Nice: Italian, English Or French?

Although Nice actually became part of France in 1860, it was foreign visitors, especially the English in the early 1800's, and later wealthy Americans, that made Nice a major tourism center and the dominant resort on the Mediterranean.

During the English Victorian period, hordes of English visitors vacationed in Nice in search of health cures and sunny spas. They created a strong English community there. It was in the 1820's that they built the Promenade des Anglais the main beachfront pedestrian and motorcar thoroughfare along with other vacationer amenities. Along with it, they also built some of the worlds most extravagant hotels. On this foundation, Nice became the Mediterranean resort destination of royalty and celebrities. Queen Victoria herself visited regularly in the late 1800s and it was outside the magnificent and unequalled Negresco hotel where actress Isadora Duncan was choked to death when her scarf became entangled in the wheels of her elegant Bugatti.

In the early 1900s sunbathing became popular along the Cote d Azur and expanded Nices dominance in the Meditarranean. Today, Nice attracts visitors from all over the world for these same reasons. Its beaches, the hearty influence of Provence, its art, its own unique cuisine of the sun and the moderate weather all combine to ensure its position as one of the regions most stylish vacation hotspots.

The citys restaurants, hotels and beaches are cause enough to engage any visitor. But Vieux Nice (Old Nice) also offers a wide variety of evening entertainment at its various bistros and nightclubs. A few sights not to be missed in Nice include the following:

The Cours Saleya: The famous outdoor market known for its produce and flowers. It operates during the day on Tuesday through Sunday but in the evenings morphs into an arts and crafts market. On Mondays, it is the local antique fair.

Musee Marc Chagall: Chagall, originally a Russian, died in nearby St. Paul de Vence. The museum houses his famed Biblical Messages works.

Musee Matisse: This fascinating museum includes the paintings, sculptures, drawings, paper cut-outs and engravings of Henri Matisse.

Musee des Beaux-Arts: The building that houses the art is as much a part of the exhibit as the various works of Cheret, Monet, Vuillard, and Rodin that are contained inside.

Lastly, part of the visitors attraction to Nice should also be its proximity to other communities along the Cote dAzur. Within 40 miles of Nice, one can also visit Monaco's Monte Carlo, Cannes, St. Tropez and Antibes.