Welcome to Nice the Beautiful - Guided Walking Tour Welcome to Nice - Guided Walking Tour

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ID: GYG566959-969549
Category:
Country: France

Duration: 02:30 hours


Description

Mighty mountains, sparkling sea, elegant promenade, fabulous beaches, delicious food, stunning architecture, history and art. If you search for such a gem, look no further – Nice has it all!
Our Welcome to Nice tour will start on Place Massena, the heart of the city, at the somewhat controversial Fontaine du Soleil depicting the Greek god Apollo. Walking through Esplanade Georges Pompidou towards the most iconic part of Nice, the famous Promenade des Anglais, we will pass the hyperrealistic facade paintings – Trompe L’Oeils (meaning “deceiving the eye”) as well as the “Neuf Lignes Obliques” (“Nine Diagonal Lines”) an artwork celebrating 150 years of Nice rejoining France. Reaching the promenade, we will be able to see what truly makes Nice. The palm trees, les galettes de la plage (flat stones on the beach), and of course, the famous “Azur Blue” chairs. Along the way, we will see the two architectural masterpieces: the legendary Negresco hotel as well as the Opera House. We will step into Vieux Nice, the old town, to discover among others the lively Cours Saleya, food and flower market, and learn about Nicoise cuisine and food culture, with a short break to discover some of the temptations it offers. At the majestic Palace of the Prefecture we will learn how this stunning edifice was first built in the 16th century as the winter palace for the ruling House of Savoy, a trend still strong among the rich, powerful and famous 5 centuries later. Making our way through Old Nice, we shall see the equally impressive Palace of Justice and hear about the infamous and fascinating “bank heist of the century” perpetrated by the criminally clever Albert Spaggiare and immortalised through the film “The Easy Way”. We will visit the historic centre of old Nice – place Rossetti and its nearly 1000-year-old Cathedral of Sainte Reparate. Making our way to Rue Droite, once the high street of mediaeval Nice, we will delve into the fascinating history of Nicois culture and local dialect as well as its transformation from slum to tourist icon. Passing the former apartment of the renowned painter Henri Matisse, we will reach Castle Hill to see one of the most breathtaking views on earth: a stunning combination of blue water beaches, luxurious yachts, palm trees, colourful Italian facades and snow covered Alps… and learn why there is no longer a castle on castle hill.

Book our tour and let yourself be enchanted by the beauty of Nice. Discover why this French town has a Greek name and feels very Italian and why people ranging from Queen Victoria, Fredrich Nietzsche, Henri Matisse, Sean Connery and even Elton John have decided to call it their home. After all, Nizza La Bella (Nice the Beautiful) is more than just the city’s motto. Come and experience it first-hand!

Highlights

  • Learn about the legendary Negresco hotel
  • See the Castle Hill (and it’s Waterfall) with a panoramic view of the city
  • Learn about the history of the blue chairs
  • Discover Les Trompes l’oeil – hyperrealistic facade paintings

Guiding languages

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This tour will take place rain or shine, but in case it rains or gets cold, we find cover.
We meet next to the Fontaine du Soleil at Place Massena - look for a yellow umbrella.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED

When should I book?

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.


Cancellations

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.