Holiday Villas in Nice

Nice

Nice is the capital of the Cote d’Azur and the Aples-Maritimes department of Provence in the South of France. The largest resort on the Mediterranean coast and the fifth biggest city in France, with the third busiest airport, Nice serves as the major arrival point for visitors to the French Riviera and the Principality of Monaco by way of a regular helicopter shuttle service. Nice is a bustling town full of culture and leisure pursuits.

The History

Nice was founded by the Greeks and colonised by the Romans. It was part of Italy (who called it Nizza) until 1860, evident by the beautiful Italianate architecture of the old quarter, when it then became part of France. In the 19^th century it became a chic winter resort, favoured by aristocrats, including Tsar Nicholas I’s widow and Queen Victoria who stayed in 1895.

The Attractions

Nice is dominated by the promenade des Anglais, which runs for 5 miles along the sea-front, with many splendid belle-epoque buildings, galleries, shops and magnificent hotels like the Negresco, which makes it an ideal spot for promenading while taking in the activity on the stony beach and magnificent sea view. The Paillon, a promenade which divides the new town from Vieux Nice, the Italianate jumble of the old quarter with its small shops, cafes and baroque churches. The flower market in the old quarter on Cours Saleya is a must. The Cimiez district, on the hills overlooking the town, is the fashionable quarter of Nice and the centre of the Roman settlement where you can explore a small oval amphitheatre and a museum of excavated remains. One of the highlights of the year is the Nice Carnival held in February over two weeks, it is now one of the largest Carnivals in the world.

The Food

As you can image the food of Nice is dominated by fresh fish and vegetables simply cooked and prepared. The Olive and rich green olive oil are essential ingredients used in many dishes. Traditional Nicoise foods have a heavy Italian influence, which when combined with the local produce give a mix of unique flavours only available in this region. A visit to Nice is not complete without sampling some of the classic Nicoise dishes including: Socca, a thin, crusty chickpea street food pancake; Pissaladiere, a thin tart topped with onion, anchovies and olives; La Daube Nicoise, a hearty meal of slow cooked meats with red wine, onion, carrots and herbs; and of course, the classic Salade Nicoise, which has many imitations but only one town to grab the authentic version!

The Climate

Its temperate winter climate and verdant sub-tropical vegetation have long attracted visitors all year round. Summers are hot, dry and sunny with August being the hottest month with a high average of 27 degrees C. Rain is rare during the summer. Winters usually consist of mild days and cool nights with January being the coolest month with an average low of 5 degrees C. Winters have variable weather and some rain.

Ask our specialist team about booking holiday villas in Nice as all visitors are guaranteed a first-class experience with their friends or families due to the quality and fantastic location of the villas listed on our site.