The joys of living in the untouched Tuscan countryside is that it’s, well, untouched countryside. That means we are no stranger to sharing the mill with a variety of different animals, domesticated or otherwise. Whether it be geckos and lizards soaking up the sun; badgers and foxes padding across the grass next to the river; or bats swooping through the night air – we welcome any and all in our little spot of paradise.

From the Tiniest Gecko…

It’s common to see – when the midday sun hits the yellow of the Watermill’s exterior – some reptilian friends soaking up the heat. More often than not this will be a Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) although we also get regular old lizards as well! In the garden a plethora of butterflies and bees have been especially enjoying the lavender. The elusive hummingbird mouth joins them which, with its long proboscis, mimics the beak of its namesake.

Other small creatures include ghiri (dormice), faine (beech marten), and ricci (hedgehogs) not to be confused with the ‘Ricci’, the name of the gelateria where we take our guests after exploring the local market on Tuesdays.

…To the Prickliest Porcupine

Those who’ve explored our bamboo forest may have discovered the ca’ di tasso (the house of the badger) where locals used to host parties during the warm summer months. In the forest, if you’re especially lucky, you may also come across cinghiale (wild boar), capriolo (deer), and even istrici (porcupines). Perhaps on your next visit you might even use foraged quills to paint your next masterpiece? There are some in the art studio for you to try!

two porcupines captured on film by our gardener, Flavio Terenzoni

We love living in an area where the wildlife lives cheek-by-jowl with us humans, but please rest assured you are perfectly safe in your room if you are not so zoologically inclined! Other than a gecko joining you for your morning coffee, or a bat accenting the night sky as you finish your digestivi, the wilderness is there if you wish to see it otherwise it’s just you and the river (and maybe perhaps some creative conviviality as well).