Nice Cimiez district
Nice Cimiez: the hill of Cimiez is a must-see in Nice for all those interested in history and even for others who are less interested in it. Visiting this area of the city is something to do absolutely, whatever the length of stay in Nice, whether it is only for a day or for several weeks. As long as you have not seen the Cimiez and its sights, you can say that we did not spend a "complete" holiday in Nice.
Today the district of Cimiez is very "residential". It is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the city. It is good to live there as it is excellent to walk there. Situated at an elevation, the place dominates the old town and from this second place, it is necessary to prepare for a 45-minute walk, uphill, before reaching the area in question (bus lines also provide the Neighborhood if you do not feel very "sporty").
Once at the Cimiez, we are breathless, not because of the climb we have just accomplished, but rather in view of the sumptuous and majestic buildings that we discover there. The different architectural styles of these buildings are eloquent examples of human creativity. Their realization is proof of the ingenuity of the architects of different periods and their majesty and their splendor testify to the wealth and power of their former owners.
Beyond this "modern" image,the Cimiez district is best known for its archaeological sites and its remains dating back to Roman times. These sites have survived two millennia marked by ecological catastrophes, wars, changes of sovereignty, modernization and urbanization projects and many other events that have occurred in Nice during the last 20 centuries. The presence of these remains makes the Cimiez symbol of Roman hegemony in Nice and throughout the region in the distant past.
The Roman baths, the site of Cemenelum with its cardo and decumanus are very popular tourist and archeological sites at the Cimiez. The cemenelum consists of the vestiges of an ancient Gallo-Roman city, the cardo and the decamanus were the main ways. Apart from these, the Cimiez arenas are certainly the most eloquent witnesses of the Roman period and are today one of the most visited places in Nice.