Bologna’s russet cityscape and left-wing reputation has earned it the nickname La Rossa (‘the red’), while its hearty appetite has led to the nickname La Grassa (‘The Fat’), and its penchant for all things cultural has resulted in the moniker La Dotta (‘The Learned’) – Umberto Eco teaches at the university, as did Romano Prodi before he went into politics.

The renown of tourist honeypots Florence, Rome and Venice, means that Bologna is often bypassed by the holidaying hordes, and is all the more appealing for it. This lively university city is a great medieval townscape with Renaissance palaces and 40km (25m) of ochre-coloured arcades. The city centres around twin piazzas, Maggiore and Nettuno – handsome public spaces sealed on all sides by medieval palazzi. Here, amid the pigeons, the Bolognese come to shop, to pray, to chat and, of course, to demonstrate.

The local cuisine goes far beyond the world famous spaghetti Bolognese (something the locals never eat – they call the sauce ragu and would never mix it with spaghetti, but with tagliatelle). Other local specialities include mortadella (baloney) and tortellini, and the region offers some robust and interesting local wines.

The best times to visit are spring and autumn, when the climate is mild (summers are hot, and winters decidedly chilly). Even at the height of the season, tourist numbers seldom become too suffocating. July and August are baking, and a good time for day trippers to head to the breezy Adriatic beaches, less than an hour away.

Most visitors are overwhelmed by the artistic opulence of Florence – they spend their visit dashing from one masterpiece to the next, dazzled by an excess of genius. It’s understandable: the cradle of the Renaissance and home of the Medici family (Italy’s most progressive art patrons) houses some of the world’s greatest treasures.

Above all, Florence is incredibly beautiful. A cluster of russet roofs and Renaissance splendours, the Tuscan city is set amongst the wine-growing hills of Chianti. Gawp at ancient palaces, curvaceous domes, beautiful basilicas stuffed with fine art and world-class art galleries like the Uffizi. With its historic centre classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, there’s plenty to see.

The only flip side to this stupendous coin are hoards of tourists and attendant touts, buzzing like bees around the cultural honeypot, if you visit during the summer.

With something almost Northern European in the air, yet exuding Italian style, Milan is Italy’s most cosmopolitan city. Situated on the flat plains of the Po Valley, the capital of Lombardy is both hardworking and glamorous – powerful in businesses from finance to fashion and, of course, football.

But what gives Milan its certain something is its status as the epicentre of Italian fashion and interior design. International fashionistas, designers, supermodels and paparazzi descend upon the city twice a year for its spring and autumn fairs. Valentino, Versace and Armani may design and manufacture their clothes elsewhere, but Milan, which has carefully guarded its reputation for flair, drama and creativity, is Italy’s natural stage. This is certainly one of the best places in Italy to shop, or windowshop.

Naples, or Napoli in Italian, is the capital city of the Campania region and the province of Naples in the south of Italy. It has a location of outstanding natural beauty by the Bay of Naples and with Mount Vesuvius as a striking but always potentially menacing neighbour.

Nearly 3,000 years ago the Greeks made Naples their new city – Neapolis. Later the Romans made the whole region their own special campania – often prefixed with the word felix, calling it their ‘happy land'. Virgil, the poet of the Roman empire, is said to be buried in the city's Parco Virgiliano.

The city's political history is rather complex. After Roman times Naples has been dominated by Goths, Byzantines, Lombards, Normans, Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese, Spaniards, Austrians, Bourbons and revolutionary French, all of which have left traces in its culture and cityscape.

In 1266 the city became the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily, and after the Congress of Vienna in the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars, it became the capital of the united Kingdom of Two Sicilies. Only with the unification of Italy and the establishment of the Italian state did Naples become an ordinary Italian city.

For much of the period from the Italian unification until the present day, however, Naples has been a troubled city, ridden with crime, poverty, corruption and extremely bad waste management – something that has at times turned the city itself into a dump.

And while in the 18th century Naples was a prime destination for Grand Tour travellers, the city has struggled to regain the old allure, lagging behind many other Italian destinations in terms of visitor numbers.

The times are changing, however, for Naples is now making strides in recovering its eminence as a cultural centre. In 1995 its historic centre was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and increasingly tourists are rediscovering this beautiful city with its vibrant, energetic and at times chaotic life.

Because of its tangled history Naples has an extremely rich heritage, given expression in its fascinating and extraordinarily urban architecture, and it has an amazingly complex culture. Add to that its culinary wealth (from the huge pizzas to the fresh seafood) and it is hardly surprising that tourists are again being seduced and mesmerized by this jewel on Italy's Mediterranean coast.

Invaded by Arabs, Normans and others, Palermo, Sicily's capital city, has been the fortunate victim of a series of benefactors over the centuries. The end result is a jumbled mass of architecture that creates a city that seems to alter with every turn – Arab domes merge into Norman cathedrals whilst 19th-century theatres square up to imposing baroque churches.

Palermo has released itself from the dubious connections of its past (the Mafia links and the nightly curfews of the early 1990s) to become Sicily's most popular city. Split by the gargoyle-decorated Quattro Canti, there are four main areas to explore – El Capo, La Kalsa, La Vucciria and Albergheria, each with its own attractions awaiting exploration.

Churches, catacombs and markets await – and if they're not enough, day trips to the beach or up into the hilly countryside can easily be arranged. More cathedrals surround the city, in Monreale and Cefalù, both with their own set of Byzantine mosaics.

The Phoenician conquest marked the start of Palermo's long and eventful history, with Arab, Norman and Swabian dominations following. The Arabs contributed a great deal to the city's growth and left indelible traces of their civilisation, notably in the architecture and in the urban layout of the city. Centuries later, the Normans made Palermo the capital city of the Kingdom of Sicily, which achieved its height under Roger II, a ruler fond of beauty who encouraged the development of the Sicilian arts and economy.

Rome (Roma), on the river Tiber, between the Apennines and the Tyrrhenian Sea, was once Caput Mundi (capital of the world), the powerhouse of the mighty Roman Empire, governing a vast region that stretched from Britain to Mesopotamia. 

Today, it can’t claim global dominance, but as capital of Italy, the seat of the Italian government and home to the Pope and the Vatican, it’s no backwater. Besides its capital credentials, Rome is a glorious architectural patchwork, a living masterpiece, sedate yet chaotic, full of charm and life.

History
The legendary beginnings of Rome are related in the tale of Romulus and Remus. Vestal virgin Rhea Silvia, ravished by Mars (the God of War), gave birth to the twins and abandoned them to fate. The River Tiber carried them to the Palatine Hill, where a she-wolf mothered the babes until their discovery by a shepherd. The brothers later argued over where to found a new city, and Romulus killed Remus. The rest… is history.

History’s version of events is spectacular in a different way. The city developed from unimportant pastoral settlement (the earliest remains date back to the ninth century BC) to vast empire, ruled over by a string of emperors, before the fall of the Roman Empire around the 5th century. 

Rome saw a second period of development during the 15th-century Renaissance, when the Papacy took up permanent residence in the city. 

Sights
Remains from the imperial glory days include the monumental Colosseum, the Foro Romano (Roman Forum), and the awe-inspiring Pantheon – a complete Roman temple, preserved as a church. 

Renaissance riches are concentrated within the centro storico (historic centre), where the stadium-sized Piazza Navona, sweepingly romantic Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain all lie within walking distance of each other. Across the river, to the west, lies the Vatican State – home to the Pope, the spiritual centre of the Roman Catholic Church, and the Sistine Chapel.

Climate
Its warm Mediterranean climate renders Rome particularly balmy in autumn and spring. In August, it is hot and sticky, locals head for the coast and many shops and bars close, but this is also prime time for the city’s festivals.

Sometimes it appears as if life in Siena has been unchanged for centuries. The walls that enclose this exquisite medieval city seem to have protected and preserved its culture, as well as its architecture, and local traditions are proudly upheld.

Situated in the south of Tuscany, and surrounded by postcard-pretty scenery, it features on many tourist itineraries – yet visitors usually only allow a day to explore, consequently missing the pleasure of discovering the city's atmospheric maze of narrow lanes and alleyways.

Siena grew wealthy in the early Middle Ages, as it was an important stop on the Via Francigena – the pilgrim route from France to Rome. The influx of travellers and merchants led to the establishment of hostels, shops, a university and banking facilities – including, in 1472, the powerful Monte dei Paschi Bank, which still has its headquarters in the city. However, in the 16th century, the independent city state was beaten by its enemy to the north, Florence, and became part of Tuscany.

Siena is divided into separate districts, contrade, as it was in medieval times. The fierce rivalry that exists between them is played out each year in the Palio, a brutal bareback horse-race that is run on the main piazza, the Campo, in July and August.

At these times the city gets so busy it seems as if it will burst from its walls, but at other times visitors can enjoy more relaxing visits to its stunning cathedral, ancient palaces and tempting shops.

Once seen as little more than an industrial city, Turin is now undergoing extensive urban regeneration, which was further helped by the surge in tourist numbers brought about by its hosting of the 2006 Winter Olympics. 

Situated on the mighty River Po in the far northwest of Italy, and surrounded by stunning alpine scenery, Turin offers visitors a feast of baroque architecture, ornate art nouveau cafes and museum collections covering everything from Egyptology to contemporary art. 

For years Turin was synonymous with car giant FIAT, which was founded here in 1899 – however the city’s origins go back much further. Julius Caesar’s Quadrilatero Romano (Roman Quarter) can still be seen and is now abuzz with trendy restaurants.

By the early Middle Ages the powerful Savoy dynasty had taken control – leaving a legacy of lavish palaces. After unification, Turin was the first capital of Italy, an honour it held for just four years.

The symbol of the city is the Mole Antonelliana, an eye-catching dome, while its most famous relic is the Holy Shroud, thought by some to be the cloth that wrapped Christ’s body after the crucifixion. It still attracts thousands of pilgrims.

Other visitors come to shop under the city’s elegant porticoes, or try some of the local gastronomic specialities such as Lavazza coffee, Gianduja (hazelnut chocolate) and Vermouth.

Venice may often seem metaphorically drowned under a sea of tourists at the height of summer, and even the landmark Piazza San Marco is often literally drowned during the flood tides, but there is no denying that La Serenissima (The Divine Republic) is an epic, unique and unforgettable city.

Venice has the capacity to impress not only goggle-eyed first timers, but also the most jaded of travellers. It is unlike anywhere else on the planet, with a collage of 116 islands connected by 409 bridges, where cars are banned and everyone, including postmen and the police, goes by boat.

The city of the Doges
History is writ large in this north-eastern Italian city and when visitors ease through the morning mists on empty canals, with grandiose buildings rising up on all sides, it is easy to slip back through the centuries, to the time of the Doges – the omnipotent rulers, whose influence spread well beyond the Venetian Lagoon.

Away from the main tourist throng, another Venice appears, with narrow canals, women hanging out their washing and small osterias (bars) where locals, for once, outnumber tourists.

Avoid summer
In the intense heat of a Mediterranean summer, the city can just get too much and the pressure from tourism immense. This was recognised by the local mayor, who in 2008 instigated plans to cut visitor numbers, as well as banning picnics, banishing pigeon feed sellers from St Mark’s Square and imposing harsh penalties for dropping litter as part of an ‘Urban Decorum’ drive.

The city’s citizens have endured flooded basements for decades, wearing Wellington boots to navigate Venice’s waterlogged streets during acqua alta (high waters), and there has been chronic damage to some of its most impressive buildings. But finally something is also being done to shore up Venice: the ‘Moses Project’ has come to save the day after years of political struggles, though its completion date is as unpredictable as those high tides.

Perhaps the last word on Venice should be left to one of her most illustrious patrons, Henry James: ‘Dear old Venice has lost her complexion, her figure, her reputation, her self-respect; and yet, with it all, has so puzzlingly not lost a shred of her distinction’.

Located in the Veneto region in Northern Italy, Verona is only half an hour's drive from Lake Garda, one of the country's most beautiful lakes. It is also surrounded, to the north and east, by the hilly landscapes of the famous Valpolicella and Soave wine districts.

Known by most for its Roman amphiteatre, the Arena, one of Italy's largest and the home of its annual summer opera festival, Verona also boasts one of Italy's finest Romanesque churches as well as one of the country's most beautiful Renaissance gardens.

The city's old castle, Castelvecchio, is a famous attraction in its own right too, built by the powerful della Scala family in the Middle Ages and restored in the 20th century by world-famous architect Carlo Scarpa.

Arguably, however, the reason behind Verona's thriving tourist industry has less to do with architecture or history than with literature – William Shakespeare's romantic and tragic play about the young lovers Romeo and Juliet is set in the city, and such is the power and resonance of this story that every year a stream of tourists flocks to Verona to visit the famous courtyard and balcony at Casa Giulietta (Juliet's House) on Via Cappello in the Old Town.

Nor does Shakespeare represent the only important literary link with the city. When Dante Alighieri, author of The Divine Comedy, was forced to flee his hometown Florence in the early 14th century, he was welcomed and protected by the Veronese noble lord Can Grande della Scala. Piazza dei Signori, where Can Grande's palace stood, is sometimes called Piazza Dante, and there is a statue of the famous poet on this square.

Verona is a lively city with the Old Town, framed by the River Adige to the north, east and west, as the picturesque centre for cultural activities, tourism, shopping and nightlife. You will find most of the best restaurants here too. For its inland location Verona has surprisingly good fish and seafood restaurants, but at the heart of the Veronese culinary tradition are hearty dishes with boiled meat as an essential ingredient – some of which include horse meat.