a coastal area between La Spezia in Italy and Cannes in France
"the Riviera contains some of Europe's most popular resorts"
Any coastal area popular with tourists.
"The sun-drenched Riviera attracted thousands of vacationers each summer season."
In plain English: A Riviera is a famous stretch of sunny coastline known for its beautiful beaches and resorts, most commonly referring to areas along the French or Italian Mediterranean Sea.
"We spent our vacation driving along the French Riviera to enjoy the sunny beaches and blue waters."
The coastal area of southern France and north-western Italy between Cannes and La Spezia
"The sun-drenched villas along the Riviera offered breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea."
The word riviera comes directly from the Italian term for a coastal region known as "the shore." It entered English through Old French, where it originally meant simply "shore" or "bank," before evolving to describe scenic seaside areas in southern France and Italy.