminiscing in the 1930s, she mentioned how uncrowded Italian and Greek historic sites were in 1908, and how much more crowded they were in 1928.
Imagine what it must have been like to see a nearly deserted Parthenon or Colosseum. Sigh. Imagine how much more crowded places are now.

Sometimes I wish all the tourists would stay home. Excepting me, of course!

I've never understood how books, movies, people, etc. influence what others choose to do. I enjoyed Mayle's books, but read them after we had traveled in Provence. I've not read or seen the new movie Under the Tuscan Sun, but we have also been to Tuscany (barely scratched the surface but loved what we saw). Nor have I ever tried to emulate the way first ladies, movie stars, TV personalities dress, wear their hair, etc. It's a mystery to me.

I honestly hope that anyone who decides to visit Italy because of the book/movie won't be disappointed because of inflated expectations. It's so crowded already, it would be a shame to be further inundated by those who didn't in the end really like it, because they didn't experience what Diane Lane did.

Check NY Times Travel section the past sunday... good info.

Of course people have been traveling to both Tuscany and Provence long before these books and movies arrived (Ira, I suspect that you're a trendsetter in your own right!) but these mainstream vehicles do seem to move the masses and determine the new "in" spot for vacations.

I'll admit that it was Peter Mayle's book that first made me long to see Provence, and area that I now call home.

Elaine, your reference to 101 Dalmations is so true -- and exactly the same phenomenon I believe! I have a friend who began a Dalmation house to care for all the unwanted Dalmations after the trend lost it's luster or rather after people realized how high-energy Dalmations are.

While there are people who will always claim not to be influenced by trends, there are many more who will be.

babette: It truly is not a claim on my part, it's plain unvarnished truth. You are, of course, correct that many, in my view, unfortunately are influenced by these kinds of things.

Many women changed their hairdos to include bangs because Mamie Eisenhower had them. Pillbox hats were all the rage when Jackie Kennedy was first lady, simply because she wore them.

Elaine's example of the Dals is one of the sadder results of this sort of thing. Many breeds have suffered from popularity because of movies or TV shows, and the rush to buy a living creature they knew nothing about, only to dump them later.

Not that it's any of my business, but I would like my fellow man to show more individuality rather than jumping on a current "bandwagon."

For me, as I said, I just don't get it.

One word of advice. Pack up your mother and "GO". You will not be dissapointed....it's why people go there....it is a grand corner of the world.