Most people head to the French Riviera with three things in mind: sea, sun and relaxation. Between Nice and Cannes, I was mesmerized to find this jewel – Antibes. If you expect from the second largest town ONLY millionaires coastal villas, luxury mega yachts and casinos, you will be wrong. As I was. There are so much history and soul in this place.
Sandy beaches on each side, pastel-coloured buildings and clear turquoise water. As pretty as a postcard.
Antibes. It’s a walker city
Made perfect for discovering on foot.
Heading down the small narrow streets and picturesque alleys, we went on a hunt for a fabulous coffee. We found it at Nomads Coffee. A friendly hipster coffee shop with a very creative interior. While researching the history of the coffee shop, I found that the owner came to Antibes on a trip and just like I fell in love and stayed there. For all my lactose intolerant fellows, you can get your soy and oat milk cappuccino-fix there.
During the weekends at Antibes you can buy herbs, local artwork, fresh fruits and veggies or any type of cheese, you crave.
The Artist Town on the French Riviera
Antibes is a smart mix of intimate spaces, beauty and inspiration. An inspiration for real artists. No wonder, Picasso lived and worked there in 1946. Later, Château Grimaldi was turned into Picasso museum, showing his many paintings, ceramics and drawings.
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc was built as a private mansion, which opened as a hotel in 1887.
Described as a writers retreat nestled in the heart of paradise. Writers like F. Scott Fitzerald and Ernest Hemingway got inspired from it.
Nowadays, working just a few months a year, a home for the summer to royalties, politicians, and film stars. Rewarded in 2016 with the “Palace” status.
Take a walk alongside the Old Town wall to witness this remarkable modern sculpture Le Nomade. Or the Man of letters looking over the Mediterranean is a creation by the Catalan artist Jaume Plensa. I was surprised how high and wide, it is. What do you think? Is he searching the horizon for his beloved one to come or just glancing on all the boats coming and going?
So my dears, the French Riviera is not just wine and cheese. And If I have to describe Antibes in two words, they would be “Lovingly Preserved”
