Nice Old Town — Vieux Nice

Welcome to the beating heart of Nice! You are standing in Vieux Nice, the historic Old Town that locals affectionately call Babazouk. As you look around, you will notice that this is not the grand, wide boulevard style of Paris.^[1] Instead, it is a dense, cooling labyrinth of narrow alleys designed centuries ago to trap the Mediterranean breeze and shield residents from the scorching summer sun. The air here smells of sea salt, roasting chickpeas, and blooming jasmine. This is the oldest part of the city, nestled between the deep blue Mediterranean Sea and the towering ruins of Castle Hill to the east. As we walk together, I want you to look upward; notice the laundry fluttering from wooden shutters and the vibrant ochre, terracotta, and Sardinian red facades that make this district feel more like an Italian village than a French city. You are currently at the crossroads of centuries of history, where Greek foundations met Roman trade and the sophisticated influence of the House of Savoy.