We spent today in Nice. It started out cloudy and rainy, but cleared up mid-afternoon.

Nice is the 7th largest urban area in France. It is 8 miles from Monaco and 19 miles from the Italian border. There is archaeological evidence of people living here as far back as 300,000 years ago. The Greeks had a permanent settlement here called Nikaia, dedicated to the goddess Nike, which may have evolved over centuries to today’s Nice. Due to it’s strategic location and port, the city changed hands multiple times and was not permanently a part of France until 1860.

Despite the rain, we walked around town. We started out at the local flower market: Marché aux fleurs. This is a street market that has been ongoing in Nice since 1897. They sell flowers, produce and other items.

We stepped in this little church: The Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity and the Holy Shroud. This was built between 1657-1660. It is to commemorate the time that the Shroud of Turin spent in the Castle of Nice from 1537-1543 before being taken to Turin. The chapel is maintained by an order called the Red Penitents.

Nice Cathedral (Cathedral of Saint Reparata) 

This cathedral was built from 1650-1685 with additions through 1900. The original church on this site dates back to 1049.

Statue in the Place Masséna (a major square in Nice). I do not know why he has horses on his head.

Matisse rented a flat in this building from 1921-1938. He generally spent half of the year in Nice. He initially lived on the 4th floor, but later moved to the 5th floor. He did have another residence in Nice.

old town street

I had to go in a cheese shop.

The Nice Opera has been at this site since 1776. The original building was bought by King Chales Félix, demolished, and rebuilt in the 1820s. In the 1860s, Johan Strauss conducted the orchestra here for Napoleon III. In 1881, there was a tragic fire destroying the building and killing multiple opera singers. The city had the the opera rebuilt on the same site. This is an active opera with musical and ballet performances. 

View of Castle Hill: there used to be fortifications there from the 11th to 18th centuries. It is currently a park.

Ferry coming back from Corsica and Sardinia.

View down the Promenade des Anglais boardwalk.