One of the reasons we think Nice is so great is its proximity to fantastic towns along the Mediterranean. Within 40 minutes in just one direction, we visited Monte Carlo/Monaco, Menton France and Ventimiglia Italy.
Ventimiglia is the final destination of the French train line, and on our first trip to Nice we decided to make a day trip to explore it and have an Italian meal for lunch. I will say that the Italian food we have had in Nice is every bit as tasty as the food we had across the border, due to the fact that many native Italians call Nice home. I was thoroughly impressed with the lovely fruit market close to the train station in Ventimiglia, the cheese and pasta stalls alone are worth the journey!
The streets in the old town of Ventimiglia are adorable and not wide enough for cars. We enjoyed wandering up and down the steep passageways that seemed more like stairways than streets. The town definitely seems rustic and untouched, but that is part of the charm. I love seeing the laundry hang out on lines from people’s window, it reminds me of days gone by but is quite typical in much of Europe. Once we reached the high point of the village, we were treated to a lookout of the sea.
One quick stop away from Ventimiglia is the “frontière” town of Menton. I was struck by the way the Mediterranean laps up to the beautifully-colored buildings. Menton is the lemon capital of France! They host an annual Fête du Citron every February, which they were starting to set up when we were visiting in January. This town is known for all things lemon, especially lemon-based desserts and their Menton Limoncello. I had to pick up a bottle to enjoy from our porch later.
We didn’t have a lot of time to spend in Menton, but it was a town I had been drawn to when researching places to live on the Riviera. It has it’s own micro-climate due to the way it is nestled between hills and has a shallow broad bay. This protects the town from winds, and keeps the humidity down, making a perfect place to grow citrus (just like Arizona!). We will definitely be spending more time in Menton when time permits, especially with a beach that looks so inviting for a dip during a warmer season.
Next up, I’ll be talking about the incomparable Monte Carlo! It deserves a post all of its own. Until the next time!
