A travel expert who spent five years and 20,000 miles journeying the length and breadth of Italy has revealed the best and worst of its 100 cities, towns and villages. Writer Jasmine L Quan, 63, particularly praises places that love furry friends, as she travelled with her pet pussycat, Gigia.

Jasmine and her modest moggy thrilled passers-by in every town, posing for photographs and shaking paws as they started to clock up millions of Google Maps review videos. Now they have pawed through their memories to pen a book – Gigia’s Italy: A Cat’s-Eye View – and give Express readers their top three travel locations to enjoy, and one to avoid.

They based it on the history, culture and food of the destinations, as well as the warmth of the welcome and openness of the local people.

Jasmine said: “Choosing just three best places in Italy feels nearly impossible because everywhere I go, I fall in love.

“Every region has its own rhythm, its own flavour, its own quiet corners waiting to be discovered. But since Gigia is my constant travel companion, I’ve learned to see Italy through a different lens.

“So when I evaluate a place, I consider a combination of factors: how welcoming it is for a curious cat, its depth of history and culture, the quality of its food, and – most importantly – the warmth of its people.

“These are the places that have left the deepest mark on both of us.”

Naming her number one, Jasmine hailed the wonder of Treviso, in the Veneto region of northern Italy and often dubbed “Little Venice.”

Known to the Romans as ‘Tarvisium’, Treviso later became part of the Venetian Republic, which influenced its amazing and exquisite architecture.

The municipality has approximately 87,322 inhabitants and is prosperous, known for its relaxed pace of life, and is the home of the clothing company Benetton.

Jasmine explained: “While the world fights for space in nearby Venice, I choose Treviso every time. It offers a perfect, sophisticated balance of history, a refined drinking culture, and high-end gastronomy without the crowds.

“For Gigia, it’s a paradise of quiet, shaded canals and medieval intermediate spaces.

“It serves as the ultimate gateway: within an hour, you can be sipping Prosecco in the Asolo hills, wandering the most beautiful village of Cison di Valmarino, or breathing the crisp air of the Dolomite Mountains.”

Second best is Sulmona, in the Abruzzo Region, located on the Valle Peligna, a plain once occupied by a lake that disappeared in prehistoric times. In the ancient era, it was the home of the Roman poet Ovid.

Jasmine says: “Abruzzo is Italy’s most underrated region – a land where rugged nature and ancient human ritual collide.

“Based in Sulmona, you can explore the Majella National Park and the breathtaking Gran Sasso, but the real magic lies in the folk traditions that still pulse through these villages.

“From the medieval Giostra Cavalleresca (Joust) in Sulmona to the ancient, symbolic festivals in Scanno and Pescocostanzo, this is a place of deep authenticity. For foodies, the street-side porchetta and marinated sausages in olive oil are simply divine.”

And third best is Trieste and the surrounding Friuli region.

She adds: “Trieste is a grand, literary city that feels breezy and accessible, but the true hidden gems lie in the surrounding Friuli region.

“Udine is a sophisticated hub of history and art, often called the City of Tiepolo, with its elegant Venetian-style squares.

“For a coastal escape, head to Grado, the Island of the Sun. A tranquil sanctuary of sandy lagoons and ancient thermal baths – a far more peaceful alternative to the crowded Adriatic resorts.”

But when it comes to the ‘worst’, it’s a city that tourists will often associate with football, fashion and industry.

Jasmine reveals: “Put Milan on any map of the world, and it would outshine many other big cities.

“But for many – and a travelling cat – Milan is the most challenging. It is a fast-paced, industrial metropolis where nature is hard to find. It’s a city for fashion and finance, not to explore a 14th-century wall.

“Yet within an hour of the city’s chaos, you can find the charming upper town of Bergamo or the dramatic shores of Lake Como. In the village of Nesso, Gigia and I discovered a hidden world of ancient stone bridges and a roaring waterfall that drops straight into the lake.

“I also recommend the ‘shadow’ of Como: Lake Iseo. In the town of Pisogne, you will find one of Italy’s quaintest and most moving monuments – the Church of Santa Maria della Neve, often called the ‘Sistine Chapel of the Poor’ for its stunning, raw frescoes.

“It is the authentic, quiet Italy that truly leaves a mark on your soul – a reminder that even the worst Italy has to offer still shines brighter than most cities in the world.”