Florence
While Tuscany’s capital
is renowned for its
peerless cultural
treasures, it has one
foot in the future, too.
A spate of new nightclub
and bar openings has
made it the region’s
most vibrant city.
Siena
This picturesque,
compact Tuscan town
is known for its gothic
architecture, especially
the Santa Maria Assunta
Cathedral, and its old-
fashioned sweets such
as
ricciarelli
(orange and
almond cookies).
Genoa
The Ligurian city is
known for its seafaring
ways – it’s Italy’s largest
port and Christopher
Columbus is its favourite
son. The historic
centre offers numerous
monuments, churches
and fortresses.
The map
Portofino
Portofino may be the
last word in see-and-
be-seen Italian resorts,
but non-billionaires are
also welcome in this
colourful fishing village,
with mid-range hotels
and low-key eateries
easy to find.
Before Hollywood discovered Portofino in
the 1950s – you can blame Humphrey Bogart
and Grace Kelly – it was a quaint, unspoiled
Ligurian fishing village. Now it’s widely known
as a playground for celebrities, but head a
couple of miles along the coast and it’s as
low-key, beautiful and charming as ever.
The travel
brochure shot
01
Pisa
Never has a town gained
so much from shoddy
engineering as Pisa.
But there’s plenty to
discover away from
the tower – charming
restaurants, magnificent
churches and a raucous
student nightlife scene.
02
Lucca
Lucca’s Renaissance-
era defensive walls
are seriously sturdy
and they have to be to
contain a town centre
so packed full of history
and culture. Hire a bike
and soak up its leisurely
charm on two wheels.
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