An Artist’s Journey in Nice : Guest Blog

Today’s guest blog is from Erick Sabelskjold, the Managing Director of a Nice-based fine art agency, Sabelskjold Art Agency.   I would like to thank and acknowledge Erick’s input in writing this blog article and sharing some of his favorite places to enjoy art in Nice and the surrounds.  Enjoy!

Art in Nice and surrounds

I have the fantastic fortune to live in Nice, France, the heart of the French Riviera.  Every day here feels like you are transported to years gone by when Sophia Loren would grace the promenade with her beauty and elegance. Nice is a magical city filled with excitement, beauty and romance.

There is so much more to Nice then the nightlife, trendy cafes, and incredible cuisine.

For those of you that have visited Nice before you know the city is bathed in stunning captivating art. This art in not just in galleries, the city itself is a work of art.  From Promenade des Anglais to the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, there are new discoveries waiting around every turn.  It is difficult to narrow down the best places to see art in Nice so I will go with my personal favorites.

My favorite part of Nice hands down is Old Town.  The walking streets of Old Town (Vieux Nice) slows the pace of the city and as you make your way through the butchers and leather makers that have been here for generations you become captivated by the character and beauty of the city.

The streets of Old Town are lined with talented, passionate painters and sculptors. There are several art tours available in Nice but believe me discovering these hidden gems is much more exciting on your own. Rue Droite is an excellent place to start your adventure through old town walking streets.  Here, you will find many internationally collected artists.

One of the most interesting Old Town locations to see art in Nice is Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate.  The captivating murals painted inside the church are just the beginning.  The church also has 3 organs and an altar with the remains of the martyred St Reparata. The story of St Reparata found within the church is fascinating; and then to see the altar of her remains in such a picturesque church is moving.

No trip to Old Town Nice would be complete without a breathtaking view from Tower Bellanda.  You can either take the stairs to the the top of the tower or pay a small fee for the elevator. Looking out over the turquoise water of the Mediterranean Sea, you can understand why for centuries artists have been inspired and motivated to create art in Nice.

There is no shortage of Museums in the city of Nice and surrounding areas, from public to private and even the homes of famous artists that lived in the area. At the top of my museum list is the Picasso Museum in Antibes, just a short train ride away.  The museum is set in an old castle fort right on the sea with views looking out over the yacht marina to the snow capped Alps.

The museum houses an amazing collection of Picasso’s work while he lived in Antibes including paintings, sculptures and intimate photos of him working in his studio. There are also several other famous artists in the Museum like Nicolas de Stael. The museum has a patio that looks directly over the sea with interesting sculptures.

You don’t have to be an art aficionado to enjoy all the art that Nice has to offer.  Awe-inspiring art surrounds you everywhere you go in this beautiful city.  From the cafe lined streets, to the museums and art studios, there is art in Nice for everyone to be moved and fascinated by.  In the heart of the French Riviera, I know you will find something beautiful that will touch your soul.

Sabelskjold Art Agency, located in Nice and South Florida, specializes in art collecting experiences and helping clients create the perfect custom piece of art for their space. We also partner with interior designers sourcing the perfect piece of art to complete their project.  Sabelskjold Art Agency is client forward focused and provides unmatched client experiences and services.

http://sabelskjoldartagency.com/

Eat and drink – ANTIBES

Sometimes all you want when you are hungry is to find an old favourite – a restaurant where you can order your favourite dish and know that the quality will be consistently good and the service great.   For me, one of those restaurants is La Cave Provençale at 7 rue Aubernon.  You could easily walk by La Cave Provençale and not blink an eye; there is nothing outstanding about the façade or decor, and the location is on a busy through-road which does not allow for meandering strolling.  However, what brings me back to La Cave Provençale is my ‘favourite dish’ the ‘Gourmand’ salad – a delicious, fresh mix of rocket, coppa, jambon cru, roquefort, roasted pinenuts, olives and mini toasts with lightly melted chevre cheese, mmmmm!  The salad is a decent-sized portion, tastes fresh and is priced well for Antibes.  Service is friendly and prompt even when tables are full.  When I visited last week on a hot day (with friends and two children under 18 months of age) the waiter bought chilled water for the children, and put out the sun awning to avoid sunburn for the children.  The menu offers burgers, salads, pastas and the like.  Downside is there is no high chair for families to use. The toilet is accessible for those with reduced mobility.

Sightseeing – ANTIBES

I have friends visiting here from Sweden and as the sun is shining we have many options for sightseeing due to good weather but unfortunately the car battery has died overnight!   Two families navigating busy streets with 2 baby strollers means that planning and easy accessibility for restaurants at meal times and toilet breaks is crucial.

We decide on an afternoon stroll from Juan les Pins to Antibes walking up the small hill on Chemin des Sables and over to Salis beach.  There is a children’s playground near the boules court, and many park benches to admire the view of sailing boats.  Beside the boules court is a public toilet (accessible) with coin donation to the attendant.

Afterwards, we follow the path along the Antibes remperts which is wheel-accessible, though busy due to tourists enjoying the sunshine.  The path snakes along the old Roman wall with views across to the Baie des Anges, Nice and Monaco in the distance.  We stop beside the Picasso Museum to take in the views, before pausing to take photos of Plage Gravette.

Continuing walking down the hill toward the port we pause at Félix Café near the arched entrance to the port (50 Boulevard Aguillon) for a pizza lunch, the waiter is friendly and charming and the ‘Felix’ pizza delicious.  A high chair was available, and there is ample room for a stroller (or wheelchair) to access the toilet facilities.

We cross the road and have trouble choosing which gelato to tickle our tastebuds – my final selection of mango and passionfruit is mouth-watering – and we finish our leisurely stroll along the Antibes port admiring the superyachts on the International Quay.