The largest resort on the Mediterranean coast and the fifth biggest city in France, Nice was founded by the Greeks and colonized by the Romans. Its temperate winter climate and verdant subtropical vegetation have long attracted visitors. Until World War II it was favoured by aristocrats, including Tsar Nicholas I's widow who visited in 1856 and Queen Victoria who stayed in 1895. This glittering past has contributed to Nice becoming capital of the Cote d'Azur. Nice has great museums, good beaches and an atmospheric street life. Best of all is Carnival, 12 days of celebrations finishing on Shrove Tuesday in a fireworks display. Exploring Nice The Promenade des Anglais, running right along the sea front, was built in the 1830s. Today it is a 5km highway (3 miles) with galleries, shops and grand hotels reflecting Nice's prosperity. Nice was Italian until 1860, and the pastel facades and balconies of the Old Town have a distinctly Italian feel. It lies at the foot of a hill still known as the Chateau for the castle which once stood there. The district is fast being restored and its tall, narrow buildings now house artists and galleries, boutiques and restaurants. The daily flower and vegetable market in the cours Saleya is a visual treat and a delight for shoppers. The Cimiez district, on the hills overlooking the town, is the fashionable quarter of Nice. The old monastery of Notre-Dame-de-Cimiez is well worth a visit. Lower down on the hillside are the remains of an extensive Roman settlement with vestiges of the great baths and an amphitheatre. Artifacts from the excavations are on show at the archaeological museum, next door to the Musee Matisse. LINKS