No distance at all separates Lucca and Pisa from Portofino, the Cinque Terre & Genoa, but the treasures they offer make for a diverse experience. In Pisa's Square of the Miracles there's the Leaning Tower, cathedral and baptistry, but much less well known are the colourful villages that cling to the Ligurian coastline.

Take in two of Italy's most desirable regions: Tuscany and the Italian Riviera. They're delightfully different from each other, but both are evocatively scenic. First, we visit Tuscany, always a favourite destination for art, architecture and stunning countryside, staying in Lucca, the birthplace of Puccini. It's one of Tuscany's most graceful towns, with a historic quarter nestling inside preserved Renaissance walls. Then discover Porto Venere, the Cinque Terre's unspoilt villages with their riot of colour, and Portofino's stunning harbour, plus of course Genoa, with its fascinating mix of medieval alleyways and imposing Palazzi.. This tour offers contrasting cultures, centuries of history and ravishing landscapes, all crying out to be experienced.