The sweeping Promenade des Anglais roots Nice to its pastel facades and daily markets, with charming villages resting quietly in the neighbouring hills.

From its peach-coloured church with Cocteau frescoes to its pastel facades that frame the bay, Villefranche-sur-Mer evokes a relaxed Riviera charm.

Portofino's real charm lies in the grand villas, forested hills and tangible calm that presides over the Ligurian Sea.

Beyond its famed boulevards, Cannes is graced with gentle hills, sloping vineyards and sheltered beaches.

The grande dame of the Riviera, Saint-Tropez's superyacht-filled marina is complemented by noteworthy shopping and sun-drenched games of pétanque in the Place des Lices.

The grande dame of the Riviera, Saint-Tropez's superyacht-filled marina is complemented by noteworthy shopping and sun-drenched games of pétanque in the Place des Lices.

Caught between limestone cliffs and the open sea, historic Marseille leans into the tide, retaining an unmistakably Mediterranean spirit.