Frances Mayes Always Italy Hardcover – Illustrated, March 31, 2020

Frances Mayes, you've done it again! "Always Italy" is more than just a book; it’s a passport to the heart of Italy. Every page feels like a sun-drenched piazza or a vineyard at dusk. Mayes captures the essence of Italian life with such vivid detail that you can almost taste the bicerin and hear the laughter in a bustling rifugio. Her love for Italy is contagious, making you want to leave behind the mundane and start a new life under the Tuscan sun. If you've ever dreamed of living la dolce vita, this book is your guide and inspiration. A masterpiece for travelers, dreamers, and lovers of all things Italian! Turin, here I come!

I ordered two of these books, one for a gift. There are some reviews complaining about the paper quality and the photo quality. The paper is fine; the photos have a nice old style about them in my opinion. The type is small because there is so much to read. I like the book as a reference to all of Italy. It is not a personal story. The gift recipient of the book is enchanted with it and glad she received it. As an annual visitor to Italy, I’m very pleasantly pleased with “Always Italy” as suggestions for trips.

I travel to Italy two times every year. Once in the Spring for 6 weeks and again in the Fall for 6 weeks. I stay in Abruzzo, there are no tourists, everyone speaks Italian, the food and wine are always amazing. The people are such good people and they work so hard. I had traveled to 16 of the 20 regions when I finally got to return in June 2021. I bought “Always Italy” and started reading it the moment it arrived. I wanted to know what Frances thought about Abruzzo. I brought it to Italy with me so I could plan some side trips. This book is amazing if you truly love every bit of Italy. It changed my trip! I learned to love Rome like I never had before. I visited Montefalco just to try the Sagratino wine. I went to Norcia and bought a truffle to share with my friends when I got back to Pescara. I went to Ravenna and saw the Mosiacs and to Bologna to see this beautiful city and eat the food. After this trip, I only need to visit 2 regions to complete my goal. This book was invaluable to me in my adventure. I wish it came in the kindle format so I could keep it with me always!

The author, once again, does not disappoint with her writings of Italy.

Italy is a magical place and Frances Mayes has always been able to recognize it. The old of Roman times, the medieval of churches and church history, the modern of fashion and cars combined with landscapes of mountains, rolling fields of poppies, sunflowers and olives and beaches of tucked into grottos of steep cliffs. Then there are the people open and welcoming, the craft traditions stretching back hundreds of years and a cuisine that goes far beyond pizza and pasta. Frances Mayes has travelled into the nooks and crannies of Italy meeting people visiting the villages that go unnoticed seeing the art that surrounds everywhere and every place. Hers is a journey of love for a country she has made her home.

I am enjoying this book very much as I have been to Italy and am planning to return at some point postCovid. I love the arrangement by region and find the highlights of that region useful. For the price of the book however I would have appreciated a higher quality paper. Pictures of this country are not given justice with this cheap paper. Disappointing.

Went to Italy and Loved it. Saw this book and knew my daughter would love it remembering our trip there and all the fun we had and how much we want to go back. Memories to dream about our time there.

I love this book. I got it for Mother's Day. It summarizes all the regions of Italy in such beautifully written detail. I can't even say how gorgeous the photographs are! You feel like you are on vacation when you are reading it. Perfect for the pandemic. Would make a lovely gift for anyone! If you are even thinking about going to Italy at some point in your life, you should definitely buy this. It will really help you narrow down where to go, and what to see, eat and do there.