Honorary citizenship for writer Frances Mayes in Cortona

Ceremony in the Municipality of Cortona, in the province of Arezzo, to grant citizenship honorary Italian award to American writer Frances Mayes. "I am deeply honored to receive citizenship. Thank you to everyone. I will never forget this day. I can't wait to be a good citizen of this country," she said. Frances Mayes author of 24 books, 12 of which are dedicated to Italy and translated into 57 languages, has contributed enormously to the popularity of Cortona and other Italian locations in the world. The his best-seller 'Under the Tuscan Sun' ('Under the Tuscan Sun') remained on the bestseller list for two and a half years of the New York Times. The film based on the book, also shot in Cortona - which is celebrated there - and released in 2003, has further increased the fame of these places. The public ceremony was organized by the prefecture of Arezzo and the Municipality of Cortona in the Council Chamber municipal, where the writer took the oath: so by doing so he has perfected the process for obtaining the citizenship. Citizenship was granted by presidential decree of the Republic for "special merits", as provided from Article 9 paragraph 2 of the Citizenship Law. This article allows the Head of State to grant the citizenship to foreigners who have rendered "eminent services to Italy". His works, together with his actions aimed at enhancement of the artistic and landscape heritage, the have earned this prestigious recognition. At the ceremony, in addition to the mayor of Cortona Luciano Meoni, the prefect of Arezzo Clemente di Nuzzo, to the former prefect of Arezzo Maddalena de Luca, Riccardo Illy, who had made the proposal, also participated.