Eat seafood at Alghero's harbourside, take in Renaissance art in Genoa or enjoy baroque architecture and fine food in Lecce
Alghero, Sardinia
Many people use this port city in northern Sardinia as a jumping-off point for the beaches and campsites on the nearby coast, but it has much to offer in its own right. And with the airport just a 15-minute taxi ride from town, you can take a late-afternoon flight and still enjoy a great value fish dinner on the harbourside.
The old quarter has a 16th-century cathedral and a couple of Catalan-gothic palazzi (Alghero was once part of the kingdom of Catalonia). Or you can walk around the old town walls, with seven huge defensive towers and great sea views.
Il Pavone (+39 079 979584) on the lively Piazza Sulis has set menus from about €40, but a low-key, cafe-style operation next door serves regional fish and pasta dishes from the same kitchen for much less. Part of a chain of just two, Hotel Domomea (+39 079 973 2011) is 10 minutes' walk from the centre, with breakfasts in the garden, super-helpful staff, a rooftop pool, and double rooms from €90 a night.
Genoa, Liguria
The birthplace of Christopher Columbus is Italy's sixth-largest city, but comes much lower down the most-visited list. Its Unesco-listed historic centre is a buzzing, atmospheric place.
Take in the cream of Renaissance art at the several big palazzi on 16th-century Strada Nuova (museidigenova.it), the maritime museum (galatamuseodelmare.it) and two new Renzo Piano buildings on the revamped waterfront (the Bigo and the Biosfera) and you will barely have scratched the surface of the cultural life of this city, once known as La Superba. Refuel with takeaway focaccia bread with simple toppings (or similar farinata, made from chickpea flour) at outlets all over the city. At night, eat fish and listen to jazz at Il Brigantino (+39 010 267817) on the old port. For somewhere to stay handy for the station, Hotel Cairoli (+39 010 246 1454) has modern art on the walls and B&B doubles from €75.
Lecce, Puglia
Many places are called the Venice of the north, but have you been to the Florence of the south? Lecce, in Italy's heel, has intricate, opulent architecture in a style all its own, called Leccese baroque. There are some interesting Roman remains too, including a remarkably intact theatre.
Satisfy your stomach as well as your eyes with a cooking course in the region's famous rustica cuisine at Cooking Experience in the town centre and you'll be doing more with an aubergine than you ever thought possible. Tenuta Litta (+39 347 741 9495) is a charming B&B in a 15th-century former convent in countryside five minutes from Lecce, with three double rooms from just €60 a night.