| Nice, capital of the Côte d'Azur, is a vibrant town with a distinct character. Belle époque hotels, such as the magnificent Negresco, line the seafront Promenade des Anglais, while the old town, a warren of narrow streets in warm Italianate ochre and pastel colours, is busy with cafés and restaurants, and a glorious morning flower market. Nice offers fine museums, including the Musée Masséna, a 19th-century mansion filled with paintings and folk art; the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, an ambitious modern marble and glass building housing a good collection of modern French artists; and the Musée National Marc Chagall, containing the largest collection of the artist's work. On the hills above Nice is Cimiez with Roman remains, including baths and an amphitheatre, and an exotic Russian cathedral. Here too is the Musée Matisse with a superb collection of drawings, paintings, and bronzes, celebrating the artist's long sojourn in Nice.
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