Paris, Nice, Florence & Rome

Paris, the capital and largest city in France has been one of Europe’s major centers for art, fashion, food, science, music and commerce since the 17th century. Its 19th-century cityscape is crisscrossed by wide boulevards and the River Seine. Beyond such landmarks as the Eiffel Tower and the 12th-century, Gothic Notre-Dame cathedral, the city is known for its cafe culture and designer boutiques along the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. With an illustrious artistic pedigree – Renoir, Rodin, Picasso, Monet, Manet, Dalí and Van Gogh are but a few of the masters who have lived and worked here over the years – Paris is one of the world’s great art repositories, harbouring treasures from antiquity onwards.

Nice, capital of the French Riviera, is located in the Côte d’Azur region on the south east coast of France. Often called “Nice la Belle”, the city has a very distinct culture with its relaxed, carefree lifestyle and noticeable Italian and Corsican influences. The local language Niçard, is still spoken by a considerable minority, and in the past, Nice welcomed many immigrants from Italy, Spain and Portugal who have also left their mark in the city’s unique culture. The natural beauty of the Nice area with its mild Mediterranean climate and picturesque surroundings make it the perfect place for not only those in search of relaxation, but also those seeking inspiration.

Florence, the capital of Tuscany, is an open-air museum which has become more beautiful over the centuries. It’s a city-size shrine to the Renaissance enclosed by ancient walls that safeguard some of the greatest artistic treasures in the world. Its buildings and monuments tell stories of art, war and life. Its streets, today huddled with tourists, are the same ones through which Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo, Machiavelli, Dante and many other of the most brilliant minds in human history, threaded their way.