Redford Visits Tuscan Sun Festival

To bring a piece of Sundance to Cortona: that seems to have been the aim of Robert Redford, who in August visited the town in the province of Arezzo in order to take part, with a poem recital, at the Tuscan Sun Festival. Redford, who as an adolescent studied in Tuscany, in Florence, appeared fascinated by the beauty and by the atmosphere of the places he visited: “It's incredible how the countryside here makes me come up with ideas, - he said. - the land round here is genuine, without compromise, and genuineness is the basis of the cinema that drives my festival”. The actor then indicated a probable future location for setting up a section of Sundance: the Medici Castle at Girifalco, which was built in the 1500s by the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I.

Recently restored, it is now an exhibition hall in the summer months, and can be visited from April to September. From the top of the tower you can take in a breathtaking view of Cortona and of all the valley of Valdichiana.

The Tuscan Sun Festival was founded and is directed by Barrett Wissman, the head of ImgArtist, a well-known and powerful agency on the international classical scene, bringing for the last 6 years glamour and stars (from Baryshnikov to Sofia Loren) to this corner of Tuscany, with its view over Lake Trasimeno. Given the encouraging response, Wissman then also “exported” the festival to Napa Valley (at its third edition this year) and to Singapore (second edition).

The beautiful town of Cortona - immortalized in the film “Under the Tuscan Sun” - Lake Trasimeno and the wonderful countryside round here (Orvieto, Monte Sansavino) offer the possibility of a relaxing stay, in a unique atmosphere, full of beauty.

Tuscany is a perfect combination of beautiful scenery, art treasures, warmth and hospitality, and superb food and wine. We have some enchanting villas in Tuscany to enable you to enjoy this extraordinary area to the full. The Tuscan villas in our collection of Tuscan villa rentals, many of which are luxury villas, are in the most beautiful positions to enable you to experience this unique place.