The Riviera
The Riviera is really comprised of 3 sections: the French Riviera is synonymous with Cote d'Azur (Blue Coast) and extends from St Tropez to the French-Italian border...it has all the glitz & glamour of high society ala Cannes & Monte Carlo; the Italian Riviera – Riviera Liguria – is so large that it is split into two major sections: Riviera di Ponente (West) from the French-Italian border to Genoa/Genova, which is comprised of small cities such as San Remo; and the "Riviera di Levanto" (Rising Sun) from Genoa/Genova to La Spezia, which contains the many scenic & remote sea villages like Portofino & the Cinqueterre that are nestled between the cliffs and the shining blue Mediterranean just beneath.
French & Italian Riviera Map
We visited most of the Riviera from Cannes, France just west of Nice (Point A) to Vernazza, Italy in the Cinqueterre (Point B).Copyright – Justinsomnia, 2008
Nice
We left Nice early Sunday morning. Al & I both decided that Nice was not so nice...
Cannes
...on the otherhand Cannes really is beautiful. No small surprise that this is where the film festival will be held next week. There's a vibe that this is where the stars & jetset go to relax. The city is laid out nicely with lots of oceanfront views from apartments, condos and hotels. Al & I really enjoyed strolling around this beachfront community and it has some of the best beaches on the French Riviera.
Cannes & the French Riviera/Cote d'Azur
The epitome of suave and sophistication on the French Riviera...
Monaco
We had to stop here to see what the hoopla was all about. Al liked Monaco a lot more than I did. We did manage to step into Monte Carlo's Casino and look around, but we were relegated to the public area so we really didn't get to see much.
You can really see the wealth in this tiny country by the cars the locals drive (Rolls Royce, etc.) and the types of stores on the streets (Louis Vuitton, Prada, etc.). The harbor was just incredible!San Remo & the Italian Riviera/Riviera di Ponente
This town is between Nice and Genoa/Genova along the Italian Riviera. Al & I had lunch here. Not very scenic and it looked like it was past its prime. Kind of a disappointment.
Portofino & the Italian Riviera/Riviera di Levanto
Way out at the end of a peninsula via a harrowing drive sits Portofino. Very cute and touristy but enjoyable. But the drive, egad! Hairpin turns, meeting cars almost head-on coming the other way and barely squeezing by, and all of the hundreds of motorcycles-scooters whizzing by. This drive alone exhausted Al.
Portofino Harbor
A beautiful seaport in the heart of the majestic Italian Riviera...
Vernazza & the Cinqueterre
This was a VERY long and winding drive which takes you way up into the mountains along the coast before ending down in the small community of Vernazza. We actually had to hike in the last half mile but it was definitely worth it. This place is really isolated.
You can take a local train here or drive and then hike in like we did. Deb – a friend of Al's -- gave us a good tip to bring backpacks at the Cinqueterre...luggage doesn't work well on the steep incline to the seaport. The village itself is a self contained community with several restaurants, hotels-pensions, etc. and is really quite charming. Not many tourists during this time of year, so everyone was relaxed and very friendly. People with their laundry hung out on lines outside their windows along with brightly colored homes. I told Al this reminded me of a movie set as the town is very narrrow and looked just like something from a period piece set in a small Italian seaside village.Vernazza Harbor
A laid back fishing village on the Cinqueterre Peninsula...
-- Al & Locke
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