Introduction and
history 

Citywalk and
cathedral

 Picasso museum

Antibes was the favourite Cote d'Azur city of Sidney Bechet. Walking through its small streets will remind you his "Dans les rues d'Antibes". 
But start your promenade along the avenue Amiral-de-Grasse, running along the ramparts , beginning at the BASTION ST.ANDRE, housing now an archaeological museum. Greek, Roman and Etruscan pottery and a large collection of amphora. This original Roman camp was built in the ruins of a Greek Acropolis, where the Chateau Grimaldi was built in the 12th century, now the home of the Picasso Museum. Anyway, the view from the ramparts on the coast is magnificent. At a certain moment make a right  and enter the old town.
Stroll in the old flowered small streets of Antibes. Obscure paths, freshly silent, lined with cute houses but often restored, here a fountain, there a shaded crossroad or a little square.
Returning to the Chateau Grimaldi you will notice the cathedral. Nice classic façade with the Maria Image in a niche. They square Romanesque bell tower is a converted 12th century watchtower and notice  he beautiful wooden sculpted door giving access to the interior with massive Roman arches on heavy pillars. In the back we see the stylish choir with gilded altars.  The big altarpiece “Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire” made in 1515 is magnificent. Around Maria you see painted scenes from her life and at its foot on the right a lying Christ figure from 1447 on a stone block.
Antibes is dominated by the imposing FORT CARRE, where Napoleon was imprisoned for a time.  It is a creation of the famous French military architect Vauban. It’s not open for visits but you can walk around and that walk will lead you along the  quite big yacht harbour called Port Vauban. True centre of Mediterranean yachting with it's inner harbour giving home to several hundred vessels. The outer port shelters some of the world's most prestigious yachts. The presence of these boats and their crew means of course that Antibes functions all year round. King Fahd of Arabia parks his fabulous "Abdul Aziz" here.
It's time now for a visit to the Picasso museum in the Chateau Grimaldi.

Bibliography

Mary Blume, "Cote d'Azur”, (Stephen Liegeard), Guide du Routard 1998-99, Patrick Howarth, “When the Riviera was ours” (Century, London 1977, Greek Settlements on the Mediterranean”, essay by J.Moss, “Antibes la belle “ , by Jean Centurion (ed. Nice publ. 1991)

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