 | Nice Things To Do | Tips 1 - 10 of 574 |  |
This art work is in a park in Nice. I kind of think it looks like a giant eye-lash!
There was some other interesting street art around the city, but this was my favourite.
I'm not sure what it represents. Perhaps someone can tell me!!??
**Thanks to a lovely VT friend of mine, I now know that this sculpture is called Arc de Venet, named after the sculptor Bernard Venet (from Nice)** Still not sure what it is all about though - apparently modern art doesn't have to have a meaning! Leave a Comment
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 | |  |  | Vieux Nice/Old Town: Take a wander through the lanes of Old Nice | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
Old Nice is a lively and bustling mass of winding lanes choc with little boutiques, patisieres, restaurants and snack bars, touristy nicknacks, everything within one compact area bounded by the Cours Saleya on one side and the Albert 1st Gardens on the other.
Wander the lanes and soak up the atmosphere, stop for a coffee or sample the traditional Nicois dishes at one of the many snackbars. The air is perfumed with the smell of provencal lavender sachets and scented soaps. Massed ceramic cicadas pump out their distintive mating call. Olive oil in traditional yellow and green pouring bottles. Postcards, posters, fridge magnets, souvenirs of Nice and the Riviera.
Most importantly, unlike some urban centres, Vieux Nice by day or night is entirely safe. You can wander out at night, relaxed and secure. Leave a Comment Address: Vieux Nice
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| | | | Vieux Nice/Old Town: Cathedrale Sainte-Reparate/ Place Rossetti | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Place Rosetti, one of old Nice's many charming squares, is home to the baroque cathedral Saint Réparate, built in honour of an early martyr who was made the patron saint of Nice.
In 250 AD Saint Réparate, at the age of only 15, was martyred by Roman Emperor Gaius Decius, whose specialty was persecuting Christians. This helped fill in otherwise tedious afternoons when there was not much on at the Colosseum. Decius promulgated a decree requiring sacrifices be made to the Gods - note the plural. Christians who refused - "Sorry Decius, I'm into this new one-God thing", were promptly given the chop.
According to Catholic legend, they first tried to burn Reparate alive, but fortuitously he was saved by torrential rain which put out the flames. They then made him drink scalding pitch. Once again, miraculously, he survived, though no doubt with heartburn. In desperation, Decius ordered him decapitated. (That's a sure-fire result Decius. "Ha! Get out of this one Christian!" Chop). His headless torso was put in a small boat and set to drift in the Mediterranean currents, in the manner of fellow martyr Torpes, who ended up in what became called after him Saint-Tropez.
Reparate's boat drifted to the niçois coast, was brought to the shore by angels, and his remains buried in a chapel of the old town. Centuries later these were moved into the new cathedral Sainte-Réparate in 1690.
In summer the square is filled with happy visitors on the alfresco tables of La Claire Fontaine, and the very wonderful Fennochio, maker of hundreds of flavours of ice cream. Few if any know of the dark deeds of Emperor Gaius Decius and the story of Sainte-Reparate, the patron saint of Nice.
But now you do. Leave a Comment Directions: Place Rosetti, Vieux Nice.
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| | | | Places/Towns on the Riviera: Once a year in Nice...(part 1) | Tip Rating: | | | | |
...we have a day out in St Paul de Vence
The routine is as follows. Catch the bus no. 400 (Vence par St Paul) from the Gare Routiere (the main bus station) on boulevard Jean Jaures in Nice.
The bus climbs slowly north of Cagnes and after about 30 minutes you can see the walled mediaeval village of St Paul to your left. You are decanted opposite the Moulin bistro just outside the village. Cross over to the bistro - this is where you will catch the bus back to Nice and it is a good idea to check the timetable so that you can plan your day.
The main reason I come to St Paul is not for the village, but for the modern art museum, The Fondation Maeght. Walk up the road to the left of the bistro, cross over the main road and turn left up a steep drive set in woodland to the museum. It is about 10 minutes walk uphill.
It is a few euros to enter and a bit more to take photos. The museum is light modern and airy and full of modern art and sculpture indoors and out. There are permanent pieces of art here such as the skinny Giacometti figures and the chunkier colourful Miros. One of my favourite pieces is a moving, clunking, metal water sculpture outside the tiny chapel.
The temporary exhibitions change every year. Over the last 3 years, there was a wonderful Nudes of the 20th Century exhibition which included work by Lucian Freud, currently exhibiting in the Wallace Collection in London; two years ago, a Henry Moore retrospective with many of his sketches and sculpture and last year there was a Russian Avant-Gardes exhibition, which included a few pieces by Chagall. This was my least favourite of the three but I look forward to whatever may be on show this year. The web site is out of date so I will have to wait and see what is advertised on the posters when I am in Nice.
The gift shop here has a nice selection of posters, postcards and arty gifts plus the exhibition guide, a weighty tomb and available in English.
Please go to Part 2... Leave a Comment Address: St Paul de VenceDirections: Bus 400 from Nice to the walled mediaeval village of St Paul de Vence, several miles north of CagnesWebsite: http://www.maeght.com/musee/index.html Other Contact: http://www.saintpaulweb.net/spw/
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| | | | Zone Pieton - watch or be watched | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Every evening from seven through till midnight the entire visitor population of Nice will thread their way through the Zone Pieton - the pedestrianised catwalk of Nice. No longer dressed down for the beach but dressed up for an evening out, couples, singles, families, extended families, everyone will be there.
A lot of restaurants congregate, naturally, including the magnificent Mr Cresci's pizza specials. If you want al fresco eating with atmosphere you can choose - here or the Cours Saleya. Either choice is right, though you won't necessarilly get the best value or the best cuisine. What you may get instead is an interesting conversation with other Nice visitors and travellers on the table either side of you..
Even if you are off elsewhere there is something irresistable about strolling through the Zone Pieton. the air buzzes with conversation and the smell of feu de bois ovens.
But the main treat is the neverending spectacle of people - sultry svelte Milanese, frumpy hausfrau's from Dussledorf, retiring but not shy Texans, pasty-faced Brits, giggling South East Asian foursomes, yes, every stereoytpe and prejudice is here to be indulged Leave a Comment Address: Place MassenaDirections: connects fromPlace Massena to Rue Halevy and the Promenade at arond the Casino Rhul/ Meridien Hotel
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