For the best part of a year Siena was our local town. We attended Italian language classes there, we were there at Palio time along with thousands of others, we learnt to navigate its many lanes and alleyways without getting lost and spent a lot of time relaxing in and around the Campo. It is a magical place.

If you are visiting Tuscany a visit to Siena is not to be missed. The Duomo is spectacular and the view from the top of the Torre del Mangia in the Campo is stunning.

If you get the chance, have a drink at Al Mangia bar in the Campo (not cheap but a great place to people watch) and have a meal at L’Osteria del Bigelli a few yards further around the Campo. A gem of a restaurant still serving authentic Tuscan cuisine, not just food for the tourists – that’s what the locals said when we quizzed them on places to eat.

Of course there is also the shopping. Not quite on the same scale as rival city Firenze but still worth spending some time browsing and making the occasional purchase.