We find ourselves in unprecedented times. It has been disconcerting and saddening to see empty squares and shuttered streets around the world, and our hearts go out to all those affected, wherever they are.

For a while, we may all need to stay grounded. One day, piazzas will fill with selfie-takers again and bistros will brim with animated chatter.

While we wait, we reflect on what draws us to the places we love.

Tuscany put its spell on me a long time ago now, when as a young woman I found myself taking busloads of tourists around Italy, learning about places as I went along, until one day I stopped, for the winter, in Florence. There followed an exploration which evolved into a lasting love affair: it started with places, then people as I got to know them, and houses as I decided to put down roots.

I am trying to think back and remember what it was that struck me then, and kept me captive all these years. I know in part it was the continuing, unfolding marvel that is the Tuscan landscape, carefully curated in some places and wild and dramatic in others.

It is rich, varied, abundant: from mineral soils producing some of the world’s best-known wines, hot springs bubbling from the ground to craggy rock formations which inspired Leonardo, as well as hordes of modern-day photographers. My aesthetic sense was constantly in overdrive: yes, you can have too much beauty. But recovery is quick.

As if in competition with nature, Tuscan people created an artistic and architectural heritage which had a profound influence on the rest of the Western world. The monumental architecture is awe-inspiring as millions of visitors will testify, but a part of its residential architecture – its villas and farmhouses –provided too strong a draw for many, and they stayed.

For me, it was an old farmhouse waiting for some love and attention; a sleeping beauty covered in creeper hiding behind a creaky gate. Once awoken, it gave back generously. It even hosted a wedding!

That winter in Tuscany turned into 13 years, and I keep going back – I always will. Landing at Pisa, blinking as I leave the aeroplane, enveloped by heat coming off the tarmac and from the air, excited even about that traveller’s ritual of queueing for car hire. I look forward to going to places I love, knowing they will be unchanged, but also with a certainty that every new visit will unveil something new, so far undiscovered.

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• Jelena and the global residential team are available remotely for any questions about the market or to simply share stories about their beloved locations.