For two days, on September 17 and 18, 2016, the city of Nice opens the doors to its heritage. On this occasion, sublime and historic places, usually closed to the public, will welcome curious visitors.
“Before becoming the town hall, this place was the Saint Roch hospital.” Locals and tourists hurry to discover this emblematic place of Nice, the City Hall. Behind its walls are rooms that are somewhat unexpected. Starting with the office of the President of the Métropole, Nice Côte d’Azur, Christian Estrosi.
This office, decorated with contemporary art paintings and a few photos or souvenirs carefully chosen by Christian Estrosi, belonged a few decades ago to the mythical figure: Jean Médecin. What makes this place so sumptuous is undoubtedly the trace left by the past. “We try to preserve and stay faithful to the original architecture, which dates back to 1930.” Rarely accessible and occupied by Christian Estrosi since he was Mayor, visitors take advantage of the opportunity, even if it means getting up on a Saturday morning.
Not far away, just after crossing the Chéret room, decorated with paintings by the painter Chéret and serving as a reception room today, is the office of the Mayor, Philippe Pradal.
A simple, modest office … but full of life through its decoration. On its freshly repainted white walls, there are also a few paintings, a library on which there are historical books of the city, and … Master Yoda and Darth Vader. Yes, Star Wars on the shelves of the Mayor’s office is strange. “These are gifts from my daughter,” he explains to his visitors, “she wanted the force to be with me, while reminding me of wisdom and the dark side.”
But that’s not all, because on the walls there is also a replica of the famous painting The Scream by Edvard Munch. The Mayor explains that he chose this painting, to not forget “those who suffer in silence to seek them out and help them.” A reality even more poignant “after July 14.” A painting quite representative of this vision because “it’s not necessarily the loudest who screams the loudest!” he explains.
Finally, near these three connected rooms, there is the Frescoes room. Inside, there are also some paintings of certain characters, known to the public, retracing the history of Nice. Garibaldi, Masséna, Napoleon III…
But as the town hall is in full reorganization, other rooms, notably the Council room, remain to be discovered very soon.
After the town hall, head to the Prefecture Palace, a place where visitors have loved to get lost. Located in the heart of Old Nice and also called the Palace of the Sardinian Kings, its architecture and gold decoration remind one of the Palace of Versailles. With its ceilings covered in 17th-century paintings and furniture from the period, it leaves visitors speechless and their eyes delighted.
Today, this is where major receptions and political meetings usually take place.
