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The Essence of Croatian Culture

From the eastern plains of Slavonia to the fashionable Adriatic coast, Croatia is a fascinating blend of Balkan, central European and Mediterranean cultures. This is a country which has taken on influences from Venice to Vienna and Belgrade to Istan...

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Succumb to the ‘Film Set’ Charm of Port Grimaud

In this blog we succumb to the ‘film set’ charm of Port Grimaud, the photogenic hill top village of Grimaud and the endless woodland of the Massif Des Maures. GRIMAUD Grimaud is one of Provence’s most photo genic hill top villages, crowned ...

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Admire the Memorable Views of the St.Tropez Peninsula

ST.TROPEZ PENINSULA Just a short distance inland lies the surprisingly undeveloped uncrowded St.Tropez peninsula splashed with wild flowers and vineyards. In the midst of the St.Tropez peninsula, the ancient hilltop village of Gassin, once a Mo...

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Linger in Antibes Bustling Massena Market and Chic Juan-Les-Pins

ANTIBES Antibes was founded in the 5th century BC as a Greek trading post called Antipolis (‘the city opposite’), presumably because of its location opposite Nice, or Nikaïa. The two cities later became true opposites, with Antibes as the fro...

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Wander the Fascinating Stairways of Roquebrune and Villefranche

In this blog we wander the fascinating stairways of Roquebrune and Villefranche. ROQUEBRUNE-CAP-MARTIN Located on a prime site between Menton and Monaco, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is divided into two areas; old Roquebrune, an attractive medieval hill...

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Peille

Ascend the Beautiful Hilltop Villages of Peille and Peillon

In this blog we ascend the beautiful hilltop villages of Peille and Peillon. PEILLE Just a short distance inland and set in wild, under populated countryside, Peille is a perfect retreat from the touristic frenzy of the coast, a unique hill top v...

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Unwind on the Beautiful and Desirable Cap Ferrat

BEAULIEU-SUR-MER Beaulieu really is a ‘beautiful place’ and one of the warmest resorts on the Riviera, sheltered by a natural amphitheatre of hills. It had its heyday at the turn of the century when many celebrities stayed here, including the ...

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Admire the Remarkable Collection of Works in the Museums of Nice

In this blog we admire the remarkable collection of works in the museums of Nice. Sit back and be inspired. Musée des Beaux Arts Once home to a Ukrainian princess, this handsome residence, built in the style of 17th century Genoese palaces, ...

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Step Back in Time with Three Celebrated Buildings in Nice

In this blog we step back in time with three celebrated buildings in Nice. Hôtel Négresco Churchill, Chaplin, Piaf, Picasso, Taylor and Burton, the Beatles . . . The Négresco’s guest list is legendary. It was built in 1912 for Henri Négresc...

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Enjoy Fine Provençal Cuisine at these Selected Restaurants

In this blog we enjoy fine Provençal cuisine at three selected restaurants on the French Riviera. A workmen’s café in central France was overwhelmed with requests for table reservations after it was accidentally awarded a Michelin star. Bouch...

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Loose Yourself in Three Diverse Districts of Nice

In this blog we loose ourselves in three diverse districts of Nice. Cimiez Cimiez is a district of luxury villas and palatial residences on the low hills overlooking the city. A monument dedicated to Queen Victoria outside her favourite winter re...

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Seek Sanctuary in the Magnificent Cathedrals of Nice

In this blog we seek sanctuary in the magnificent cathedrals of Nice. Cathédrale Orthodoxe Russe This magnificent pink and grey Russian Orthodox church, crowned by six gleaming green onion-shaped cupolas, was built by Tsar Nicolas II in 1903 in ...

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Retrace Roman History in the Cote d’Azur Port of Fréjus

In this blog we retrace the Roman history in the Cote d’Azur port of Fréjus. Now merged together into a holiday conglomeration with its neighbour St-Raphaël, Fréjus, on the southwest coast of the French Riviera, lies at a strategic position at ...

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Visit the Scented Village of Bormes-les-Mimosas

In this blog we visit the scented village of Bormes-les-Mimosas. The village of Bormes-les-Mimosas, with its ice cream coloured houses, is undoubtedly one of the Riviera’s most picturesque villages. It has had a chequered history – founded by th...

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Quarters of Nice

Discover Three Historic Quarters of Nice

In this blog we discover three historic quarters of Nice. Quartier Du Paillon The once fast-flowing and often dangerously high River Paillon was canalized in the 1830’s and began to vanish under the pavements. It now trickles below Nice’s sho...

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Explore the Fashionable Winter Resort of Menton

In this blog we discover the fashionable winter resort of Menton. Until the mid-19th century, when the Riviera became a fashionable and wealthy winter resort, Menton was a little-known fishing port belonging to the Grimaldis. Fin de siècle hotel...

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Why Is Santa Margherita Not Far From Paradise?

In this blog we find out why Santa Margherita is not far from paradise. Beloved by writers from northern Europe and America in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Santa Margherita is a lively, smart resort town. It is a chic place, with plenty of o...

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Discover the Colourful Little Fishing Port of Camogli

In this blog we discover the colourful little fishing port of Camogli. Tall colourful houses look out to sea and were originally all painted different colours so that the fisherman could recognize their homes while out fishing. In fact, the men were...

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Delight in the Most Picturesque Harbour of Portofino

In this blog we delight in the most picturesque harbour of Portofino. The tall colourful houses of Portofino curve around the bay in a cove that forms a perfect miniature harbour protected from behind by steep green hills. When Frederic Lees arrive...

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Join the Jet Setting World of Monaco

In this blog we join the jet setting world of Monaco. The Principality of Monaco is the world’s second smallest sovereign state after the Vatican – a 481 acres, spotlessly clean skyscraper-clad strip squeezed between sea and mountains on largely...

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Savour the Riviera’s Most Chic Resort of Cannes

In this blog we savour the Riviera’s most chic resort of Cannes. Think Cannes, think movies and film stars, expensive boutiques, palatial hotels and paparazzi. After all, it is one of the world’s most chic resorts – the ‘Queen of the coast...

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St-Tropez

Enjoy the Charming Fishing Port of St-Tropez

In this blog we enjoy the charming fishing port of St-Tropez. The charming fishing port of St-Tropez, which reached the height of international fame in the ‘swinging’ sixties, continues to attract the rich and famous. Although its hedonistic ima...

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France - Sunniest Places

Discover the Top Five Sunniest Places in France

In this blog we discover the top five sunniest places in France. Travellers to Paris, the world's most popular city, understand that sunny skies are not always the norm. If it's warm weather you're after, better look elsewhere in the hexagon. To ens...

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Cuisine Nicoise

Appreciate the French Riviera Cuisine Nicoise Style of Cooking

Cuisine Nicoise is the style of cooking found in Nice and in the countryside around it. It comes from humble origins, with most of the recipes having been inherited from grandmothers who prepared farmhouse cuisine from produce grown in their kitchen ...

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Grasse

Indulge in the French Fragrance Capital of Grasse

At nearly 1,150 metres above sea level, Grasse enjoys a particular microclimate that takes the best from its surroundings. It’s only a 30-minute drive from the French Riviera and so it basks in the same 300 days of sunshine per year for which the ...

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Cheese and Wine

What are the Myths of Cheese and Wine?

Why Red Wine and Cheese do not a Marriage Make Apart from the odd sweet red, only white wine will provide a glorious culinary union... So says Linda Johnson-Bell, a US-born, French-raised, award-winning wine critic and author based in London, Oxf...

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French Recipe

Prepare a Classic French Recipe

How to Make Crepes Grand' Mere In the Catholic tradition, eggs are forbidden during the Lenten fast so eating pancakes became a way to prepare for the abstinence that lay ahead. In the English-speaking tradition, this happens on Shrove Tuesday, t...

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Hyeres

Explore the Original Aristocratic French Riviera of Hyeres

Located between Marseille and Nice, Hyeres is considered the original French Riviera, with the aristocracy regularly retreating to its winter warmth in the 18th century, followed by the artistic (Leo Tolstoy, Rudyard Kipling, DH Lawrence) not to ment...

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Italy - Sea Side Villages

Discover the Charming Seaside Villages of Italy

Italy has some of the most picturesque coastline with a smattering of beautiful hidden locations nestled among the coastal mountains, tiny fishing ports and small historical resorts that cater for tourists but maintain their charm. These are ten o...

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Tuscany

Uncover the Most Beautiful Region of Tuscany

Tuscany is rightly recognised as being one of the world’s most beautiful regions – here we highlight our ten favourite destinations that justify this claim… Michelangelo’s David, Florence - the most famous statue in the world, no trip to Flo...

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Elba

Find a Walking Paradise on the Tuscan Island of Elba

Elba is the largest of Tuscany's islands, being a paradise of white beaches and clear waters, with some fabulous walking routes thrown in. It can be packed-out in summer, so best to come nice and early in the spring . . . The third largest isla...

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Carrara

Marvel in the Majestic Marble Mines of Carrara

When sailing along the west coast of Tuscany just north of Pisa, you will see jagged alps rising steeply from the narrow strip of land, glistening majestically. These are the Apuan Alps, mountains that are the Carrara marble mines that gleam as thou...

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Sestri Levante

Delight in the Stunning Beauty of Sestri Levante

While neighbouring Portofino and the Cinque Terre are arguably the best-known tourist destinations on the Italian Riviera, the town of Sestri Levante is becoming a favourite among Italians… Originally a small, secluded island, Sestri Levante is no...

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San Fruttuoso

Find Seclusion in the Seashore Monastery of San Fruttuoso

San Fruttuoso is neither a port or a resort and is not much more than an indentation along a mountainous coastline, accessible only from the sea or on foot. But it has two powerful attractions - one is an ancient Benedictine monastery and the other ...

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Cote D'Azur

Discover the Six Best Beaches on the Côte d'Azur

If you're looking for the quintessential Côte d'Azur beach experience, you can test the deep blue Mediterranean waters in splendidly contrasting landscapes that stretch from Cannes to Monaco. There's no need to rough it either – some of the fines...

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Porquerolles

Dazzled by the Paradise Isle of Porquerolles

A century ago, François-Joseph Fournier, an enterprising 55-year-old Belgian adventurer who struck it rich in the gold mines of Mexico, decided to purchase the perfect wedding present for his young bride, Sylvia. By chance, he’d learned that ther...

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Tuscan Islands

Uncover the Magical Cultural Blend of the Tuscan Islands

The western coastline of Italy and magical Tuscan Islands certainly rank among the Mediterranean’s more interesting cruising grounds, offering a supreme blend of art, architecture, history, culture, regional cuisine, world-class scenery and super...

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Tuscan Coast

Explore the World Class Scenery of the Tuscan Coast

The western Tuscan coast and magical islands of Italy certainly rank among the Mediterranean’s more interesting cruising grounds, offering a supreme blend of art, architecture, history, culture, regional cuisine, world-class scenery and superb summ...

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Riviera Levante

Explore the Supreme Cultural Blend of the Riviera Levante

The Riviera Levante on the western coastline of Italy certainly rank among the Mediterranean’s more interesting cruising grounds, offering a supreme blend of art, architecture, history, culture, regional cuisine, world-class scenery and superb sum...

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Riviera Ponte

Enjoy the Splendour of the Riviera Ponte - The ‘Riviera of Flowers'

The Riviera Ponte is also known as the ‘Riviera of Flowers’, a name derived from the fact that as much 70% of the horticulture along the coast is devoted to flower growing. The business started with Ludwig Winter, a German landscape architect, w...

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French Riviera

Capture the French Riviera Vivid Blue Coastline

The French Riviera is a dramatic stretch of vivid blue coastline with its chic cities, sandy beaches, craggy corniches and fishing villages that has long attracted a rich assortment of actors, artists, writers and royalty to its shores. After all, t...

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East Cote d'Azur

Explore the Rugged Coast of the East Cote d'Azur

The East Cote d'Azur stretch of the Riviera coastline is wild and rugged with deserted creeks and bleached beaches, far less developed than its eastern counterpart. Its resorts are strung out like pearls along the coast, with St.Tropez the jewel in ...

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West Cote d'Azur

Explore the Scenic Coast of the West Cote d'Azur

The West Cote d'Azur stretch of Riviera coastline is wild and rugged with deserted creeks and bleached beaches, far less developed than its eastern counterpart. Its resorts are strung out like pearls along the coast, with St.Tropez the jewel in the...

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St-Tropez Coast

Dazzled by the Sparkling St-Tropez Coast

This stretch of St-Tropez coast is wild and rugged with deserted creeks and bleached beaches, far less developed than its eastern counterpart. Its resorts are strung out like pearls along the coast, with St.Tropez the jewel in the crown. No name ev...

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Monaco Coast

Spoilt on the Dramatic Vivid Blue Monaco Coast

This dramatic stretch of vivid blue Monaco coast line with its chic cities, sandy beaches, craggy corniches and fishing villages has long attracted a rich assortment of actors, artists, writers and royalty to its shores. After all, this is the home ...

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Cannes Coast

Relax on the Finest Sandy Beaches of the Cannes Coast

The Cannes coast boasts some of the finest golden sandy beaches of the Riviera and some of its most celebrated resorts, including Cagnes with its fashionable race course; the major yachting haven of Antibes; and glitzy Cannes – famed for its Intern...

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Nice

Indulge Yourself in the Vibrancy of Nice

This magnificent all-year-round resort, so agreeably named ‘Nice’, is a vibrant city, shaped by a colourful past. It offers visitors a fascinating blend of ancient and modern, innumerable attractions, a wonderful climate, and a carefree joie de ...

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Italian Cuisine

Savour the Finest and Healthiest of Italian Cuisine

Italian cuisine is among the finest and (according to research) the healthiest in the world. Although certain staples can be found all over the country, each region has its own specialities, based on history, tradition and the best of local produc...

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Italian Culture

Uncover the Oldest Tourist Industry of Italian Culture

Italian culture is one of the oldest tourist industries in the world, having been among the principal destinations for the rich ‘grand tourists’ in the 18th and 19th centuries. They came to sample the ancient, Renaissance and baroque delights o...

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Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

Enjoy the Finest Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild on the French Riviera

The rose-pink, belle époque palace, the Île de France, owned by Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild is considered to be the finest on the French Riviera. The flamboyant Béatrice, Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild (1864-1934) and daughter of ...

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Musee Picasso

Admire the Finest Art Collection in the Musée Picasso

Picasso once had a studio inside Antibes' old, seafront Chateau Grimaldi. Today, the Musée Picasso houses one of the world's finest collections of his works on the French Riviera. The Grimaldi family ruled for centuries from this beautiful 13th to ...

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Musée Océanographique

Wonder at the Prestigious Musée Océanographique in Monaco

Perched high on a sheer cliff, this museum of marine science with its spectacular aquarium is the finest of its kind. Monaco’s prestigious Musée Océanographique on the French Riviera was founded in 1910 by Prince Albert I, who was an eager o...

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Musée Matisse

Appreciate the Remarkable Collection in the Musée Matisse

The Musée Matisse is a handsome villa on the French Riviera which contains a remarkable collection - a visual history of Matisse’s works that spans his entire life and should appeal to everyone. Henri Matisse came to live in Nice in 1917 and, s...

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Mamac

Visit the Remarkable Musée d’Art Morern et d’Art Contemporian (MAMAC)

The remarkable Musée d’Art Morern et d’Art Contemporian (MAMAC) on the French Riviera traces the history of French and American avant-garde from the 1960s. MAMAC was inaugurated in 1990 as a vast monument to the ambitions of the city’s former ...

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Îles de Lérins

Escape to the Charming Islands of the Îles de Lérins

On the French Riviera take refuge from crowded Cannes on these two tiny islands, perfect for a stroll, a swim and a picnic, or to visit their important religious sites. The charming, car-free Îles de Lérins lie just 20 minutes by ferry from Cannes...

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Maeght Foundation

Admire the Distinguished Maeght Foundation of Modern Art

Hidden amid umbrella pines above the village of St.Paul-de-Vence on the French Riviera, this is one of the world's most distinguished modern art museums. The Maeght Foundation on the French Riviera is no ordinary museum. At its inauguration in 196...

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Eze

Delight in the Breathtaking Hill Top Village of Eze

Without doubt one of the Riviera's most strikingly situated and best preserved hilltop villages, Eze affords truly breath-taking views. Èze is frequently called the Nid d’Aigle (Eagle’s Nest) because of its remarkable location, perched at the s...

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Corniche de l'Esterel

Explore the Dramatic Scenery Along the Corniche de l'Esterel

Edging a wild group of blood-red porphyry mountains, the 'golden coast road' passes some of the Riviera's most grandiose scenery. The Corniche de l'Esterel follows the dramatic shoreline from St.Raphaël to Théoule-sur-Mer, along the sole stretch o...

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Monte-Carlo Casino

Applaud the Opulent and Glamorous Monte-Carlo Casino

The world's most famous casino symbolizes all that is opulent and glamorous in Monte-Carlo - a 'must-see' even if you are not a gambler. The Monte-Carlo Casino is probably the most famous building on the French Riviera, known in its heyday as the ...

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French Cuisine

Savour French Cuisine - a World Leader in Food & Wine

At Essential Sailing, we love the history, culture and cuisine of the places we visit almost as much as the sailing to get there. Our Captain’s Blog brings you a taste of what to expect from our luxury crewed sailing holidays around the French and ...

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French Culture

Find Yourself Under the Magic Spell of French Culture

At Essential Sailing, we love the history, culture and cuisine of the places we visit almost as much as the sailing to get there. Our Captain’s Blog brings you a taste of what to expect from our luxury crewed sailing holidays around the French and ...

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It All Started in Luxor

In my former ‘day job’ as a Project Director on a major construction scheme I hadn’t taken a holiday for some time and was in need of break – so I joined a group of similarly like-minded tourists on a week-long guided tour of the ‘tombs and...

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Discarding the ‘L’ Plates

I guess passing the RYA - Day Skipper qualification was just like passing a driving test – you have an understanding of the theory and some initial practical training, but really need to gain more experience to be confident on the motorway!!  I...

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Captivated Hook, Line & Sinker

It was about 10 years ago when on holiday in St Lucia that I went on a day trip to St Vincent and the Grenadines and got to sail aboard a 60 foot catamaran. It was marvellous to sail between the islands and lunch at Tobago Keys, a beautiful turquoise...

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It's Not Just for the Rich & Famous

When people think of sailing, they usually have one of two specific images in mind. Either they picture the rich and famous lounging about in the sun, or they picture people running around, “hoisting the mainsail” with wind and rain lashing down,...

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