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Some sleepy villages became well-known to the outside world after being discovered by travelers who got off the beaten path and wrote about them.  Some went from virtually unknown to known to the general public after a movie was filmed there.  The story of Cortona was the latter case: after a popular movie, tourism to this small Tuscan hilltop village grew significantly.

According to the genius of a place, while some of the changes have been welcomed by locals, economical and social impact of tourism has brought more challenges.  For one thing, they said, foreigners are willing to pay much higher real estate prices, forcing many locals to sell their homes and move to outlying areas.  As a result, the number of year-round residents in the historic city center has decreased from its peak in the 1960s of 5,000 to 2,000 today.

They also noted that stores on the main street, which once served residents' needs, have yielded their locations to eateries, art galleries, jewelry stores, boutiques and souvenir shops that cater to tourists.  No one can predict how the future unfolds for this Tuscan gem but it is comforting to find a scene, as the one in this painting, that hasn't changed much since the medieval times.

Cortona, Italy IX

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 11.5 x 8.25 inches (29 x 21 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

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