The Top Things to Do and See in Vieux Nice
Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais and admire the Belle Époque architecture of Nice, a Mediterranean gem on the French Riviera. Famous faces like Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso have called its broad beaches and cobblestone streets home.
Nice’s Old Town (Vieux Nice) has a vibrancy to it that evokes a Matisse painting – from its 16th-century terracotta buildings and narrow alleyways to the palm trees backed by the azure Mediterranean Sea. The city’s colourful palette can be enjoyed in other ways, too, from exotic ice cream flavours to the radiant blooms of its famous markets. Grab your shades and try these top things to do in Vieux Nice.
1. Watch the world pass by at the Place du Palais de Justice
Market, Architectural Landmark
2. Smell the roses in Cours Saleya
Market
4. Buy a cone of Fenocchio ice cream
Ice Cream Parlour, Ice Cream
5. Explore Palais Lascaris
Museum
6. Admire Matisse's House
Art Gallery, Museum
One of of renowned French artist Henri Matisse’s former homes can still be found at No. 1 Place Charles Félix in Vieux Nice; however, it is the burnt crimson exterior walls, olive green shutters and golden terraces of the Matisse Museum that prove an aptly colourful home for the artist’s works. This 17th-century Genoese villa can be found in the hills of Cimiez, a 10-minute drive from Vieux Nice. Inside, you’ll find works spanning Matisse’s life, beginning from the artwork believed to be his first painting and up to the fragile but bold paper cutouts he created in his final years.
7. Admire Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate
Cathedral
8. Visit the Nice Opera House
Opera House
9. Promenade des Anglais
Architectural Landmark
10. Place Massena
Market
Alex Locker contributed additional reporting to this article.
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