Discovering Nice
Despite the Europe wide lack of pleasant weather this winter, spring is just around the corner and it’s time to (finally) think about holidays! That’s right, holidays in a gloriously sunny location with beautiful sandy beaches and a marvellous sea in the morning and elegant restaurants & bistros at night. Just the remedy to help us forget about the rain and the fog and the rain again.
Nice is a very popular tourist destination, for all ends of the age spectrum, blending that unique mix of sand, culture and entertainment that makes the perfect holiday. Start the day rising peacefully late, done a beautiful striped Rivera inspired bikini and head to one of the various pebbly beaches on its coast to enjoy the sun and the blue-green sea. Choose your hotel well and you may even have a private beach. Truly there is no better way to forget the stresses of city life than being pampered with all comforts such as waiter services, carpets, water sports and even onshore restaurants. Imagine, a beachfront dinner over looking the sea at sunset. Just divine! For the most fabulous hotels & resorts in Nice visit venere.com to check exact locations, available services as well as reviews submitted by other travelers.
After spending a few hours on the sunning yourself to golden perfection on the beach, take a walk along Promenade des Anglais, a long and wide boulevard that dates back to the 1800s, bustling with tourists, runners, walkers and cyclists and is lined by famous hotels and classic French cafés. For the early risers amongst us, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Flower Market that runs every morning six days a week on the Cours Selaya. Stand after stand of every type of beautiful flower you could imagine, it’s well worth a visit whether you’re purchasing blooms or simple taking a moment to slow down and smell the roses.
Just east of the Promenade des Anglais, there is Old Nice, the ancient part of the city, with its narrow beautiful streets littered with shops that sell rare items such as Provençal wares, wine, gourmet gifts and French clothing. While walking through the streets of Nice, don’t forget to try the delicious “socca”, a much loved snack in the South of France. Similar to a crêpe, Socca is made with chick pea flour, no egg or milk, is cooked in oven and it is stuffed with whatever delightful filling you desire.
For the art lovers out there, a trip to Nice isn’t complete without a visit to the Musée Matisse, a 17th century villa near the Hotel Regina where Matisse lived. The museum exhibits a significant number of Matisse’s paintings, drawings, engravings and sculptures as well as photographs from his own collections. As you might already know, the first known hominid settlements in Nice date back 400.000 years and the Musée de Paléontologie Humaine de Terra Amata with its archeological site contains evidence of the earliest use of fire and other interesting prehistoric artifacts.
When the night falls, it’s time for some fun, in a truly French manner. Nice is very active on the modern music scene and there countless venues to attend gigs and shows, like the Acropolis, at North of the Old City, or the Théâtre Lino Ventura, often chosen by the most famous performers from all around the world or by stars from the underground French rap scene. If you want to dance the night away, try the Odace, with its oriental allure or Le Smarties, with a retro touch that will take you back to the 1970s.
Just thinking about the sunshine has us reaching for our passports. Now please excuse us for a moment whilst we pack our bags and head for the sunshine!
By: Mary Johnson
Photo courtesy of: Promenade des Anglais by W. M. Connolley