It’s been nearly a year since we were able to travel freely – if at all. But there is light at the end of the tunnel and some day we really will be able to pack our bags and reach for our passports again. While we wait, our local agents remind us of what we’re missing.

Life in central Italy has in many ways returned to some sort of normality. At the time of writing, our office is fully open, I am travelling to viewings across Umbria and southern Tuscany and the captivating thread that keeps the Italian day moving is alive and well.

I live in Tuscany and I begin the day with a coffee in my regular café and I shop in my local market. This week we spoilt ourselves, filling our bags with strawberries and oranges from Sicily, squid from the Adriatic coast, salted anchovies, chestnuts and ‘zero kilometre’ farmed vegetables alongside the usual mozzarella and salami.

The magic ingredients that make Italy so special are still here, from the soft green hills and thick forests to the small hidden churches filled with remarkable artwork. Yes, museums are closed but when so many villages and towns are their own open-air museums, we are certainly not deprived of beauty.

What is missing, and what I cannot wait to enjoy again, is the performance of an Italian evening: dressing up to go out, that first aperitivo, a lengthy meal in a boisterous restaurant filled with bon viveurs and fabulous food, the passeggiata through the streets back home. Italians are of course immensely sociable and eternally tactile, bringing a palpable energy to everything they do and this, for me, is the heartbeat of Italy.

After lockdown it was clear that many people wanted to change their lifestyle and interest in property here was strong with no discernible drop-off in enquiries over the winter. We’ve seen a noticeable uptick in people looking for full-time residences too, those who have found they can work from home successfully or who may want to develop a small business as well.

These buyers are generally keen to find a spacious home that isn’t too isolated. We are selling a fabulous 39-hectare estate close to Umbertide with a handsome 12-bedroom borgo and vineyards, olive groves and woodland that would make an ideal yoga retreat or smart B&B.

More buyers are also considering renovation projects, inspired possibly by the announcement last year of a government-supported stimulus package. Purchasers should be sure to seek professional advice but the potential tax benefits are interesting.

We handle property from small apartments in artfully restored historic buildings to substantial country estates. The most sought-after locations remain around Perugia, Città di Castello and Umbertide. Lovely Orvieto is popular for its proximity to Rome and Todi is a favourite especially for American buyers. Over in southern Tuscany Siena and Cortona are perpetual favourites. 

Buyers like homes with wonderful original features, beamed ceilings and large fireplaces for example, while the best houses have kept their authenticity but offer 21st-century living.

A home within walking distance of a trattoria or small village remains the Italian dream today and I think that the events of the past year will make that ever more appealing. In my local village one shop has opened that just sells fresh pasta and every day locals queue up to buy it.

If lockdown brings a return to the simple life, the very essence of Italy that has made so many fall in love with the country, that would indeed be a positive thing.

• Victoria Greenwood is a Senior Negotiator at Abode, Savills associate in Umbria and southern Tuscany

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