Tag: french riviera

All About Antibes

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Seen it all in Nice?  Head to Antibes!

Founded by the Greeks over 2000 years ago with the name Antipolis, modern day Antibes and the nearby chic commune of Juan le Pins are havens for sun seekers during the warmest months of the year.  Forty eight beaches beckon tourists from all over the world and world class restaurants, bars, boutiques, markets and museums nourish and entertain.

With so many things to see in this quaint town, I was undecided as to where to begin.  After my tour of Fort Carré was complete and I had ogled one too many yachts, I walked into Old Town through one of the city’s gates.   Taking a picturesque walk along one the 10th century ramparts that surround the city, I admired the Mediterranean Sea and stopped to hop up on the wall, enjoy a cool coconut gelato and gaze upon the Plage de la Gravette, where many a sun worshiper was basking in the afternoon warmth.

Hearing the church bells toll from a nearby bell tower, I headed into Old Town and to the 18th century church of the Immaculate Conception (Antibes Cathedral).  Here, I discovered a brilliantly hued structure built in the 11th century on the site of an ancient pagan temple and with stones used from earlier Roman fabrications.  The interior was not as impressive as I had hoped, but contained some notable pieces such as a Baroque altarpiece, the 16th century Virgin of the Rosary by Louis Bréa which depicts Christ as a child, being held by Mary with cherubs in the background.   You can also observe a life-sized wood carving of Christ’s death.

Moving on from the cathedral, I soon found myself at the Marché Provençal, a covered market close to the harbor which offers fresh selections of meats, fishes, cheeses and vegetables every day.  As I wandered through building, I also discovered many local craftsmen offering handicrafts available for purchase as well as some artists displaying their talents.

The day was drawing to a close, and I wanted to visit the Castle of Antibes, which is home to the world renowned Picasso Museum.  Containing one of the greatest Picasso collections, the museum draws hardcore fans from far and wide to view the twenty-four paintings, forty-four drawings, thirty-two lithographs, eleven oils on paper, eighty pieces of ceramics, two sculptures and five tapestries. Visiting the place where Picasso lived on the sea for six months, however, was not to be.  Having written down the incorrect closing time, I arrived as the doors were being locked!

Not quite ready for dinner, a bit of shopping was in order before realizing that I was soon meandering (my favorite thing to do) the alleyways and streets of the city.  This soon became my favorite part of the day…with so many little idiosyncrasies to discover!  Horse heads, seashell decorations, nooks and crannies, vividly painted walls, various types of ornamentation, brilliantly colored doors and shutters…it was impossible to imagine what might be around the next corner!  Who needs a Picasso museum when you have a real live art gallery on every street?

While you could spend countless hours at the beach in Antibes and thoroughly enjoy yourself, make a point of exploring the Old Town…the cultural heart of the Côte d’Azur!

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Antibes

Cathedral of Our-Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Antibes

Marché Provençal

http:/1828 Cours Masséna, 06600 Antibes, France

Musée Picasso