Nice

This article is about the city in France. For the concept of being nice, see Kindness. For other
uses, see Nice (disambiguation).

Nice

Prefecture and commune

Port Lympia of Nice

Flag Coat of arms

Motto(s): Nicæa civitas fidelissima

(Latin: Nice, most faithful city)

Nice

Location within Provence-A.-C.d'A. region [show]

 Coordinates: 43°42′12″N 7°15′59″ECoordinates:
43°42′12″N 7°15′59″E

Country France

Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Department Alpes-Maritimes

Arrondissement Nice

Canton Nice-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8and 9

Intercommunality Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur

Government

• Mayor (2017–21) Christian Estrosi

Area1 71.92 km2 (27.77 sq mi)

Population (2014)2 343,895

• Rank 5th in France

• Density 4,800/km2 (12,000/sq mi)

• Urban (2013) 1,004,826

Time zone CET (UTC+1)

• Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)

INSEE/Postal code 06088 /

Website www.nice.fr

1
French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386
sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2
Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students
and military personnel) only counted once.

Nice (/niːs/, French pronunciation: [nis]; Niçard Occitan: Niça, classical norm, or Nissa,
nonstandard, pronounced [ˈnisa]; Italian: Nizza [ˈnittsa]; Greek: Νίκαια; Latin: Nicaea) is the fifth
most populous city in France and the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes département. The urban
area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of about 1
million[1][2] on an area of 721 km2 (278 sq mi).[1]Located in the French Riviera, on the south east
coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea, at the foot of the Alps, Nice is the second-largest
French city on the Mediterranean coast and the second-largest city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte
 d'Azur region after Marseille. Nice is about 13 kilometres (8 miles) from the principality
of Monaco, and its airport is a gateway to the principality as well.
The city is nicknamed Nice la Belle (Nissa La Bella in Niçard), which means Nice the Beautiful,
which is also the title of the unofficial anthem of Nice, written by Menica Rondelly in 1912.
The area of today's Nice contains Terra Amata, an archaeological site which displays evidence
of a very early use of fire. Around 350 BC, Greeks of Marseille founded a permanent settlement
and called it Nikaia, after Nike, the goddess of victory.[3] Through the ages, the town has changed
hands many times. Its strategic location and port significantly contributed to its maritime strength.
For centuries it was a dominion of Savoy, and was then part of France between 1792 and 1815,
when it was returned to Piedmont-Sardiniauntil its re-annexation by France in 1860.
The natural beauty of the Nice area and its mild Mediterranean climate came to the attention of
the English upper classes in the second half of the 18th century, when an increasing number of
aristocratic families took to spending their winters there. The city's main seaside promenade,
the Promenade des Anglais("Walkway of the English') owes its name to visitors to the
resort.[4] The clear air and soft light have particularly appealed to notable painters, such as Marc
Chagall, Henri Matisse, Niki de Saint Phalle and Arman. Their work is commemorated in many of
the city's museums, including Musée Marc Chagall, Musée Matisse and Musée des Beaux-
Arts.[5] Nice has the second largest hotel capacity in the country[6]and it is one of its most visited
cities, receiving 4 million tourists every year.[7] It also has the third busiest airport in France, after
the two main Parisian ones.[8] It is the historical capital city of the County of Nice(Comté de Nice).

Contents
[hide]

 1History
o 1.1Foundation
o 1.2Early development
o 1.3Defences
o 1.4Nice and Savoy
o 1.5French Nice
 2Administration
o 2.1Coat of arms
 3Geography
o 3.1Flora
o 3.2Climate
 4Economy and tourism
 5Transport
 6Sights
o 6.1Squares
 6.1.1Place Masséna
 6.1.2Place Garibaldi
 6.1.3Place Rossetti
 6.1.4Cours Saleya
 6.1.5Place du Palais
o 6.2Religious
o 6.3Sports and entertainment
 7Sport
 8Population
 9Observatory
 10Culture
 11Cuisine
 12Education
 13International relations
 o 13.1Twin towns – Sister cities
 14Notable people
 15See also
 16References
 17Further reading
 18External links

History[edit]
See also: Timeline of Nice

Foundation[edit]
Main article: Greeks in pre-Roman Gaul

Nice in the time of the Roman Empire.

The first known hominid settlements in the Nice area date back about 400,000 years;[9] the Terra
Amataarcheological site shows one of the earliest uses of fire, construction of houses, and flint
findings dated to around 230,000 years ago.[10] Nice (Nicaea) was probably founded around 350
BC by the Greeks of Massalia (Marseille), and was given the name of Nikaia (Νίκαια) in honour
of a victory over the neighbouring Ligurians; Nike (Νίκη) was the Greek goddess of victory. The
city soon became one of the busiest trading ports on the Ligurian coast; but it had an important
rival in the Roman town of Cemenelum[citation needed], which continued to exist as a separate city until
the time of the Lombard invasions. The ruins of Cemenelum are in Cimiez, now a district of Nice.
Early development[edit]
See also: Roman Catholic Diocese of Nice

The Tower of St François

In the 7th century, Nice joined the Genoese League formed by the towns of Liguria. In 729 the
city repulsed the Saracens; but in 859 and again in 880 the Saracens pillaged and burned it, and
for most of the 10th century remained masters of the surrounding country.
During the Middle Ages, Nice participated in the wars and history of Italy. As an ally of Pisa it was
the enemy of Genoa, and both the King of France and the Holy Roman Emperor endeavoured to
subjugate it; but in spite of this it maintained its municipal liberties. During the 13th and 14th
centuries the city fell more than once into the hands of the Counts of Provence, but it regained its
independence even though related to Genoa.

Duchy of Savoy (red) and other independent Italian states in 1494.

Defences[edit]
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The medieval city walls surrounded the Old Town. The landward side was protected by the
River Paillon, which was later covered over and is now the tram route towards the Acropolis.
The east side of the town was protected by fortifications on Castle Hill. Another river flowed into
the port on the east side of Castle Hill. Engravings suggest that the port area was also defended
by walls.
Under Monoprix in Place de Garibaldi are excavated remains of a well-defended city gate on the
main road from Turin.
Nice and Savoy[edit]
See also: Duchy of Savoy

Nice in 1624
Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia (blue) and other independent Italian states in 1843.

In 1388 the commune placed itself under the protection of the Counts of Savoy. Nice participated
– directly or indirectly – in the history of Savoy until 1860.[citation needed]
The maritime strength of Nice now rapidly increased until it was able to cope with the Barbary
pirates; the fortifications were largely extended and the roads to the city improved. In
1561 Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy abolished the use of Latin as an administrative
language and established the Italian language as the official language of government affairs in
Nice.
During the struggle between Francis I and Charles V great damage was caused by the passage
of the armies invading Provence; pestilence and famine raged in the city for several years. In
1538, in the nearby town of Villeneuve-Loubet, through the mediation of Pope Paul III, the two
monarchs concluded a ten years' truce.[11]
In 1543, Nice was attacked by the united Franco-Ottoman forces of Francis I and Barbarossa
Hayreddin Pasha, in the Siege of Nice; though the inhabitants repulsed the assault which
followed the terrible bombardment, they were ultimately compelled to surrender, and Barbarossa
was allowed to pillage the city and to carry off 2,500 captives. Pestilence appeared again in 1550
and 1580.[citation needed]
In 1600, Nice was briefly taken by the Duke of Guise. By opening the ports of the county to all
nations, and proclaiming full freedom of trade (1626), the commerce of the city was given great
stimulus, the noble families taking part in its mercantile enterprises.