Amie and I vacationed in Tuscany in 2005 to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Under the Tuscan Sun was the movie that inspired us to see Tuscany. The trip exceeded our expectations in every way. This was our first trip to Italy. We had no idea how we would be treated and we were very concerned about not speaking Italian. We found everyone we met to be very kind and friendly. English is spoken by many Italians so being a tourist in Italy is fairly easy. Italy became one of my favorite places on earth very quickly. The country is beautiful. The food is incredible. There is art everywhere you go. It is overwhelming. A person could spend their entire vacation touring the Vatican and not see everything. I am not fond of the word 'awesome', but that is the word I would use to describe Italy and Italians. Bramasole, Majolica d'Italia The company name was inspired by the movie 'Under the Tuscan Sun'. The house Diane Lang purchased was named Bramasole. Bramasole (to yearn for the sun), majolica (tin-glaze wares), d'Italia (of Italy). Bramasole, Majolica d'Italia is a retail store specializing in Italian imports. We offer majolica tableware and serve ware, pottery, tiles, table linens, gift papers, soaps, lotions and perfumes made in Italy. We specialize in Majolica from the provinces of Tuscany and Umbria. Maiolica refers to a type of glaze applied to pottery and ceramics. The word maiolica is believed to have originated with 'abra de mallequa' the Spanish term for luster ware made in Valencia under the influence of Moorish craftsman from Malaga. The word "ceramics" comes from the Greek word keramikos meaning "pottery". Traditional ceramic products were made from clay, shaped and subjected to heat. Tableware and decorative ceramics are generally still made this way. Majolica became a generic term for all tin-glazed earthenware in the 16th century. The tin-glaze wares were known as bianchi (white ware). Eventually the term was used when describing ceramics made in Italy, with luster or not, of tin-glazed earthenware. This tin glazing creates a brilliant white, opaque surface for painting. The colors are applied as metallic oxides or as fritted under glazes to the unfired glaze, which absorbs pigment like fresco. This process preserves the brilliant colors. There are five steps to producing a majolica piece of art. First; create the shape from clay, Second; fire the piece in a kiln and cool, during this process the Biscotto