Bologna

You might assume that the purpose of city breaks to Bologna was to pile headfirst into spaghetti Bolognese. Arrive at the city eager to do just this and you'll go to bed hungry. Whatever the origins of that much-loved dish, you won't find much of it served up in the city that allegedly christened it.

What you'll discover instead is a bold, fast-moving modern hub with immense architectural clout, whose centre teems with imposing historical buildings interlaced with busy squares, and splendid porticos lined with cafés, bars, boutiques and exclusive shops.

And then there's the food. Nicknamed "la grassa" (the fat one) Bologna is foodie heaven. A highlight of short breaks to Bologna must be the bountiful delis peddling every kind of pasta, delicious meats, cheeses, pyramids of cakes and pastries, plus the best coffee to wash it all down.

At the heart of the rosy-bricked town is atmospheric Piazza Maggiore and its grand residents, including an array of palazzo and an impressive 16th-century bronze statue of Neptune and sirens. Short breaks to Bologna should also include a gawp at the mammoth 15th-century Basilica di San Petronio - originally intended to outdo St Peter's in size until the Vatican had a strop about it.

Basilica di Santa Stefano is an easy visual feast of a walk from the square, as are the Museo Civico Archeologico and Le Due Torri - two adjacent towers which, though not quite so wonky as their famous cousins in Pisa, are certainly a giggle to behold.

Boasting Europe's oldest university, the University Quarter is also well worth exploring. Visitors enjoying city breaks to Bologna can appreciate both the aged buildings and its profusion of cafés and bars. The city's substantial student population ensures that nightlife is served up fast-paced and fun.

Short breaks to Bologna can also be mixed and matched with a host of other destinations in north-central Italy. Ravenna (the "mosaic capital") is around an hour's journey east, while Venice, Verona and Florence are only a couple of hours away apiece by train; Genoa a little more. So you could opt to start here, end here, stop over here, or simply set up camp in Bologna for the duration.