The French Riviera is a beautiful place and depending on which months you go, could even feel like an unspoiled land with amazing beaches, great food, and lush nature. While using Nice as a base, I managed to not only explore many of the quaint little villages along the coastline, but also ventured across to Italy to explore some of the Italian Riviera as well. Without further ado, here are some reasons why I think travelers to France should visit Southern France as well.
As usual, you can see more of my pictures in Southern France and around the world on my Instagram @gmr83.
1. Colorful Architecture: If you are flying into Nice, you will start seeing the colors as the plane begins its descent. Whether it is the brick roofs, colored walls, and the vibrant flower market known as Marché aux Fleurs, Nice and the south of France in general are pretty colorful!
2. Mediterranean Life: Life in Nice and Southern France is influenced by the sea, which means the pace of life here is very different from the rest of France and the rest of Europe for that matter. People here seem to enjoy life more, thus taking things slowly and being a bit more festive than their northern compatriots.
3. Menton: As I mentioned above, I did some exploring around the area as I was based in Nice and one of my favorite stops is the colorful Menton, which was simply a joy to get lost into for a couple of hours. Make sure you buy some lemon products here whether it is soap, limoncello, or even chocolate — yes, lemon chocolate!
4. The Beaches: Southern France is synonymous with azure waters, after all, it is called the Cote D’Azur! The beaches are indeed beautiful here and even more blue in person than you see in the most saturated picture online. Here are 10 of the best beaches to try when you visit.
5. Monaco: For many of us, Monaco is the land we can see but not touch! However, there is more to Monaco than the Forumla One Grand Prix, the casino, and the really expensive apartments! Monaco has a rich history and a beautiful royal palace which overlooks the rest of the principality, so why not venture out here for at least a day trip even if you cannot afford to stay for the night.
6. The Food: the food in Southern France is a culinary experience like no other granted that you stay away of the tourist traps and places with English menus only. The Southern French cuisine is influenced by French, Mediterranean, Italian and even African cuisines making it a sight for the eyes and a delight for the taste buds. Here is a great list of places to try in Nice.
7. Proximity to Italy: If you are feeling extra adventurous, why not take a quick short trip to southern Italy where not only you can compare and contrast between the two Rivieras but also do some shopping on the side as the markets in Italy are cheaper than their French counterparts.
Bologna is one of the oldest cities in Italy and is was declared European capital of culture in 2000, the UNESCO “city of music” in 2006. It is also one of the wealthiest cities in Italy, often ranking as one of the top cities in terms of quality of life.
I often judge a place by how much I want to return after visiting. Bologna gave me plenty of that. Venice, which is of gorgeous of course, didn’t.
As usual you can follow me on Instagram (@gmr83) for more pictures from Bologna and around the world.
Without further ado, below are reasons why I think Bologna is one of the most charming cities in Europe and is well worth a visit:
Have you been to Bologna? What did you like the most?
I don’t think I ever felt so close to nature as much as I did there. The energizing feeling you get from the fresh smell of pine trees, the beautiful vistas, the roaring waterfalls, and the sense of solitude are difficult to describe. Nature has a special way of showing you how small you are in the scheme of things.
All this would not have been possible without my Serbian guide, Grada, who is not only a passionate nature conservationist, but is also very knowledgeable about history and preservation. You can reach him at [email protected] to book a custom made tour.
Now that I visited the country, I think there are many reasons to visit but here are some that I think stand out.
Have you been to Serbia? What are your favorite things?
Other reasons can be found on my Instagram @gmr83
1. Food: This is an important aspect for me when visiting any country. Georgian cuisine carries some influences from other European and nearby Middle Eastern culinary traditions. Each historical province of Georgia has its own distinct culinary tradition, with variations such as Megrelian, Kakhetian, and Imeretian cuisines. Heavy on meat dishes, the Georgian cuisine also offers a variety of vegetarian dishes.
2. Mountains: What’s the highest mountain range in Europe? The Alps? Wrong. It is the Caucasus Mountains marking the border between Georgia and Russia. While the highest peak is in Russia, Georgia lays claim to the second highest, Shkara, which at 5,193m (17,040 ft) beats Mont Blanc by nearly 400m (1,312 ft). Georgia is a mountainous country with rugged terrain which is why it is not that difficult to find beautiful mountain tops especially in the north. Did you know that the highest continuously inhabited village in Europe is in Georgia?
3. History: Georgia is steeped in history and was inhabited by Homo erectus since the Paleolithic Era. The proto-Georgian tribes first appear in written history in the 12th century BC. Did you know that Joseph Stalin was born in Georgia and you can visit his birthplace in Gori.
4. Beaches: Admittedly, that was not the first thought that came to mind when I was planning my first Georgia trip, but I was intrigued by seeing the Black Sea. Enter, Batumi, a lovely city on the Georgian coast with contemporary architecture and high-profile hotels and beaches. Batumi is very different from the rest of Georgia and is likely to give you a cultural shock after touring the rest of the country.
5. Glaciers: Yes, this country has it all! The glaciers of Georgia are mainly located along the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range.According to the data of 2015 there are 637 glaciers in Georgia with a total area of 355.80 km2.
6. Wine: You have not really experienced Georgia if you do not try the wine. Georgia is one of the oldest wine regions in the world. The fertile valleys of the South Caucasus house the source of the world’s first cultivated grapevines and neolithic wine production, from over 8,000 years ago. Among the best-known regions of Georgia where wine is produced are Kakheti, Kartli, Imereti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, and Abkhazia.
7. People: The Georgian people are some of the friendliest in the world. Old or young and whether they spoke English enough to communicate or not, they are a very welcoming people. You would be in luck if you are ever invited to a traditional Georgian wedding or to a supra, a traditional Georgian feast and an important part of social culture.