EXTEND THE SUMMER IN ELEGANCE

Climbing the rigging, untying ropes, setting sails – today is all about sailing. Time to lean back and relax in the deck chair and watch the passionate crew hoisting the sails by hand.

He could, Napoléon Bonaparte once said, recognize his home island by the smell with his eyes closed. And indeed – as soon as the windjammer approaches Corsica, the sea breeze mixes with the spicy scent of the macchia, which covers the island like a green carpet. Sun, wind and sea have shaped the diverse island, where high peaks alternate with fertile valleys, rugged cliffs with gentle beaches. The port city of Bastia radiates a lot of Mediterranean flair. Its lively center is the square Saint-Nicolas, which – like the pretty old town at the harbor – can be easily reached on foot.

Some decisions are really not easy in Viareggio. On the one hand, the traditional seaside resort on the Liguarian Sea offers all the pleasures of an Italian vacation with small ice cream parlors, long sandy beaches and a promenade for strolling. On the other hand, there is charming Lucca, which is only about half an hour away. In Giacomo Puccinis birthplace, you can stroll along the city walls in the shade of old plane trees. And in the almost car-free center, an opulent panorama of Roman alleys, churches and domes, wide squares and proud palaces opens up.

Portofino has a prominent position on a peninsula on the Italian Riviera and, since the 1950s, has developed into an elegant marina. The "dolce vita" seems to have been born here. You can unwind in classy bars and cafés in front of beautifully restored facades, browse for treasures in the backstreets and observe the comings and goings on the port's promenade. At first glance, Portofino is a picturesque fishing village. However, you will soon notice that it is also a sophisticated retreat for exclusive megayachts, as well as a great hideaway for anyone who knows how to enjoy the charming and stylish traditional atmosphere.

Where Provence and Liguria make contact, Menton, with its lively, peaceful flair, basks in its reputation as the enchanting French City of Lemons. The charming town has every reason to be proud: With its pastel-colored facades and narrow old town lanes winding picturesquely up the hill, this is indeed a special gem on the Côte d'Azur. Tourists have been drawn to Menton since the 19th century, when it was mainly British and Russian aristocrats escaping from winter. The flora also loves Menton's extremely mild climate: A multitude of exotic plants thrives in the numerous well-kept gardens and parks.

In the 19th century, artists discovered this picturesque fishing village on the Côte d'Azur and made it their source of inspiration. They were followed by the aristocracy and moneyed classes, and around fifty years ago St. Tropez gained its international reputation as a refuge for the rich and famous. You can still find them today, in elegant Port Grimaud with its luxurious yachts from all over the world; in the upmarket bars and restaurants that line the promenade; on the elegant boulevards; in high class shops; or at the sophisticated beach clubs. Even with all these distinguished guests, St. Tropez has still managed to preserve its picturesque and sleepy atmosphere.

Nice lies in one of the world's most lavishly endowed natural landscapes. The sea glows azure and the mountains in the background rise picturesquely up into the sky. Castle Hill gives you a fantastic view over the rambling old town – a labyrinth of alleyways with Baroque churches, pastel-colored houses and red-tiled roofs. The Promenade des Anglais, a sophisticated, five-kilometer-(3 miles)long walkway along the magnificent Baie des Anges and its long beach, lies at the heart of the elegant new town, with its splendid palaces and aristocratic hotels in the Belle-Époque and Art Deco styles.