No list of places to visit in Italy would be complete without mentioning Lucca. I fell in love with this little medieval town (roughly half-an-hour's drive - or an easy train ride - from Pisa airport) at first sight.

The town is completely surrounded by the medieval walls, planted with trees in the 19th century: a walk around it, looking down into the town or out onto the Tuscan hills is a must. A full circuit is roughly 2.5 miles - which gives you an idea of the size of the town - tiny but full of delights.

Shopping: there's a striking but somehow pleasing contrast between the medieval, narrow, winding streets and the sophisticated designer shops in the via Filungo (the main shopping street).

Sitting: the most picturesque square for watching the world go by is the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro - you need to see it. And the Piazza Napoleone for its leafiness ... and the Piazza San Michele for its liveliness (market).

Eating: an excellent restaurant (for serious foodies) is the Ristorante Giglio (Piazza del Giglio). What makes the town so special, I think, is that although it is relatively unspoiled (perhaps because of the wall) and full of places of interest (countless churches, a small botanical garden, Puccini museum, various villas etc), it is a very real town. It's a place where ordinary Italians live and work, rather than a tourist centre.