Villa Masséna
65 Rue de France, 06000 Nice, France
Once a winter home for Prince Victor d’Essling, this Belle Époque villa is an emblem of Niçois identity. Right on the touristy Promenade des Anglais, the Villa Masséna houses imperial artifacts—including Napoleon’s death mask and Empress Josephine’s diadem. But the building itself, with its gilded furnishings, grand oil paintings, and historical garden, is a testament to the bygone era.
Antibes
A view on a coast and Picasso Museum in Antibes, France on May 19th, 2024. (Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto/Getty Images
Musée Picasso
Place Mariejol, 06600 Antibes, France
Situated on the edge of Antibes’ old town, Musée Picasso was just a 10-minute drive from our hotel, Hôtel Juana, a Small Luxury Hotels of the World property (which, with its Mediterranean exterior and colorful, patterned interior, was a feast for the eyes all on its own). The museum is home to much of Picasso’s ceramic work—I was particularly charmed by a wall of plates—as well as paintings and sketches dedicated to Greek mythology. If you’re driving in, like us, enjoy the walk up to the museum: admire the cacti and sculptures that line the path, and out over the wall to see the yachts dotting the sea.
