Painted doors, hidden works of art, enchanting little alleyways and an ancient woodland trail connecting two of the loveliest villages in the hills behind Imperia. Our walk from Valloria to Tavole turned into a wonderful family adventure, with something new for the children to discover around every corner. And lunch in a former village theatre was an unexpected highlight.

Savona is one of those Ligurian cities that many travellers simply pass by. When people think of this stretch of the Riviera, they are often drawn first to Finale Ligure, Noli, Alassio or the better known coastal towns around Genoa. Savona tends to remain slightly in the background, perhaps because at first glance it is less immediately charming than some of its more famous neighbours. And that is precisely what makes it interesting to me.

Our dog Lume loves the water. It makes little difference to her whether it is a small woodland pool, a lively river or the open sea. As soon as she hears water rushing, splashing or gently bubbling somewhere nearby, there is hardly any stopping her.