Before Bodo bought his house in Tuscany, he and Ellen had been coming here for years. Every year they traveled to the same region for their holidays with their families, because Bodo is married to Ellen's sister. Their regular haunt was always Fattoria San Martino, which remains a favorite B&B in the region to this day.

After all those summers in Tuscany, Bodo, his wife, and his brother decided it was time for a place of their own. It had to be near Fattoria San Martino. They found an old farm in Trequanda, renovated it for nearly five years, and so it became the new family anchor point and the first house on Plinius: N001.

The idea has always been to share the nicest local spots that aren't actually well-known, as these are the places we love to visit ourselves. Places that are close by and that you keep coming back to, so you feel like a true local. We always visit these spots in Trequanda, just like the market in Sinalunga. They are lovely places and wonderfully local. However, you certainly don't have to drive an hour for the local bar where we drink our coffee, because believe me, every village has a bar like that! And that is exactly something we want to promote. You really don't always have to go to the same hotspots; go to those small villages whose names you've never heard of and drink coffee with the locals at that one simple bar on the corner. These are our favorites:

One of the closest villages, and one we completely fell in love with, especially in October during the olive festival. Then the village is bursting at the seams, long tables line the streets, and you can eat, drink wine, and taste olive oil everywhere. But Montisi is alive and kicking the rest of the year too. With a great wine bar, small supermarket, bakery, butcher — everything you need. And on Tuesday evenings, they show English-language films in the small cinema.

Vineria Portofranco — A cozy wine bar we enjoy dropping into.

Truffle hunt with Nico the truffle hunter – Nico lives and grew up in Montisi; he, or well, actually his incredibly cute dogs, know exactly where to find truffles. Great fun to do!

Trattoria L'ombelico del Mondo Montisi – you can also enjoy a delicious meal here, and in season they also have Nico's truffles.

N063 — Last year, we discovered this little gem in the middle of Montisi. Bought by Idoia and Marco, who fell in love with it immediately. And honestly: you understand why right away.

Touristy? Yes. Beautiful? Absolutely. Worth the effort? Definitely.

Caffè Poliziano — For a coffee or an aperitivo. The most elegant café in the region, Art Nouveau interior, and a view over the rolling Tuscan hills.

The Cave — A restaurant in an authentic sixteenth-century building, directly opposite the church of San Biagio. Classic Tuscan cuisine with a modern touch.

Osteria dell'Acquacheta — Small, full, noisy, and delicious. Known for its steaks. Reservations are highly recommended.

The Talosa wine cellar — Montepulciano’s best-kept secret. A sixteenth-century cellar beneath the old town, hidden between two of the oldest palaces. Brick corridors, vaults, barrels. A visit feels like a journey through time.

Boscarelli — One of our favorite wineries. Just outside Montepulciano, and we always try to take a few bottles home.

Known for the pecorino. And rightly so, because it is fantastic.

Casa Newton – definitely the most beautiful hotel that has recently opened in this region. The art collection is amazing, as are the super cute parasols by the pool and the cocktails. So, a really great tip; what we still want to do this coming summer is a wine tasting in their newly opened wine cellar.

La Bandita Townhouse — Our absolute favorite for lunch or dinner. Small restaurant with an open kitchen, and a covered terrace in a walled medieval garden. Beautiful.

Luna Latte — A nice Italian trattoria. Good food, no fuss.

Casagori — A biodynamic farm just outside Pienza with a nice little shop. Own wines, home-brewed beers, and labels that make you happy.

Podere il Casale — Not exactly a hidden gem anymore thanks to Instagram, but you immediately understand how busy it is when you get there. Lunch with that view? You don't have to think twice about that.