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Fancy a romantic city break in Tuscany without the tourist hordes? Sidestep Florence, Siena and Pisa, and instead head to Lucca, a gorgeous medieval city that’s blissfully quiet in comparison – and just a 30-minute taxi ride from Pisa airport.

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Composer of immortal operas La Bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini is Lucca’s ultimate alumnus. His piano is displayed in the home where he was born in 1858, now the Puccini Museum (entry €9, puccinimuseum.org). See personal letters, cartoon self-portraits and spectacular costumes from early productions.

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The city’s musicality lives on with the annual Lucca Summer Festival which has featured huge names from the Rolling Stones to Robbie Williams. For 2024, there’s Ed Sheeran (8 and 9 June) and

Rod Stewart (7 July). Tickets from €59, lucca summerfestival.it. More acts to be announced.

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From the bedroom windows of the Grand Universe Hotel, the city is a beguiling Renaissance redhead, all terracotta roofs, treetops and towers. In homage to musical Lucca, it has a resident composer, who will write personal piano preludes for guests. In the basement the wine cellar reveals Roman ruins – par for the course in a city of such archaeological heritage. (Doubles from €250, granduniverselucca.com).

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Admiring the intricate marble façade of Lucca cathedral, you’ll sense a ceaseless hustle and bustle behind you as reams of pilgrims arrive (and depart). Many will have walked the historic Via Francigena between Canterbury and Rome, which takes around 100 days to complete on foot (viefrancigene.org).