Culture & History

Due to its ancient belonging to the County of Savoy, Nice has kept a strong Italian identity, also represented by the most important community of the city. But Nice remains however a true cosmopolitan city, where many communities mix together: African, Asian, Russian or Nordic.

This diversity is also displayed by the architecture and the monument-ensemble as well as other places to visit. From Masséna to the Promenade des Anglais (thus named in the 18th century by the Brits who came here during their winter holidays), including Old Nice and its picturesque lanes, the uncovering persists. Also to visit: Castle Hill (la colline du Chateau), the Matisse Museum, the Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, Lascaris Palace (Palais Lascaris), the Cimiez Arenas (Les arènes de Cimiez), the Cours Saleya and its market, and the Nice Opera built by Charles Garnier.

Nice also has its heroes in the person of Catherine Ségurane, who is said to have made the Turk assailants flee as well as the French troops under the command of Francis I during the siege in 1543, and Giuseppe Garibaldi, born in Nice in 1807 and who later on would become one of figures of the Italian Risorgimento.

Culture is everywhere in Nice and its abundance doesn’t bother, quite the contrary.