I’m a real Francophile and have stayed in more than one hundred towns, cities, villages and hamlets in France. Twenty-two of these have been in Provence, the shortest for one night, the longest for four months. Every time I plan a trip to Provence, the dilemma is where to choose… …

To me, Liguria splits in two at Genoa. West of which, along the coastal stretch known as the Riviera Ligure di Ponente (the coast of the setting sun), is easily accessible by day trip from Nice and more than familiar. Head east of Genoa, however, along the Riviera di Levante. …