Description
Living Provencal style in Aix
Its successful blend of baroque elegance and a lively student scene is one of the reasons why Aix-enProvence ranks amongst France’s top five of the most popular places to live. Stroll under the old plane trees of the famous Cours Mirabeau for a taste of this Provençal capital’s history; its main boulevard is lined with small bistros and antique shops, elegant residences, fountains and boutiques.
Cinque Terre: five villages above the cliff tops
Alongside a coastal stretch of only about 12 kilometres (7.5 miles), the five Ligurian villages of the Cinque Terre sit like pearls on a string. The view from the sea offers a fascinating panorama: Brightly coloured, the dreamy villages Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore look out through the vineyards above sheer cliffs plunging steeply into the sea.
Lucca, the treasure chest of Tuscany
The trade in precious silks is what originally made Lucca rich. When you take a stroll along the 16th-century town wall in the shade of old plane trees, the grandeur of composer Giacomo Puccini’s birthplace really becomes apparent. In the centre, which is almost free of cars, an opulent panorama unfolds made up of Roman lanes, churches and cupolas, wide squares and stately town palaces.
Elba, the varied island beauty
When the morning sun shines its warm light first on the fortifications and then on the harbour, Portoferraio
springs to life. Elba’s picturesque principal town is the perfect starting point to explore the island off the Tuscan coast. Whether you follow in Napoleon’s footsteps, visit the vineyards or decide to hide away in idyllic coves – Elba offers quite an astonishing diversity.
