Nice
Content
ice (/'ni?s/, French pronunciation: ?[nis]; Niçard Occitan: Niça [classical norm] or
Nissa [nonstandard], Italian: Nizza or Nizza Marittima, Greek: ???a?a, Latin: N
icaea) is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon a
nd Toulouse, and it is the capital of the Alpes Maritimes département. The urban a
rea of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of a
bout 1 million[1][2] on an area of 721 km2 (278 sq mi).[1] Located on the south
east coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea, Nice is the second-largest French
city on the Mediterranean coast and the second-largest city in the Provence-Alp
es-Côte d'Azur region after Marseille.
The city is called 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 disp
lays evidence of a very early use of fire. Around 350 BC, Greeks of Marseille fo
unded a permanent settlement and called it Nikaia, after Nike, the goddess of vi
ctory.[3] Through the ages, the town has changed hands many times. Its strategic
location and port significantly contributed to its maritime strength. For years
it was a dominion of Savoy, then became part of France between 1792 and 1815, w
hen it was returned to Piedmont-Sardinia until its reannexation by France in 186
0.
The natural beauty of the Nice area and its mild Mediterranean climate came to t
he 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 wint
er there. The city's main seaside promenade, the Promenade des Anglais ( the Walkw
ay of the English') owes its name to the earliest visitors to the resort.[4] For
decades now, the picturesque Nicean surroundings have attracted not only those
in search of relaxation, but also those seeking inspiration. The clear air and s
oft light has been of particular appeal to some of Western culture's most outsta
nding painters, such as Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Niki de Saint Phalle and Ar
man. Their work is commemorated in many of the city's museums, including Musée Mar
c Chagall, Musée Matisse and Musée des Beaux-Arts.[5] Nice has the second largest ho
tel capacity in the country[6] and it is one of its most visited cities, receivi
ng 4 million tourists every year.[7] It also has the third busiest airport in Fr
ance after the two main Parisian ones.[8] It is the historical capital city of t
he County of Nice (Comté de Nice).
Nissa [nonstandard], Italian: Nizza or Nizza Marittima, Greek: ???a?a, Latin: N
icaea) is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon a
nd Toulouse, and it is the capital of the Alpes Maritimes département. The urban a
rea of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of a
bout 1 million[1][2] on an area of 721 km2 (278 sq mi).[1] Located on the south
east coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea, Nice is the second-largest French
city on the Mediterranean coast and the second-largest city in the Provence-Alp
es-Côte d'Azur region after Marseille.
The city is called 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 disp
lays evidence of a very early use of fire. Around 350 BC, Greeks of Marseille fo
unded a permanent settlement and called it Nikaia, after Nike, the goddess of vi
ctory.[3] Through the ages, the town has changed hands many times. Its strategic
location and port significantly contributed to its maritime strength. For years
it was a dominion of Savoy, then became part of France between 1792 and 1815, w
hen it was returned to Piedmont-Sardinia until its reannexation by France in 186
0.
The natural beauty of the Nice area and its mild Mediterranean climate came to t
he 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 wint
er there. The city's main seaside promenade, the Promenade des Anglais ( the Walkw
ay of the English') owes its name to the earliest visitors to the resort.[4] For
decades now, the picturesque Nicean surroundings have attracted not only those
in search of relaxation, but also those seeking inspiration. The clear air and s
oft light has been of particular appeal to some of Western culture's most outsta
nding painters, such as Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Niki de Saint Phalle and Ar
man. Their work is commemorated in many of the city's museums, including Musée Mar
c Chagall, Musée Matisse and Musée des Beaux-Arts.[5] Nice has the second largest ho
tel capacity in the country[6] and it is one of its most visited cities, receivi
ng 4 million tourists every year.[7] It also has the third busiest airport in Fr
ance after the two main Parisian ones.[8] It is the historical capital city of t
he County of Nice (Comté de Nice).
