Marché Provençal

The market in the old town of Antibes is a Provencal delight (excuse the pun). The stalls are stacked with goodies from the south of France—honey, olives, lavender, wine, preserves, mustard and brightly coloured spices. The proximity of the location to the Italian border also means there are a wide range of Italian cheeses alongside the seafood straight from the Mediterranean and meat from local farms. But above all else, it is olive oil (and all the products that go with it) that pumps through the veins of this centuries-old market. The inside of the building is lined with bars and cafés where regulars ceremoniously sip the speciality aperitifs of the south, such as Pastis and Anis. For the more daring, there is an absinthe bar in the basement of one of the olive oil shops, where the owners would be happy to let you try their assortments of the alcohol, which has only recently been re-legalised in France. For a less recreational and more educational visit seek out the Roman well in the basement of one of the honey shops, which would of course be a greater challenge if you decided to sample the absinthe first.