What to do in Italy in the off-season

MY HUSBAND, 16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND I ARE TRAVELLING TO ITALY IN MID-DECEMBER TO VISIT OUR ELDER DAUGHTER IN MILAN. WE WILL SPEND NEW YEAR IN PARIS, THEN FLY TO FLORENCE. WE ARE THINKING OF SPENDING FOUR DAYS TO EXPLORE TUSCANY AND MAYBE A DAY TRIP TO ROME, THEN TRAIN TO VENICE FOR ANOTHER FOUR DAYS BEFORE HEADING HOME.

WE WOULD LOVE TO VISIT A COASTAL REGION, PERHAPS CINQUE TERRE, BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD MANY AREAS ARE CLOSED IN WINTER.

WHAT ARE THE BEST AREAS TO EXPLORE AT THIS TIME? WE ARE INTERESTED IN WALKING, LOCAL CULTURE, FOOD AND WINE.

M. FARLEIGH, RAMSGATE.

The Cinque Terre is at its best in the warm and sunny months between June and October, but far less dazzling in January. Same goes for Tuscany, where you can expect daily highs and lows in the 3 to 11-degree range.

Visitors to the region are scarce at this time, and therefore many hotels and restaurants will be closed. However, the very lack of tourists makes this a great time to visit Rome and the cities of northern Italy. In Florence, Venice and any other cities you might happen to visit, you should be able to march straight into the galleries, churches and museums and admire the treasures at your leisure. Most of the people crossing Venice's Piazza San Marco will be locals rather than tourists, and although the outdoor cafes that flavour the streetscape of these cities will not be active, there will still be plenty of opportunities for enjoying great food and wine, with attentive service most likely.

Walking in the countryside is possible, but it is bare and bleak, with nothing much happening in the villages. Your itinerary seems to devote little time to Rome, and you might sacrifice some of your days in Florence in favour of the capital. Rug up and stick with the cities and enjoy the cultural feast.