Place Masséna
Nice's central square, with red-ochre Italianate buildings, a black-and-white chequerboard floor and the 'Dialogue' sculptures that change colour at night, linking the new town and the old town.
Place Masséna was built in the 19th century and is the heart of Nice. It is surrounded by Genoese-style arcades in red ochre, and its ground is paved with black-and-white checkerboard stone slabs. Above the square stand seven kneeling figures by the Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, titled 'Dialogue of Nice', representing the seven continents, which change colour at night. At the southern end is a fountain with a statue of Apollo. To the north lies Jean Médecin Avenue, the main shopping street. To the east, the square connects to the tree-lined Promenade du Paillon park and a mirror pool, where children love playing in the mist. Carnival in February and the Christmas market in December are both held here. Admission is free, and it is the natural starting point for exploring the old town and the seafront.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Vieux Nice / Cours Saleya
- Nice Cathedral (Sainte-Réparate)
- MAMAC Nice
- Castle Hill
- Marc Chagall National Museum
- Port Lympia
- St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral
- Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret