Towns in France and Italy - not too expensive

How about Gaeta in Italy. A beautiful coastal town, not over touristy, situated half way between Naples and Rome. Fly to Naples and then a train/ bus journey. Loads to see and do.

.... acres of woodland....

The climate is milder, too. (Usually. At the moment I am melting in 30°.)

While those are all lovely places and I would go there.in the blink of eye, - I love France, Spain and Italy - I must put a word in for Germany. So many charming little towns and agree of woodland and green countryside. Also lovely coastal towns. And no one is protesting here about being overrun by tourists!

As for Italy, my sister recently flew to Ancona and stayed with friends a little inland from there. Absolutely stunning and totally unspoilt.

Another vote for the Loire! Off to Chinon in a month’s time 😊

If you're there for a while, I'd suggest a bit of château hopping along the Loire. Maybe Angers, Saumur and Blois - none of them too big or overly grand.
Fly to Nantes then catch trains.
Oh, and Vannes is my favourite town.

Forgot to add you can fly to Bergamot airport and you can take the train to Desenzano on Lake Garda, or into Milan.

Treviso is a lovely walled town near Venice, it is the birthplace of tiramisu and prosecco. Easy train journey into Venice or Padua for a day trip, it has its own canals and big piazzas. You can fly there with Ryanair. Bergamo is another lovely town in northern Italy, old city on a hill , you can take a funicular up, galleries and museums, short journey to Lake Garda or Iseo,or Milan.

I have a friend who lives in Southern France and her favourite "close by place" to visit is Roses in Spain. She and hubby go at least once each year. They love the fresh seafood restaurants.
I don't know what the transport links are like as they drive their car.

Lovely suggestions, thank you all. I will get googling.

If reliant on public transport and six weeks to fill with the sort of activities you list I would throw Belgium in the mix. Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp all within easy reach and each with plenty of each of the attractions you mention. Lots of smaller towns as well that are in easy reach and are well worth a day trip.

Ferrara is a lovely old university town in Northern Italy. We have been many times. We flew to Bologna and hired a car. There is a lovely hotel on the main square and I believe they do pick ups from the airport.
Venice is a train ride away and Valencia and other old towns nearby.
In August they have a Mummer's festival which is fun.

Genoa in northern Italy is beautiful and a short train ride from the cinque terre.

I had a really lovely holiday in Valencia and a couple of years ago in Bologna.

We lived for many years in Evian-les-Bains France, where the famous water comes from. Heaps to do. During summer months, free funicular railway going up to Edwardian hotels. Accessible from Geneva Airport. Vis-a-vis from Lausanne in Switzerland. Lake Léman in front, mountains behind. Magic!
Asking ourselves why we ever left [sigh]

Thanks Kate, I've never been to Seville or Madrid, they are definitely on my bucket list for a city break stay. I will be staying for 6 weeks with my sister so we were thinking of a town, shopping in the market for local produce for lunch, living like a local for the duration ...

We love Seville, beautiful cathedral, lots of history, beautiful river. Madrid is also lovely. My favourite city is Venice but inexpensive it is not.