Il Giardino

Transport yourselves back to medieval times with a wander around the labyrinthine centre of lively Genoa (55 minutes’ drive); check out the striped, part-Romanesque and part-Gothic Cattedrale di San Lorenzo and stop off for an espresso overlooking the landmark fountain in Piazza de Ferrari. Take the Via Cairoli funicular up to the Parco Urbano delle Mura for views over the city, and then head for Porto Antico to have a look around the tropical plants in Renzo Piano’s glass La Biosfera. Cruise the designer shops in exclusive Portofino and sip chilled wine in a terrace café, or head for the multicoloured fishing village of Boccadasse (both 50 minutes) and grab a beachside table to watch the sun set over the Gulf of Tigullio. There are more spectacular seaside villages to admire in the Cinque Terre (an hour), where brightly coloured cottages appear to tumble down sheer cliff faces. Fancy a family bucket-and-spade day on the beach? Make for Sestri Levante (half an hour), where you can hang out at a beach lido or throw down your towel on the free sandy stretch encircling the Baia del Silenzio.