If it’s Friday, it must be France …
Have you ever lived somewhere for quite a while and then had someone mention a very special place in that town, to which you respond, “Huh? Never heard of it!” And then you feel really quite … well … stupid … uninformed? That was my experience this summer when I first heard about Palais Lascaris in the heart of the vieille ville in Nice.
Not only that, but I realized I had walked right past it many times. I guess I was always so busy pointing my camera in other directions, I simply missed its rather austere exterior. I’ve since visited several times, often just to sit and absorb the atmosphere that exists almost four hundred years later.
I hope you will do the same the next time you visit Nice. I’ll take you there now, so you’ll know the way. On y va!
First, we’ll stop at the popular Place Rossetti. This small square is surrounded by the typical Italianesque, colourful architecture of the old town with the stunning baroque Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate front and centre. The scene demands you take photos … lots of photos! In fact, it’s hard to stop taking them!
With an atmosphere always full of vibrant conversation and energy … order an espresso, a beer, or an exotic fruit concoction … sit by the fountain and let yourself feel Niçoise … go on, do it!
… and then succumb to one (or two) of Fenocchio’s mind-boggling choices of ice cream and gelato. I must have taken the first photo very early in the day, because …
… this second one is a better example of how the crowd normally tends to be. But it’s worth it!
Amble up Rue Rossetti toward the Colline du Chateau and make a left at Rue Droite (hehe, small chuckle) to #15. I’m telling you the specific address so you don’t walk right by … as others, ahem, have been known to do.
Et voilà! Here we are! Begun in 1645 by an aristocratic Genoese family, restoration took place in the 1960’s. The second floor contains a collection of historical musical instruments. No photos are allowed there but the detail of the craftsmanship can bring tears to the eyes. Really! Don’t miss that exhibit before you explore the rest of this breathtaking little gem … hidden in plain sight.
There should be a slideshow of Palais Lascaris inserted here in my post. Sometimes it takes a minute to appear … thanks for your patience …
It’s amazing what surprises are out there for us to uncover. Once I recovered from my embarrassment at not knowing about Palais Lascaris, now I share it with everyone … and have been relieved to find a few as astounded to hear about it as I was. What hidden treasures have you discovered in your part of the world?
