Stunning Sea-View Apartment in Nice. |
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There are many things to see and do in and around Nice...
The Port
The Port is a five to ten-minute stroll from the apartment and is a beautiful place to visit. The houses and building that surround it are embellished with porticoes and colourful facades and the port itself is host to fishing boats, yachts and luxury cruise liners amongst others.
The Cours Saleya
The famous Cours Saleya (flower market) is located just a few steps away from the apartment building. It used to be the elegant promenade of Old Nice and is now lined with shops and restaurants. The flower and local produce market is held here daily with antiques on a Monday.
The Beaches
The beach is less than a one-minute walk from the apartment, at approximately 150m. The Baie des Anges covers a 5km stretch of coastline with many public beaches benefiting from close surveillance. There are an additional 15 private beaches, providing all manner of watersports.
Promenade des Anglais
This famous palm tree-lined seaside road is just a few minutes’ walk away and follows the harmonious curve of the Baie des Anges. Originally a footpath no more than 6 feet wide, it was widened by an Englishman, Reverend Lewis Way, at his expense in 1820 and the local population soon dubbed it ‘Chemin des Anglais’. In 1931, when it was given its final form with two roadways separated by a central reservation planted with palm trees, the ‘Prom’ was inaugurated by the Duke of Connaught, one of Queen Victoria’s sons.
Colline du Château (Castle Hill) – Quai des Etats-Unis
The site of the first town founded by the ancient Greeks, then the first mediaeval town, today’s Castle Hill (Colline du Château) has preserved only a few foundations and fragments of walls. However, this park and botanical garden offers unique vistas over Nice and it’s surroundings with a magnificent waterfall, remains of the former 11th-century Cathedral and walkways paved with colourful 20th-century mosaics. Access is by lift at the Cours Saleya or on foot along Rue Rosetti. Castle Hill and it’s waterfall can be clearly seen from the apartment’s living area window, with the waterfall beautifully illuminated during the evening.
Point of Interest – Midday Cannon
Every day at midday a cannon shot can be clearly heard. The purpose of this is supposedly to remind people that it is lunchtime!
The tradition was introduced by a visiting Englishman, Sir Thomas Coventy, who grew tired of irregular mealtimes. He offered to buy a cannon for the town so that a shot could be fired each day to remind people. The cannon has now been replaced with an explosive device but can be clearly heard around the Old Town.
Chapelle de l’Annonciation – Rue de la Poissonnerie
The chapel is directly opposite the apartment building and provides the fantastic view from the balcony and bedroom area.
It is known locally as the Chapelle Ste-Rita, for the patron saint of desperate causes canonized in 1900, and the interior is a lavish and sumptuous illustration of local Baroque decoration.
Adam & Eve House – Rue de la Poissonnerie
One of the few remaining examples of the decorated façades of Old Nice, this bas-relief dated 1584 shows Adam and Eve naked in the Garden of Eden, threatening each other with clubs.
Perpendicular to Cours Saleya, the façade of this house is famous for this mural.
Other places to visit...
The daily fish market is held in the mornings around the fountain in Place St-Francois. On the right-hand side of the Square is the classical façade of the former town hall.
The flea market held in Place Robilante between Tuesdays and Saturdays is well worth a visit.
The Vintimiglia market, just across the border in Italy, takes place on a Friday.
Gardens
There are many beautiful gardens and parks to visit in and around Nice, displaying a varied and vibrant mix of flora and fauna. In particular, the Jardin Albert 1er (left) is Nice’s oldest garden and is an oasis of greenery spanning over 2km from the seafront to the hills.
Museums
Nice, and particularly Old Nice, is home to several museums including the Matisse Museum, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Natural History Museum, Archaeological Museum, Museum of Asiatic Art and the Franciscan Museum to name but a few.
Palaces
Hidden in the heart of the Old Town, in Rue Droite, Palais Lascaris is a Genoese-style palace filled with fine antiques, Baroque art and 12th and 13th Century furniture. Palais Lascaris also operates tours of the Old Town, lasting approximately an hour and a half and costing just €3. Tours take place on Thursdays and Sundays at 3pm.
Nice Centre
A ten-minute walk will take you to the main shopping district in Nice with both high-street style department stores and more expensive boutiques such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton etc..
Skiing
There are many ski resorts within an easy distance of Nice. Auron and Valberg resorts are only a two-hour drive away. Find out about Isola 2000