Pisa

Everyone knows Pisa for one thing, and the Leaning Tower does not disappoint. It stands in a lawn-covered square alongside a huge cathedral and baptistery, all in gleaming white marble. The tilt appeared during construction because the ground was soft, and engineers have since stabilised it. Beyond the Square of Miracles, Pisa is a lively university town with riverside streets worth an hour or two.

Talking points

• The tower started leaning during construction because of soft ground beneath it.
• The cathedral and baptistery next to it are just as impressive.
• Pisa can be done in a half day from Florence by train.
• The university gives the town a young and lively feel.