Nice has a distinctive Italian character, wandering the quaint cobblestone streets or strolling the famous Promenade des Anglais, visitors will be delighted by the beauty, culture, and ambience of Nice. The city boasts many museums, churches and ruins to keep any history buff happy for days. Nice has one of the hottest nightlife scenes in the Riviera.
PLACES TO VISIT
1.MUSEE MATISSE
The museum lies in a historic Genoese villa surrounded by splendid Italianate gardens.Mattise works of 68 paintings, 236 designs, 218 drawings and 56 scuplture (almost all) and the sketches for the decoration of the Chapel in Vence is on permanent exhibit. Temporary exhibits is also hosted as well as screenings of art films and conferences.
2.MONASTERE NOTRE-DAME-DE-CIMIEZ
The Crucifix altarpiece by Brea dating from 1475 can be seen inside the church. A marble cross dating from 1477 is standing outside the church in the square. Inside the museum in the monastery exhibits shows the life of the Franciscan monks in Nice from the 13th to the 18th century - it offers insight into the general spiritual and social work of the Franciscan order.
3.MUSEE D’ART MODERNE DE D’ART CONTEMPORAIN
The building has four towers faced in Carrara marble with a whimsical modern art installation adorning the courtyard. The collection represents a cross section of fine arts from the 1960s and 1970s, including new realists and pop art, American abstracts, minimalists, and the flux movement.
4.JARDIN ALBERT 1
The gardens extend north to the Place Masséna, which boasts the Fontaine du Soleil, a fountain featuring a statue of Apollo, the Greek Sun God. The Théâtre de Verdure surrounded by pine and palm trees is a pleasant open-air theater is during spring and summer featuring music concerts.
5.CASTLE HILL
Most of it has crumbled away, but visitors recommend climbing the nearly 300 feet of stairs to the top of the hill for the amazing view of Nice and the Baie des Anges. At the top you will find a playground and ample space for picnics. A lift can also take you up 74% of the way.
6.PALAIS LASCARIS
The historic Palais Lascaris was built in the 17th century and it is recommended stopping by the étage nobl for its 18th century ornamentations, as well as the 1738 pharmacy.
7.PORT LYMPIA
The massive war memorial for commemorates the 4000 Nicois who died in both world wars can be seen in the port. You can also see the beautiful Venetian coloured building – often overlooked by visitors.
8.OPERA DE NICE
The Opera house was built in 1885 and the grande dame hosts operas, ballets and orchestral concerts.
OTHER PLACES TO SEE
- Promanade des Anglais
- Chagall Museum
- Old TownCours Saleya
- Avenue Jean Medecin
- Place MassenaThe Cours Saleya
- St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral
- Parc du Mont Boron
- Fenocchio
- Promenade du Paillon
- Catjedrale Ste-Reparate
- Chapelle de la Misericorde
- Nice EtoileL’Observatoire de Nice
- Cinema Rialto
- French Riviera
- Parc Phoenix
- Terra Amata
- Monument aux Morts
- Petit Train de Nice
- Fort du Mont Alban
- Bibliotheque Louis Nucera
- Asian Arts Museum
The best way to get around in Nice is by bus, tram, bicycle, taxi or car rental.
The best time to visit Nice is in season between September and October, or from mid-March to April when you can take advantage of the Mediterranean.
