The light washing over the buildings, the contrast of colours and the pull of the Mediterranean coast have long captured the hearts and inspired the works of artists since the beginning of the 19th century. Uncover some of the world’s greatest creative talents by following in the footsteps of Matisse, Picasso, Cocteau and Renoir on an exclusive tour tailored perfectly for you by Lightfoot Travel.

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DAY 1: Arrival in Nice – Private transfer to Hotel du Cap Eden Roc in Cap d’Antibes

Today you will arrive in Nice where you’ll be met at the airport and escorted to the exclusive Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. This elegant Napoleon III style building opened in 1889 and has been welcoming royalty, dignitaries and Hollywood stars for over 100 years.

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DAY 2: Antibes and Picasso Museum – Lunch at Plage Keller – Afternoon at Renoir’s former Home in Cagnes sur Mer

Welcome to Antibes, otherwise known as the city of Picasso who lived here in the summer of 1946, making the second floor of the magnificent Château Grimaldi his home. Here, he created a number of drawings, paintings and sculptures, which he donated to the city when he departed. Today, the chateau is known as the Picasso Museum and it houses 23 paintings and 44 drawings including The Joy of Life, Satyr, Fauna and Centaur with Trident, Still Life with the Owl and the Three Sea Urchins and The Goat.

Lunch is at Plage Keller on the private Joseph Keller beach, where guests of Lightfoot Travel are offered a special invitation. Recline in style with plush towels and sunshades, enjoying the sand beneath your toes and exceptional service.

The afternoon takes you to the old home of Renoir, the master of the Impressionist movement who lived in Cagnes sur Mer between 1896 – 1919, for the last 12 years of his life. Located in a beautiful estate planted with olive and citrus trees, the studios still contain his paintings, sculptures and furniture, and offer a fascinating snapshot into this much-loved artist’s life.

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DAY 3: St Paul de Vence – Maeght Foundation – Lunch at Chateau St Martin

Today you’ll wander the cobbled streets of this medieval hill town which are buzzing with artists and their work. You’ll then head to the Maeght Foundation, which presents one of Europe’s largest collections of paintings, sculptures and graphic works of the twentieth century by the likes of Joan Miró, Georges Braque, Alberto Giacometti, Marc Chagall and Eduardo Chillida. Nearby is the Chapelle du Rosaire, a unique building designed and constructed by a 77-year old Henri Matisse between 1948 – 1951 in honour of his nurse Monique Bourgeois.

Today’s lunch will be served at the prestigious Le Saint-Martin, a Michelin-starred restaurant renowned for its extraordinary hilltop setting with sweeping views of the Cote d’Azur.

The afternoon will be spent at your leisure.

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Day 4: Nice- Saint Jean Cap Ferrat

You’ll start your day with a leisurely stroll along the palm lined Promenade des Anglais. Afterwards you’ll visit the Chagall and Matisse museums. Musee Chagall is a beautifully serene place, bathed in a calm atmosphere and showcasing the artist’s works of religious and spiritual inspiration. Chagall himself also created the mosaic which overlooks the pond and the blue stained-glass windows that decorate the concert hall. Musee Matisse is one of the world’s largest collections of works by Henri Matisse and traces his evolution through to his final projects.

Afterwards, you’ll be escorted to the beautiful Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat, your home for the next two nights on the Peninsula of Saint Jean cap Ferrat.

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DAY 5: Villa Santo Sospir – Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and Eze Village

In 1950, Jean Cocteau was invited to Villa Santo Sospir by the owner, socialite Francine Weisweiller, to paint a drawing in her living room. Cocteau got carried away and painted the whole villa with madcap frescoes. Today you’ll visit this unique and fascinating property that is also known as “the tattooed villa”.

Continuing on your journey, you’ll visit Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a rose-coloured villa in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat that was built by Beatrice Rothschild, a very wealthy French socialite, between 1905 and 1912. Now a museum, this must-see mansion is filled with a vast collection of artworks, 18th century furniture and Sèvres and Vincennes porcelains.

Lunch will take place in the quaint medieval village of Eze which is a veritable village of artists, full of galleries, shops and restaurants. The botanical garden has a fabulous collection of cacti and succulents, and the sea view from the hilltop is considered one of the most beautiful in the world.

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Originally published in COLLECTION, 1 April 2018