Florence in five places

Saving the best for last: the author is ...

ENGINEERING THE END OF MEDIEVAL WARFARE

‘La Serenissima’ can be at its most romantic out of season — when the fog drifting over the canals is so thick the gondolas seem to float on air, and summer’s visitors have thinned. You’ll still want to book your accommodation in advance but you’ll hardly be short of options. Some of the grandest stays are in the shadow of St Mark’s Square, while more residential sestieri (districts) such as Santa Croce offer a slice of local life. For something different, opt for nearby islands — such as the Lido, site of the Venice Film Festival, or Mazzorbo, where grapevines have grown for centuries. Whichever you choose, the most atmospheric way to arrive is by ferry or water taxi — this is a city best experienced on water, after all.

To the casual observer, the Hospital of the Holy Cross and Saint Paul looks rather like the work of Antoni Gaudí, the great Catalan architect best known for his Sagrada Família basilica, still under c

Your indispensable guide to the capital

The Italian Lakes are renowned for being the playground of the rich and famous, so it’s no surprise that the scenery is stunning, the climate good and there is beauty all around in the form of histori