The 19th-century Villa Les Palmiers, also known as the Palais du Marbre, is the highlight of West Nice. As I outline in Nice Uncovered, the history of this magnificent palace is fascinating. In its golden age, the palace once welcomed Napoleon III and his wife. The palace garden (above) is a haven of peace with classical sculpture, shady lanes and reflecting pools.
The interior of the residence is now devoted to the Municipale Archives and is normally closed to the public but on the recent Heritage Days weekend, all the downstairs rooms were opened to visitors. Even though I had spent some time in the Archives reading room researching my book, all the other rooms remained off-limits. I was amazed at what lay beyond my reading room! The wrought iron staircase, frescoes, multicolored marble and woodwork were outstanding.
And check out the old elevator!
So the garden is always open and now you can take a free guided tour of the interior two Fridays a month through February. See the schedule here. You will need to call and reserve at 04 93 86 77 44. It’s worth it!
