The most promising, and closest, option is undoubtedly the splendid city of Pisa. Straddling the Arno river close to where it meets the sea, Pisa provides the finest example of the Pisan Romanesque style, most conspicuously in the Piazza dei Miracoli complex (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), which includes the world-famous Leaning Tower, the cathedral, the Baptistery of St. John, and the “Camposanto” or monumental cemetery.

The area around the city also glitters with artistic and historical gems - the only problem is choosing what to see. If we can offer a few suggestions, how about an excursion to the Charterhouse of Pisa in the town of Calci, or the city of Torre del Lago, birthplace of composer Giacomo Puccini, or even Viareggio, which famously hosts Italy’s most important and well-known, carnival?