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

Tuscan charm and island spirit permeate Elba, Napoleon's exile isle, where ancient olive groves and fragrant orchards thrive.

Sweeping terraces, private moorings and the turquoise calm of Costa Smeralda render Porto Cervo a yachting sanctuary.

Perched on a clifftop eyrie at Corsica's southern tip, Bonifacio's mighty citadel leads to untouched marine reserves and the granite isles of Lavezzi.

The birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, Ajaccio reveals a landscape of fragrant hillsides, sheltered coves and the UNESCO-listed Calanques de Piana.

Beyond Calvi and its medieval citadel lie the ochre seastacks of Scandola, elegant L'Île-Rousse and the traditional hilltop villages of Balagne.

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.

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

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