This Villefranche shore trip visits both the Italian and French Rivieras in a single day. Your driver-guide takes you to a local Italian market where you can shop for food (cheese and wine) or clothes and leather goods, then to the medieval village of Dolceacqua and the seaside French town of Menton.
After meeting your driver-guide at the pier in Villefranche, you drive along the coast toward the Italian border. Your first stop is either Sanremo or Ventimiglia, depending on which town is hosting its market that day. Sanremo's market runs Tuesday and Saturday, and Ventimiglia hosts the larger Friday market. On these days you can shop for local fruits, vegetables, cheeses and meats, along with Italian leather goods and clothing, generally at a fraction of the cost you would find in stores.
Next you visit Dolceacqua, a medieval village just inside Italy near the French border. Claude Monet painted the village's humpback bridge in 1884, calling it a "jewel of lightness" after visiting with fellow Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The single-arch stone bridge dates to the 15th century and spans about 33 meters over the Nervia river, with the ruined Doria family castle rising above the rooftops behind it. You have free time here to explore the old lanes and have lunch (not included); the region is also known for Rossese di Dolceacqua, a red wine grown on the surrounding hillsides.
Finally, you drive back into France to the town of Menton, known as the City of Gardens and Beaches. The old town dates to the 13th century and is a maze of narrow streets winding down from the old castle to the sea. Menton is also famous for its Fete du Citron, a lemon festival held every February since 1934 that draws over 250,000 visitors with citrus-themed parades and displays, so be sure to sample a lemon treat while you are there.
At the end of this Villefranche day trip, you are brought back to the pier or your hotel.
Review Location- Villefranche 
