Open Skies Style

ST TROPEZ Discover the glamour of Southern France this summer in St Tropez.

Situated in a shielded gulf of the French Riviera, the tiny idyllic village of Saint Tropez lived secluded from the outer world in an enchanted, unalterable state since its ancient foundation in 69 AD. Enclosed in a provencal bucolic scenario, the small town has been always the home of humble fisherman and artisans, sharing the privilege of inhabiting this charming area, reminiscent of the Arcadia narrated by Virgil and the ancients. Coloured birds and cicadas sing joyfully, flying across olive trees and maritime pines, as if they were inspired by the overwhelming scent of mimosas, lavender and thyme, and the impressionist pink light of the sun reflected by the turquoise waters of the sea at sunset seems to materialise the famous verses of Edith Piaf’s La Vie en Rose. Having already attracted the creative minds of well-known artist such as Guy de Maupassant, Colette and Picasso, this gem of the Cote d’Azur gained its unique universal status of celebrities’ favourite summer retreat only after French director Roger Vadim decided to elect the (at the time) wild and pure beach of Pampelonne, located just a few steps from the village, as set for his generational movie And God Created Woman in 1955. The enormous success of this iconic movie is intrinsically connected to the fame of Saint Tropez as it is also to the star of the film and at the time wife of the director, French diva Brigitte Bardot, who has subsequently become not only a resident but especially a symbol for the town and its signature vibe and mood.

The 1960s definitely represented the golden era for the gulf, which attracted not only Hollywood stars and Nouvelle Vague cineastes but also high-society playboys, socialites, rockstars as well as royalties and wealthy businessmen who brought every kind of luscious vice and caprice to the rural hamlet, and overwhelmed its roads and seas with fancy cars and gigantic yachts.

Although the times of ultimate glamour and uninhibited libertinism are longtime gone, Saint Tropez keeps drawing crowds of rich and famous to his sunny peaceful shores, that with time started hosting luxurious and exclusive beach clubs. Also the picturesque streets of the town, once empty, are now decorated from the windows of fancy luxury boutiques and restaurants, famous for fulfilling the demanding needs and desires of its numerous visitors. Through the precious hints of Mariapia Bernardis, owner of Point. Showroom in Milan and adoptive resident of Saint Tropez’s warm summers, we’ll reveal the most authentic and chicest spots to truly enjoy the magic and the Joie de Vivre of this wonderful place.