Tossing a Coin in the Trevi Fountain

The film Three Coins in the Fountain popularized the custom of throwing a coin into Rome's Trevi Fountain and thus ensuring your return to the Eternal City. The first time I tried my luck, the currency was the lira; more recently I used a euro coin. And now I've  planned another trip to Italy, so I'd say the ritual works.

The Trevi Fountain, Rome

Europe by Colour: Red

A photo blogging challenge called Capture the Colour has inspired me to create my own series of posts featuring my favourite travel photos in five colour categories: red, blue, green, yellow and white.

Today's post starts with the most vibrant of colours, red, and this lovely basket of ripe strawberries in a shop window in the town of Tournus in Burgundy.

MediEZEvales

Our visit to Eze Village on the scenic Côte d'Azur came with an unexpected bonus, a medieval festival called MediEZEvales. We'd taken a bus to the hilltop town in the morning, hoping to avoid the worst of the mid-day heat, but there were already signs of the coming attractions. The festival was scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.

MediEZEvales in Eze Village

Dan Brown's Inferno: The Art

Dan Brown's latest bestseller, Inferno, centres on the writings of 14th century Florentine poet Dante Alighieri. The Divine Comedy details the journey of the departed as they descend through the various levels of Hell, Purgatory and Heaven, and the images conjured by Dante influenced artists for centuries to follow.

Portrait of Dante, Botticelli
(WikiPaintings)

Eze: Perched Village of the Côte d'Azur

High above the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea, wedged between the scenic coastline and the rugged Alpes-Maritimes, Eze Village is one of the perched villages of the Côte d'Azur. The medieval town is referred to as Eze Village to differentiate it from the beach resort, Eze Bord de Mer, 400 metres below it on the coast.

Eze Village

Evening in Villefranche-sur-Mer

French Riviera towns such as Cannes and Monte Carlo are known for their glitz and glamour but an evening in the town of Villefranche-sur-Mer is delightfully laid-back. And as the sun begins to set and the air cools down, the visitor's thoughts ultimately turn to dinner.

Quai Amiral Courbet, Villefranche-sur-Mer