Grimaldi Trophy - San Remo to Monaco Regata 2013

Perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of visiting the Riviera is the proximity of so many wonderful and diverse places along the one strip of stunning coastline. From the rugged Esterel Mountain Range to the west of glamorous Cannes to the quaint villages of Villefranche and Eze to the east, visitors to the Côte d’Azur are spoilt for choice. One must also not forget that aside from the charming French side of the border, it is a very short trip over the border to be in the heart of the Italian Riviera region of Liguria. For those who make the short trip (just 15-20 minutes from Menton to Ventimiglia on the Italian side) over the border, some real delights await them.

The Grimaldi Trophy brings together one of the gems of the Ligurian region with perhaps the most famous city of the French Riviera, Monaco. The two cities are very different but both have a long tradition of sailing as well as both being centres of high society in Riviera terms with San Remo experiencing its hay-day in the first half of the 20th century, while Monte Carlo is still a hotspot for jetsetters, socialites and purveyors of good times and sunshine.

The race between these two great cities consists of 28 nautical miles of coastline and is organised by the yacht clubs of both San Remo and Monaco. It has become a symbol of the end of the summer sailing season, coming a few weeks after the end of the Monaco Yacht Festival which takes place towards the end of September.

October is a lovely time to visit the Riviera with mild temperatures remaining, but with far less crowds to manoeuvre than in the heights of summer. Riviera Rental Guide has a superb selection of properties to choose from which are ideally situated to enjoy every aspect of the race as well as any of the Riviera’s other wonderful social events. Be sure to use our search tool to find your perfect match.