When you are exploring the mediaeval Old Town of Nice have a look at the wrought-iron grating above each door. Each grating is unique and varies in design from a simple fan of bars to much more elaborate affairs.
The purpose of the grating is to provide an open but secure inlet for cool air to be able to enter the house. In the summer, hot air rises and draws the cooler, damper air from the narrow shaded streets of the Old Town through the grating and up through the building helping to keep it cool. Judicious use of window shutters combined with internal courtyards helps to keep a continuous draught flowing through - a natural form of air-conditioning.
In the heat of summer, you might think that the last place you would want to be is in the busy, crowded Old Town but in fact, it can be quite refreshing due to the cool damp flowing air.
Some of the gratings and stone lintels above the doors are dated and it is fascinating spotting the different dates and designs. The dates vary between 15th and 20th century but the majority were made in the 17th century. In some of them you will see the initials
HIS - the first three letters of Jesus, in Greek. Other gratings and lintels have the owners' initials and Christian icons and inscriptions engraved in the stone or worked into the wrought-iron.
In my photo, the wrought-iron work is very simple and you can see clearly the initials
HIS engraved in the stone lintel with a cross in the middle. No date, sadly. I found this example of grating above a door on rue Jules Gilly, a road that is a short continuation of rue Droite, just south of Place du Jesus. The light seemed good for a picture.
Information from
'Strolling through Old Nice', a wonderful booklet, English version available in bookshops and Tabacs plus the airport Relay shops for about 8 euros. Informative and a lovely souvenir of the Old Town. It was this book that opened my eyes to the door gratings in the first place.
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on Apr 15, 2004
