A City Shaped by Centuries

Nice is one of the oldest cities in the western Mediterranean, with a history stretching back over 2,500 years. Its layered past — Greek, Roman, Savoyard, Italian, and French — has left an extraordinary cultural and architectural legacy that visitors can still experience today. Understanding Nice's history helps explain why this city feels unlike anywhere else in France.

Greek Origins: Nikaia

Around 350 BCE, Greek settlers from Massalia (modern Marseille) established a colony on the hills above the bay, naming it Nikaia — believed to honor Nike, the goddess of victory. The settlement thrived as a trading post along the Mediterranean coast. Today, the hill where the Greeks first settled is known as Castle Hill (Colline du Château), and it remains a defining landmark of the city skyline.

Roman Rule and the Rise of Cemenelum

Under Roman rule, the importance of Nice shifted slightly. The Romans developed a major administrative center called Cemenelum on a nearby hill — present-day Cimiez. At its height, Cemenelum housed several thousand inhabitants, complete with thermal baths, an amphitheater, and temples. You can walk among the remarkably well-preserved ruins today at the Cimiez Archaeological Site, adjacent to the Matisse Museum.

The Medieval Period and the House of Savoy

After centuries of shifting allegiances through the medieval period, Nice came under the protection of the House of Savoy in 1388 — a relationship that would last nearly 500 years. Under Savoyard rule, Nice developed its distinctive baroque architecture, deep religious traditions, and a bicultural French-Italian identity. The city was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia and far more closely tied to Turin and Genoa than to Paris during this era.

The Arrival of British Aristocracy

In the 18th and early 19th centuries, British aristocrats began wintering in Nice to escape the harsh northern climate. This influx of wealthy visitors transformed the city. The iconic Promenade des Anglais — literally "the English promenade" — was built in 1820 at the initiative of the English community and local clergy to give the growing winter population a place to stroll. The name endures as a testament to this formative period.

Annexation by France: 1860

The most significant turning point in modern Niçois history came in 1860, when the County of Nice was ceded to France by the Kingdom of Sardinia following a referendum, as part of a deal between Napoleon III and the Sardinian prime minister Cavour. Giuseppe Garibaldi, the great Italian nationalist hero, was born in Nice in 1807 — a fact that still fuels local debate about identity and belonging. Many Niçois identify with both French and Italian cultural roots, and this duality is woven into the city's language, food, and character.

The Belle Époque and the Birth of the Riviera

The late 19th and early 20th centuries brought the Belle Époque — a golden age of grand hotels, casinos, and opulent villas along the coast. European royalty, artists, and intellectuals flocked to the Côte d'Azur. Painters like Henri Matisse, who lived in Nice for much of his adult life, and Marc Chagall, who settled nearby, were drawn by the extraordinary quality of light. Their legacy lives on in two outstanding museums dedicated to their work.

Nice Today

Modern Nice is France's fifth-largest city and one of its most visited. Its identity remains proudly distinct — part French, part Italian, wholly Mediterranean. The Niçois dialect (a form of Occitan-Ligurian) is experiencing a cultural revival, and traditional festivals like the Carnival of Nice and the Fête de la Saint-Pierre keep local traditions alive. For the curious traveler, the history of Nice is not confined to museums — it lives in every baroque facade, every bowl of socca, and every sunset over the Baie des Anges.