Picture a pretty villa

built with Tuscan stone,

sitting in an olive grove

with lemons nearby grown.

The skies are puffed with cloud,

the wooded hills are steep,

and in the afternoon

the people love to sleep.

The province paints your dreams

with ancient hilltop towns,

whose battlements stood guard

for many noble crowns.

From far away resounding,

a church bell chimes the hour, 

its drowsy notes a-floating 

from a lonely tower.

Teacher’s note: This villa is located in the village of Montanare, close by the enchanting hilltop city of Cortona.  Florence (in Italian, Firenze) is the capital of Tuscany, whose other famous cities include Siena and Pisa.