|
 The
Victorian upper classes and aristocrats loved Nice in the
19th century, but it's solidly middle class today, and far
less glamorous and expensive than Cannes - the least
expensive of any resort. It's also the best excursion center
on the French Riviera, especially if you're dependent on
public transportation. For example, you can go to San Remo,
"the queen of the Italian Riviera," and return to Nice by
nightfall. From the Nice airport, the second largest in
France, you can travel by bus along the entire coast to
resorts like Juan-les-Pins and Cannes.
Nice is the
capital of the Riviera, the largest city between Genoa and
Marseille. It's also one of the most ancient, having been
founded by the Greeks, who called it "Nike," or Victory.
Because of its brilliant sunshine and relaxed living, it has
attracted artists and writers. Among them were Dumas,
Nietzsche, Apollinaire, Flaubert, Victor Hugo, George Sand,
Stendhal, Chateaubriand, and Mistral. Henri Matisse, who
made his home in Nice, said, "Though the light is intense,
it's also soft and tender." The city has, on the average,
300 days of sunshine a year. |
