Central Western Europe French Republic France Provence-Alpes Cote d'Azur NIce Nice Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur Nice is the fifth most populous city in France. Located on the south east coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea, Nice is the second largest French city on the Mediterranean coast. The main railway station is Nice-Ville. The high speed TGV train connects Paris and Nice in less than 6 hours. Nice also has international connections to Italy. The city is nicknamed Nice la Belle (Nissa la Bella in Nicard), which means Nice the Beautiful. Nice is the capital city of the Alpes Maritimes department. For years, it was an Italian dominion, then became part of France in 1860. Culturally and architecturally enriched over time, today Nice has become a truly cosmopolitan tourist destination. The Russian Orthodox Cathedral, (Cathedrale Orthodoxe Russe Saint-Nicolas de Nice), built thanks to the generosity of Tsar Nicholas II, is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral outside Russia. Nice Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur august 2008 The city’s main seaside promenade, the Promenade des Anglais (‘the Walkway of the English’) owes its name to the earliest visitors to the resort. PIC: Me walking around NICE, august 2008. The spectacular natural beauty of the Nice area and its mild Mediterranean climate came to the attention of the English upper classes in the second half of the 18th century, when an increasing number of aristocratic families took to spending their winter there. For decades now, the picturesque Nicean surroundings have attracted not only those in search of relaxation, but also those seeking inspiration. The clear air and soft light has been of particular appeal to some of Western culture’s most outstanding painters, such as Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Niki de Saint Phalle and Arman. In 1388, the commune placed itself under the protection of the Counts of Savoy. Nice participated, directly or indirectly, in the history of Savoy until 1860. After the Treaty of Turin was signed in 1860 between the Sardinian king and Napoleon III, the county was again and definitively ceded to France as a territorial reward for French assistance in the Second Italian War of Independence against Austria, which saw Lombardy united with Piedmont-Sardinia. The cession was ratified by a regional referendum: over 25,000 electors out of a total of 30,700 were in favour of the attachment to France. Giuseppe Garibaldi, born in Nice, opposed the cession to France, arguing that the ballot was rigged by the French. The first houses in Nice were located on higher ground well away from the sea, and wealthy tourists visiting Nice in the 18th century did not come for the beach, but for the gentle winter weather. The areas close to the water were home to Nice's dockworkers and fishermen. The Place Massena is the main square of the city. The square was thus divided into two parts (North and South) in 1824. With the demolition of the Massena Casino in 1979, the Place Massena became more spacious and less dense and is now bordered by red ochre buildings of Italian architecture. Madonna's Sticky & Sweet tour Nice Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur august 2008 Madonna's Sticky & Sweet tour was described as a "rock driven dancetastic journey". It was divided into four acts: Pimp, where S&M was the main theme, Old School where Madonna's classic songs were performed while displaying work of deceased artist Keith Haring, Gypsy, a fusion of Romanian folk music and dance, with the performances ranging from melancholy to joyous, and Rave, where she performed eastern influences. The show ended with sing-along of the final song with the audience. Stade Charles Ehrmann, Madonna's Sticky & Sweet concert, Nice august 26, 2008.