Côte-d’Azur - France, Europe

The Azure Coast: That’s how the French poetically describe the stretch of shoreline reaching eastward from the great port city of Marseille to the romantic principality of Monaco. What an apt description indeed for the glorious meeting that occurs here of sparkling blue Mediterranean waters and impossibly blue skies.

To many people the world over, the Côte-d’Azur also possesses another, equally romantic name: the French Riviera. No term more immediately conjures alluring images of jet-set privilege, gathering during the day to play along beaches filled with scantily clad goddesses and gods and to shop in exclusive boutiques; and at night to mingle leisurely in haute cuisine restaurants or play thrilling casino games of chance in towns strung like pearls along the Mediterranean shore.

Linked by the Grande Corniche, one of the world’s most spectacular highways, every stop along the Côte-d’Azur seems to have its own particular allure, its own spin on luxurious living. The city of Nice charms with its outdoor markets selling flowers, fresh produces, exotic spices, and other items. Cannes attracts the glitterati with its famous international film festival. The pastel-hued village of St. Tropez combines old-fashioned charm with the most elite shopping and dining. Cap d’Antibes. Juan le Pins. Every name evokes shimmering images of the good life. And, just moments inland, the scenic and culinary glories of Provence await exploration as well.

Provence and the Côte-d’Azur are, in fact, inextricably interlinked. Thanks to a blessed climate and geography, they share unparalleled gastronomic glories, from abundant seafood to succulent lamb to a cornucopia of fresh vegetables and fruits, not to mention the fragrant herbs, heady garlic, and fruity olive oil that bestow so much memorable personality upon every meal.

The sun-kissed life of the Côte-d’Azur must be savored slowly, sipped as one would an aperitif while admiring the sunset. Only then can one begin to appreciate fully its irresistibly romantic allure.