The French and Italian Rivieras - Small Group Gourmet Tour

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• Tags: French Riviera, Italian Riviera, France, Italy, tour, tours, Nice, Monaco, Portofino, Cinque Terre, Marseille, Europe tour, European tour, European tours, wine tour, small group tour, small group tours, food and wine tour, food wine tour
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SMALL GROUP GOURMET EUROPEAN TOUR

The French and Italian Rivieras
http://www.ipswichtours.com/rivieras.htm

May 24 - June 6, 2009

Tour Description: Medieval hilltop villages, Pastis on your veranda overlooking the Mediterranean, Chagall’s art in Saint Paul de Vence, the flowers of Provence, the pink and yellow houses of Portofino, Cinque Terra’s striking cliffs, the incredible beauty of the Côte d’Azur.


$6,399 per person double occupancy


Tour price includes:

--Roundtrip airfare from Boston or New York (airfare price can be deducted)

--12 nights in charming, elegant hotels with magnificent mountain or Mediterranean views: overnights in Beaulieu-sur-Mer (French Riviera), Santa Margherita Ligure (Italian Riviera), Lerici (Cinque Terre), and Saint-Paul de Vence (Provence)

--All breakfasts, 12 gourmet dinners (including one Michelin Star)

--Transportation in comfortable, air-conditioned minibus

--Visits to: Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Nice, Monaco, Eze, Villefranche, Santa Margherita, Portofino, Lerici, Cinque Terre, Saint Paul de Vence, Antibes, Marseille, Toulon, and Cannes

--Guided tours by local experts in Nice, Monaco, and Marseille

--Fun cooking class in Saint-Paul de Vence

--Winery visit and wine tasting in Santa Margherita

--All tour guides, all museum and monument entrance fees, tips and taxes


Tour Itinerary:

Day 1
We arrive at the Nice airport and drive along the celebrated Promenade des Anglais as we head for our waterfront hotel in the neighboring village of Beaulieu-sur-Mer. Every room looks out onto the spectacular Mediterranean vista with Beaulieu's picturesque harbor crowded with the yachts of the très riches. We head back into Nice for a guided walking tour before dinner back at our hotel on the waterfront.

Day 2
After breakfast we take a tour of the Rothschild estate on the elegant peninsula of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat. The Villa Ile-de-France was built by Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild in the early 1900s as the perfect "dream villa" of the Riviera, complete with a collection of masterpiece paintings, antiques dating to Marie-Antoinette, mosaic flooring and marble columns, tapestries from the 16th century, and acres of magnificent gardens. We then take a scenic coastal drive to neighboring Monaco, where we have lunch in the quaint Le Rocher neighborhood behind the palace, followed by an "insider's" guided walking tour led by a native Monagascan. Tonight we enjoy dinner on the waterfront in the medieval village of Villefranche.

Day 3
This morning we drive into the mountains to visit the magical medieval village of Eze, perched at the top of a hill with a breathtaking panoramic vista of the surrounding mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. We can wander its narrow car-free streets, inspecting any of the hundreds of adorable boutiques cleverly nestled among ancient archways and alleys of the original medieval village. At the top of the mountain is a fascinating "Jardin Exotique", well worth a visit to take advantage of the spectacular views. After lunch on the patio of a charming restaurant we take a tour of the famous Fragonard perfumery, where we are free to purchase all the Fragonard we can carry. Next we drive along the mountainous seacoast past Monaco and Menton and onto the Italian Riviera. Passing Genoa, we enter the Riviera di Levante to arrive at our destination of Santa Margherita just in time for happy hour before dinner. You will fall in love with this beautiful little seaside resort with its promenade along the harbor, its manicured parks filled with exquisitely designed flower gardens, and its many appealing sidewalk cafés overlooking the water. We check into our hotel where every room has a beautiful sea view. Dinner tonight is at a restaurant overlooking the water and features the freshest local seafood.

Day 4
A boat ride along the mountainous coast takes us to Portofino, known for its colorful medieval houses and spectacular scenic vistas. After lunch in Portofino, we take another boat ride to Fruttuoso and Camogli, two historic fishing villages surrounded by high cliffs. We return to Santa Margherita for another wonderful dinner.

Day 5
Today we have free time in Santa Margherita and then visit a regional winery for a tour and tasting. We continue south along the Ligurian coast and check into our hotel overlooking the sea in the lovely Mediterranean harbor of Lerici, gateway to the enchanting villages of the Cinque Terre. We take a walk through the village to the picturesque castle and relax at our hotel. After a fresh seafood dinner, you will fall asleep to the sound of the waves outside your window.

Day 6
Today we spend the day visiting the five stunningly beautiful villages known as Cinque Terre. Plan to bring an extra memory card for this photogenic experience. Each of these tiny villages- Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso- is unique and indescribably beautiful in a primitive, unspoiled way. We have the option of either taking a boat or hiking from village to village. We return to Lerici by boat for a relaxing dinner and evening stroll.

Day 7
The morning we enjoy an entertaining gourmet cooking class, followed by a spectacular feast. In the afternoon we can walk off some calories with an oceanside hike, explore the streets of Lerici, or relax at our lovely hotel.

Day 8
This morning we say Arrivederci to Italy and drive back along the coast to Southern France. Our destination is the beautiful hilltop village of Saint Paul de Vence, our base for the next five days. Our lovely hotel is nestled in a maze of colorful gardens and looks out over the hills and the nearby village. We can take a swim in the pool, stroll the beautiful grounds and have a drink on a terrace overlooking the mountains. For dinner we drive to the charming village of Vence and are treated to a special Provençal feast in a tiny restaurant that was once a castle, complete with open hearth and mouth-watering regional specialties.

Day 9
In the morning we explore Saint Paul de Vence, one of the most celebrated "villages perchés", nestled high on the side of a steep mountain, originally built to avoid attack from the Saracens. In the 1920s this picturesque medieval village was discovered by artists Bonnard, Modigliani and other Impressionists, and since then has been a favorite of visiting artists and art lovers. The narrow, twisting streets, free from cars, are crammed with beautiful shops selling all types of art, crafts, and interesting treasures at all price ranges. In the afternoon we have the option of visiting one of the world's most renowned modern art museums, Fondation Maeght, just outside the village. We have time for a swim and an aperitif before dinner.

Day 10
Today's excursion is to the lively city of Cannes. We see the famous cafés along the famous ocean boulevard, La Croisette, and we wander the tiny medieval streets of the oldest neighborhood, Le Suquet. After our visit we head to the tiny village of Mougins, incredibly picturesque and crammed with art galleries. Mougins is also known for its large number of gastronomic restaurants, and we will have a lunch to remember in this wonderful setting. On our way back to Saint Paul de Vence we stop in Cagnes-sur-Mer to see the Renoir Museum.

Day 11
Today's excursion is to the ancient town of Antibes. Here we visit the Château Grimaldi and its Musée Picasso and explore the colorful local market. After lunch we visit the hill-top town of Biot and tour the glassworks to see how the famous Biot bubble glass is made. Tonight is a special dinner at the famous Colombe d'Or restaurant. A number of French Impressionist painters left their works here as payment when they stayed in the inn years ago, so this is a truly unique dining experience.

Day 12
On our last day we visit the nearby ancient Roman town of Vence. Our guided walking tour takes us through a picturesque neighborhood with an intriguing history. We also see the old church, Chapelle du Saint-Marie du Rosaire, whose walls were decorated by Henri Matisse. We end our day with a splendid farewell dinner at a charming restaurant with superb local dishes.

Day 13
After breakfast we drive to the Nice airport for the return flight.


For more information and photos, or to make a reservation, visit our website at:
http://www.ipswichtours.com/euro.htm

• Contact: Jean Moss
• Tel: (978) 356-5163
• City: Ipswich, MA
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