Vercelli

One of the oldest urban sites in northern Italy, Vercelli traces its origins to around 600 BC and claims the world's first publicly funded university, established here in 1228. The town sits on the Sesia River amid the rice paddies that have made it Italy's rice capital, and its walkable centre is thick with historic churches — including the Basilica di Sant'Andrea and the Duomo — listed buildings, and a lively food-and-drink scene. The Vercelli Book, one of the oldest surviving texts in Old English, is held here alongside the Codex Vercellensis.

• Population45,875
• Nearest water1.0 km
• Nearest mountain40.5 km
• UNESCO within 50 km6