Nice is a city in southern France located on the Mediterranean coast, between Marseille and Genoa. The city is a major tourist centre and a leading resort on the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur).
Nice's old city clusters against Colline du Chateau, a romantic cliff fortified centuries before Christ. Cars are forbidden on the old city's winding, cobblestone streets that are so narrow their rooftops crowd out the sky. Cafes occupy weathered 17th- and 18th- century buildings and outdoor markets crowd the old town's streets and Venetian-style squares.
Nice is a city of many public squares; Place Massena is the main city square, others include Place Garibaldi, Place Rossetti, Place du Palais and Cours Saleya. There are also museums of numerous types, a number of historical churches and the Nice Observatory.