A day at the seaside can be enjoyed at La Spezia or Lerici, about two hours away – and don’t miss the Cinque Terre, five beautiful cliff-top villages dotted along the rugged Ligurian coastline that can only be reached by foot or by train. They’re charming and surprisingly unspoilt, thanks to their UNESCO status. Alternatively, head to the Adriatic coast to one of the nine lidos of Ravenna or the legendary resort of Rimini, with its 15km of sandy beaches (2.5hrs approx).