Venice is sinking. Not just literally, into the lagoon, but also proverbially, under the weight of overtourism. The latter to such an extent that next year, local authorities plan to introduce an entry fee for day-trippers in a bid to reduce visitor numbers. They have a way to go, though — high season can see over 150,000 visitors to the city a day, dwarfing Venice’s resident population of 50,000.

To some, this state of play spells an end to the dream Venetian getaway — but it doesn’t need to. To many, it’s the ultimate romantic city. Threaded with canals and dotted with grand palazzos, it’s captured the hearts of visitors for centuries — but that’s not to say you can’t find echoes of it in other Italian cities.