It's everywhere. The men wear suits so sharp you could cut yourself. The women are so cool, they have sunglasses on their heads indoors.

It's all so hip, so with it, so of the moment.

And that's not to mention the towns and cities, the countryside, the architecture, the cafes and restaurants, the atmosphere, the wine and the food. Oh, the food.

Pisa, of big, falling-over-tower fame, is one of the world's iconic locations.

But it's not just the tower. There's the magnificent cathedral – restored after crushing damage from a stray bomb during the war – with its huge frescos and religious fervour. And then there's the delicate carvings and peculiar acoustics of the dome-shaped baptistery.

As the sun shines on the Piazza Duomo and white marble gleams against blue skies, it's a glorious spot.

Relax at a nearby cafe and watch as another tourist has their picture taken as if to hold up the tower. It will only be the 500th that day.

From Pisa, drive around rural Tuscany and you fall in love with a landscape that has inspired artists and writers for centuries.

The winding roads snake past immaculate fields, olive groves, horizons clad with poplar trees, idyllic villages, teracotta-tiled roofs and sleepy lifestyles.

Volterra nestles high in the hills, an hour's drive from Pisa and beckons you to walk the paved streets and soak up the ambiance.

The town is famous for its production of artefacts fashioned from alabaster, a soft, white stone that shimmers with translucent beauty when carved and polished.

Indeed, a major exhibition of the town's finest works is on display until November and it is possible to visit workshops to witness contemporary production.

Drive out of Volterra and stop for a farmhouse lunch, where the simple cuisine is perfectly traditional, yet capable of satisfying even the most ravenous appetite.

Hams, salami, creamy mozzarrella cheese, home-made breads and tomatoes that taste like... well, tomatoes. Remember those?

There's no wonder the Italians have such a civilized attitude to food. The many courses seem to take forever but it's so pleasant to avoid the all-too-often quick gorge of English eateries.

And then there's the wine. The region is renowned for its reds and they bring new meaning to the definition of smooth, despite asking prices that certainly won't break the bank.

Afficionados can enter vino heaven at the Fattoria Varramista, an estate once owned by the Piaggio family, of Vespa scooter eminence. Fruit-laden lemon trees and the precise topiary of its manicured garden only add to the place's noble charm.

So with all that style, surely the Italians could give us a bit on credit. After all, they've loaned us one of their football managers to sort out the mess of our national team.

But with flights as cheap as they are, perhaps it's best to just board a plane and plunder some azzurri chic for ourselves.

After all, it's only a couple of hours away.





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