Opera de Nice (Nice Opera House), Nice

Opera de Nice (Nice Opera House), Nice

On a fine day in Nice summer strollers may have their serenity interrupted by cannon shot. This is the customary "mark the midday" cannon shot. It is also a cue for a semi-impromptu performance of live music in the forecourt of the Nice Opera House. As the echos of artillery fade from Castle Hill, a free mini half-hour concert restores the peace.

Nice Opera House is the esteemed venue for opera in Nice. Housed in a massive Baroque Revival edifice, it normally offers three kinds of entertainment besides the midday jam. Operas, ballets and classical music have graced its stages since 1776. Then it was called "made of wood".

Nice Opera House has had several incarnations since 1776. It was demolished and rebuilt (not using wood) by the City of Nice in 1828 and named "Theatre Municipal" in 1870. All went well until 1881. Then, during a performance of Lucia di Lammermoor, there was a gas explosion and it burned to the ground. The City chose to rebuild.

The Baroque Revival home of today was designed by Francois Aune. It resembles closely the Paris Opera House by Charles Garnier. The theatre may seem huge but it maintains an air of comfort and intimacy. It holds three levels of boxes and two more of galleries. Its congenial, welcoming atmosphere and dedicated tour guides promise a happy evening.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Nice. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Opera de Nice (Nice Opera House) on Map

Sight Name: Opera de Nice (Nice Opera House)
Sight Location: Nice, France (See walking tours in Nice)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Nice, France

Create Your Own Walk in Nice

Create Your Own Walk in Nice

Creating your own self-guided walk in Nice is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Churches Walking Tour

Historical Churches Walking Tour

Centuries of somewhat turbulent history have left imprint on the face of Old Nice, which until the 18th century represented the entire urban area. The abundance of historic and often colorful churches – about nine per square mile – ranging from the most opulent to the most obscure, each with its own quirks and story behind their stained glass, has made Old Nice part of a heritage preservation...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Nice Introduction Walking Tour

Nice Introduction Walking Tour

Nice – an iconic destination sprawled along the pebbly shore of the Baie des Anges in Southern France – has been the lure for the rich and famous for centuries, thanks to its temperate Mediterranean climate and picturesque seafront.

Founded by the Greeks of Marseille around 350 BC as a permanent settlement called Nikaia, after Nike – the goddess of victory, the town has changed hands...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Shopping Areas in Nice

Shopping Areas in Nice

Other than being just a fashionable French Riviera destination with lively streets, leisurely atmosphere, historical sites and beautiful architecture, Nice is also a true shopper’s paradise. With more than 7,000 shopping options scattered throughout its almost 72 sq km area, the city surely knows how to offer unique and varied goods to its trendy residents and similarly stylish travelers anxious...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles

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