This is where a tourism gimmick works beautifully, and I’m happy to do the necessary for this stunningly beautiful area, in particular le Crete Senesi. On 12th November, a gathering of people connected to the arts, who were non-resident in this area, (although the criteria do seem a bit fuzzy), were invited to attend a ceremony in San Giovanni d’Asso, as part of its Truffle festival, where we were declared “Honorary Citizens of Terre di Siena”. Truffles are very highly valued around here, (as is all good food in Italy, of course) and currently the “White Gold” of the Crete, the Tartufo Bianco Delle Crete, is in season. We were then shown around the new and rather lovely Truffle Museum in the Castle of San Giovanni d’Asso, and then we all trooped off to the old schoolhouse for a sumptuous lunch.

A friend wangled my name on the list, I did feel a bit of an imposter, because with me there were, among others, the Canadian singer Loreena McKennitt and the American landscape artist Sheppard Craige, whose wonderful life-project, his Ragnaia Woods, I will be writing about here at some stage, as I love what he’s done there.

But all in all it was a lovely gesture, a happy day, and everyone was very kind. Indeed, I practiced saying “siete molto gentile” in advance. And it’s true.

It didn’t spoil it for me one bit to discover that, apparently, anyone can be an honorary citizen of Terre di Siena. You can apply online here! But then you don’t get to meet the mayor and get invited to a banquet, I’m afraid.