Exploring the French Riviera

Nestled between Europe and Africa, iconic Gibraltar makes for a fascinating visit with its traditionally British red pillar boxes, fish and chip shops, and even Marks & Spencer, but with a delightful blend of Spanish and Mediterranean influences. After wandering through the town and indulging in duty-free shopping at Main Street, you are perfectly placed to explore the Rock and enjoy unrivalled views across to Africa, Spain, and over the Straits of Gibraltar, as well as meet the famously mischievous Barbary macaques, Europe’s only wild monkey population. There will be opportunities to sample local dishes like calentita (chickpea flour bread) and rosto (a delicious meat and tomato pasta). You may also wish to discover the network of tunnels within the Rock, which played a strategic role in World War II.

Located along the Mediterranean coast, close to the Spanish border, Port-Vendres boasts a scenic harbour full of vibrantly coloured fishing boats, framed by rugged cliffs and sandy coves, and has a strong Catalan influence. Locally caught fresh seafood and regional delights like crema catalana are complemented by fortified wine Banyuls-sur-Mer, produced close to Port-Vendres. The town has served as a trading and fishing port for centuries and has a rich maritime history, intricately woven into its economy, culture and cuisine, which can be seen on visits to Fort Bear and the natural harbour area. 

With a beautiful natural harbour and surrounding hills topped by forts, Toulon has long been one of France’s main maritime centres. In the old town, close to the harbour, the Romanesque Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure dates from the 11th and 12th centuries.

In front of the town hall and the naval museum, the columns are carved figures of men, known as atlantes or caryatids – it is a style borrowed from Ancient Greece. The naval museum itself is interesting, with models of ships, displays about galley slaves and pirates and equipment ranging from wheels to figureheads. The Toulon Museum has collections of art from the past 500 years.

On Cours Lafayette in the Old Town there is a fabulous open-air market selling fresh fruit, vegetables and charcuterie. It’s open every morning apart from Monday and it’s worth visiting just to savour the smell of fresh herbs and lavender that hangs in the air.
 

Corsica’s island capital of Ajaccio is a charming and captivating city with tree-lined boulevards and narrow streets adorned with pastel-painted houses that meet at wide-open squares offering vistas of the blue waters of the Mediterranean. Restaurants, bistros, and cafés spill out onto the pavements, and the historic centre of Place Foch is a popular place to sit and watch the world go by. Famously the birthplace of the French Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, his legacy still lies at the very heart of Ajaccio’s identity, with monuments, streets, squares, hotels, bistros, bars, and even the airport bearing his name, almost 250 years after his birth.

In the pleasant October sunshine, a visit to Cartagena beckons, with its variety of historical sites awaiting exploration. The undoubted highlight is the Roman amphitheatre, rediscovered in 1988 and located within the city and close to the harbour, holding thousands of years of history to delve into. After a stroll through the city to admire its Art Nouveau buildings, you could be enjoying a refreshing glass of Licor 43 or an Asiatico at a local bar or café, sitting in the autumn sun, before ascending to the top of Concepcion Castle via its panoramic lift for outstanding views across the harbour.

Visiting Malaga in the autumn makes for a pleasant exploration of peaceful streets lined with orange trees and historical buildings. You could explore Pablo Picasso’s birthplace and the museum dedicated to his work in Buenavista Palace, or discover the well-preserved Moorish fortress of Alcazaba, which offers beautiful panoramas over the city and the deep blue of the Mediterranean Sea. Amidst your exploration, savour opportunities to experience local dishes of espetos (sardines on skewers and cooked over coals), tapas in authentic Spanish bard, and a traditionally sweet Moscatel wine. Alternatively, you can enjoy a hike to Gibralfaro Castle, which offers vistas of the surrounding city and a fascinating history dating back to Phoenician times.