Busy, noisy and a little bit scruffy, Catania is Sicily’s second city, poised perilously in the shadow of Mount Etna. In recent years gentrification has taken hold, and the city’s many beautiful palazzi and baroque churches have been restored to their former glory. Eating out here is also a real treat.

Otranto sits at the end of the ‘heel’ of Italy, and has borne the brunt of many invasions and attacks over the years, most notably by the Turks in 1480. If you only have a day here we'd recommend visiting nearby Lecce, a true baroque masterpiece that has been described as the ‘Florence of the South’.

The laid back fishing town of Monopoli is one of the less touristy spots on the Puglian coast, with a picturesque old town and a pleasant seafront promenade, the Lungomare. There are several lovely beaches nearby, or you can take a day trip to Alberobello, with its famous domed ‘trulli’ houses.

We never fail to be moved when we see the terracotta roofs and honey-golden walls of Dubrovnik, and a stroll around the perfectly preserved old town is a highlight of any visit to the Dalmatian coast. Make sure you take the time to walk around the walls and soak up the marvellous sea views.

Draped in vineyards and olive groves, the verdant Croatian island of Korcula is famous for its white wine and is said by some to be the birthplace of Marco Polo. The main settlement, Korcula Town, bears more than a passing resemblance to Dubrovnik, with a historic centre encircled by medieval walls and towers.

Hvar is the most popular of Croatia’s islands, a ruggedly beautiful place carpeted with lavender fields and dotted with little villages. The island’s capital, Hvar Town, is a charming collection of marble streets arranged around a harbour, and it gets very busy in the summer months.

Rovinj is undoubtedly the highlight of the Istrian coast, a picturesque medieval fishing port with a strong Italian influence discernible in everything from the elegant architecture to the bilingual street signs. A day trip to one of the nearby islands also makes for an enjoyable excursion.