This is the Fontaine du Soleil at Place Masséna, just a short walk from where we stayed in Vieux Nice. The main statue is the Greek god Apollo, which felt fitting for a city that enjoys so much sunshine.

One of the things that struck me most about Nice was the strong Italian influence—not only in its architecture, but in its food, too.

I wasn’t expecting it, especially since Cannes, just 19 miles away, feels distinctly French.

That Italian influence reflects Nice’s complex history: the city wasn’t officially ceded to France until 1860. Before that, it had longstanding ties to the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, which would later become part of Italy.

I loved discovering these layers of history while exploring Nice. It’s incredible to think of how many people have lived out their stories here and made it into the place it is today.

-LM

p.s. Here’s a little musical inspiration that captures the feeling of our days in Nice: