Nice

If Corsica is still wild and untamed, Nice, arguably the Queen city of the famed Cote D’Azur is brash, cosmopolitan and worldly. Based on archaeological finds, Nice’s original settlers were Greek seafarers who had debarked from Marseilles. They named the city Nikaia to commemorate a sea victory. The Greeks were rapidly followed by Roman settlers and subsequently by the Italians. The city became definitively French in 1860 when Napoleon signed the Treaty of Turin with the House of Savoy. Isn’t it any wonder that Nice today is home to a diverse and cosmopolitan crowd and continues to welcome visitors from all over the world?

There is much to see and do in this city. But for a limited visit, one of the first things to do is to get a glimpse of the glittering Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels) and I daresay one of the best ways to do this is to climb up the 92 meter high Parc du Chateau which offers an unparalleled glimpse of the coast. Afterwards a stroll along the Promenade des Anglais is de riguer. How else can you admire the splendid Belle Epoque houses the line the waterfront? To add a truly decadent touch to your visit, pop in the Hotel Negresco, that grande dame of Nice’s hotels. It houses priceless art on its walls which, I suppose justify the hotel’s steep steep prices.

Here is the Parc where you can get a great view of the Baie....

Nice has a number of great museums worth visiting, notably the Matisse and Chagall museums but easily my favorite place is Vieux Nice with its twisty warren of streets and their beautiful Mediterranean colored houses. I don’t know what it is, maybe it’s the quality of light falling on such colors that produce such pleasing luminosity to the eye that make it such a pleasure to just wander around without a specific destination in mind. The old town is a veritable labyrinth full of little hidden squares with restaurants and cafes serving all manner of Nicoise delicacies and specialities.

At the heart of the Old Town is the Cours Saleya with its famous Flower market and the Antique market that places every Monday. Here you can pick up all manner of collectibles, from linens to bric-a-brac to pieces of furniture. Both the sellers and visitors come from all over and there is a melange of different languages in the market. Its great way to plunge into Nice and its myriad charms!

The Cours Saleya at night....

This reminds me of the Christmas lanterns we have back in the Philippines...

Nice's antique market at the Cours Saleya...