04 | September | 2026

Coming to Tuscany is about catching up with friends. Dani and Olga are our longest standing, dear friends in Tuscany – and despite not seeing them for 2 years we pick up just where we left off. Dani’s wicked sense of humour is a delight and Olga’s ability to always look out for us is special.

Tina our friend from Auckland is visiting Tuscany. We only seem to catch up with her when we’re half a world away from home but we’ve sworn to make sure we catch up closer to home in future.

Matteo and Francesca who produce the best olive oil in Tuscany are also special friends who we met through Olga. They are the proud owners of Pornanino Olive Oil which we believe produces some of the best olive oil we have tasted.

When we all get together it is a wonderful mix of stories and laughter in Italian and English (and occasionally gibberish), always over a meal (or three) and a glass or two of wine.

Dinner at our hotel – first day in Tuscany

Siena used to be our local town when were in Italy in 2011. Our cottage was an easy 10 mins drive from the town and we visited often.

We love Siena. It is unique with its Campo, Duomo and multiple contrada who compete in the Palio horse race each year. Historically it may have come second to Florence but in our minds it’s number one.

Our friend Tina has rented an apartment near by and so we set off from Radda to visit her and spend a day walking the narrow streets, shopping, of course, and sitting in the Campo watching the world go by.

Despite there being a break in the hot, hot weather in Tuscany, it was still warm so the walk into the town was spent moving from shaded street to shaded street and resting when possible. The ideal place for that being Al Mangia bar in the Campo. I set up camp there while the girls spent time shopping and looking, and shopping. For lunch we moved to the shaded side of the Campo – along with many others.

It has been a few years since we last visited and it was great to experience the sights and sounds of the Siena again.