Port guide: Nice, France
The French Riviera has more glamorous towns, but if you want two millennia of history, a down-to-earth attitude and great art museums, this is the one to visit.
Who goes there
Only smaller ships dock at Nice, but that still leaves plenty of premium and luxury options with companies such as Azamara, Ponant, Scenic, Silversea, the new boutique Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and many more. Some sail itineraries that concentrate on the French and Italian Rivieras, others are on wider western Mediterranean cruises that might originate in Barcelona or Rome.
Sail on in
The sweeping peacock-blue Baie des Anges (the appropriately named Bay of Angels), backed by purple Provencal hills and fringed by plump beaches, creates a fine setting for this city, so get out on the deck for the arrival. A rocky outcrop, topped by a ruined castle and pine trees, is where the ancient Greeks founded the settlement in 350 BCE.
Berth rites
You'll dock at Quai du Commerce in Limpia port district to the east of the city. You'll find tourist information, currency exchange and (sometimes) a complimentary shuttle service into town, as well as a string of waterfront bistros and bars. Otherwise, it's a 30-minute walk around the harbour, or you can hop on a tram into the city centre. If you arrive on a big ship, you'll anchor at Villefranche-sur-Mer, from which you'll be tendered ashore. It's a 20-minute drive into Nice.
Going ashore
Set off around the harbour and over the little hill to the main bay and you won't be disappointed with the lovely views. Then cut into the Italianate, pastel-coloured old town, stopping first at Cours Saleya for its daily flower market except on Mondays when antiques and bric-a-brac take over. Between old and new town is fountain-splashed Place Massena flanked by pleasant gardens. Sashay onwards and you're on upmarket shopping street Rue Paradis. The long Avenue Jean Médecin leads you to department stores.
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Sydney Morning Herald
15 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
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The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Italy's Mount Etna erupts in a fiery show of smoke and ash miles high
Sicily's Mount Etna put on a fiery show Monday, sending a cloud of smoke and ash several kilometres into the air, but officials said the activity posed no danger to the population. The level of alert due to the volcanic activity was raised at the Catania airport, but no immediate interruptions were reported. An official update declared the ash cloud emission had ended by the afternoon. Italy's INGV National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the spectacle on Europe's most active volcano was caused when part of the southeast crater collapsed, resulting in hot lava flows. It was the 14th eruptive phase in recent months. The area of danger was confined to the summit of Etna, which was closed to tourists as a precaution, according to Stefano Branca, an INGV official in Catania. Sicily's president, Renato Schifani, said lava flows emitted in the eruption had not passed the natural containment area, "and posed no danger to the population." The event was captured in videos and photos that went viral on social media. Tremors from the eruption were widely felt in the towns and villages on Mount Etna's flanks, Italian media reported. Video showed tourists running along a path on the flank of the vast volcano with smoke billowing some distance in the background. Excursions are popular on Etna, which is some 3,300 metres high, with a surface area of some 1,200 square kilometres. AP in Milan Sicily's Mount Etna put on a fiery show Monday, sending a cloud of smoke and ash several kilometres into the air, but officials said the activity posed no danger to the population. The level of alert due to the volcanic activity was raised at the Catania airport, but no immediate interruptions were reported. An official update declared the ash cloud emission had ended by the afternoon. Italy's INGV National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the spectacle on Europe's most active volcano was caused when part of the southeast crater collapsed, resulting in hot lava flows. It was the 14th eruptive phase in recent months. The area of danger was confined to the summit of Etna, which was closed to tourists as a precaution, according to Stefano Branca, an INGV official in Catania. Sicily's president, Renato Schifani, said lava flows emitted in the eruption had not passed the natural containment area, "and posed no danger to the population." The event was captured in videos and photos that went viral on social media. Tremors from the eruption were widely felt in the towns and villages on Mount Etna's flanks, Italian media reported. Video showed tourists running along a path on the flank of the vast volcano with smoke billowing some distance in the background. Excursions are popular on Etna, which is some 3,300 metres high, with a surface area of some 1,200 square kilometres. AP in Milan Sicily's Mount Etna put on a fiery show Monday, sending a cloud of smoke and ash several kilometres into the air, but officials said the activity posed no danger to the population. The level of alert due to the volcanic activity was raised at the Catania airport, but no immediate interruptions were reported. An official update declared the ash cloud emission had ended by the afternoon. Italy's INGV National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the spectacle on Europe's most active volcano was caused when part of the southeast crater collapsed, resulting in hot lava flows. It was the 14th eruptive phase in recent months. The area of danger was confined to the summit of Etna, which was closed to tourists as a precaution, according to Stefano Branca, an INGV official in Catania. Sicily's president, Renato Schifani, said lava flows emitted in the eruption had not passed the natural containment area, "and posed no danger to the population." The event was captured in videos and photos that went viral on social media. Tremors from the eruption were widely felt in the towns and villages on Mount Etna's flanks, Italian media reported. Video showed tourists running along a path on the flank of the vast volcano with smoke billowing some distance in the background. Excursions are popular on Etna, which is some 3,300 metres high, with a surface area of some 1,200 square kilometres. AP in Milan Sicily's Mount Etna put on a fiery show Monday, sending a cloud of smoke and ash several kilometres into the air, but officials said the activity posed no danger to the population. The level of alert due to the volcanic activity was raised at the Catania airport, but no immediate interruptions were reported. An official update declared the ash cloud emission had ended by the afternoon. Italy's INGV National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the spectacle on Europe's most active volcano was caused when part of the southeast crater collapsed, resulting in hot lava flows. It was the 14th eruptive phase in recent months. The area of danger was confined to the summit of Etna, which was closed to tourists as a precaution, according to Stefano Branca, an INGV official in Catania. Sicily's president, Renato Schifani, said lava flows emitted in the eruption had not passed the natural containment area, "and posed no danger to the population." The event was captured in videos and photos that went viral on social media. Tremors from the eruption were widely felt in the towns and villages on Mount Etna's flanks, Italian media reported. Video showed tourists running along a path on the flank of the vast volcano with smoke billowing some distance in the background. Excursions are popular on Etna, which is some 3,300 metres high, with a surface area of some 1,200 square kilometres. AP in Milan
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Sicily's Mount Etna erupts in a fiery show of smoke
Sicily's Mount Etna has put on a fiery show, sending a cloud of smoke and ash several kilometres into the air, but officials say the activity poses no danger. The level of alert due to the volcanic activity was raised at the Catania airport, but no immediate interruptions were reported. An official update declared the ash cloud emission had ended by Monday afternoon. Italy's INGV National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the spectacle on Europe's most active volcano was caused when part of the southeast crater collapsed, resulting in hot lava flows. It was the 14th eruptive phase in recent months. The area of danger was confined to the summit of Etna, which was closed to tourists as a precaution, according to Stefano Branca, an INGV official in Catania. Sicily's president, Renato Schifani, said lava flows emitted in the eruption had not passed the natural containment area, "and posed no danger to the population". The event was captured in video and photos that went viral on social media. Tremors from the eruption were widely felt in the towns and villages on Mount Etna's flanks, Italian media reported. Video showed tourists running along a path on the flank of the vast volcano with smoke billowing some distance in the background. Excursions are popular on Etna, which is some 3300 metres high, with a surface area of some 1200sq/km. Sicily's Mount Etna has put on a fiery show, sending a cloud of smoke and ash several kilometres into the air, but officials say the activity poses no danger. The level of alert due to the volcanic activity was raised at the Catania airport, but no immediate interruptions were reported. An official update declared the ash cloud emission had ended by Monday afternoon. Italy's INGV National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the spectacle on Europe's most active volcano was caused when part of the southeast crater collapsed, resulting in hot lava flows. It was the 14th eruptive phase in recent months. The area of danger was confined to the summit of Etna, which was closed to tourists as a precaution, according to Stefano Branca, an INGV official in Catania. Sicily's president, Renato Schifani, said lava flows emitted in the eruption had not passed the natural containment area, "and posed no danger to the population". The event was captured in video and photos that went viral on social media. Tremors from the eruption were widely felt in the towns and villages on Mount Etna's flanks, Italian media reported. Video showed tourists running along a path on the flank of the vast volcano with smoke billowing some distance in the background. Excursions are popular on Etna, which is some 3300 metres high, with a surface area of some 1200sq/km. Sicily's Mount Etna has put on a fiery show, sending a cloud of smoke and ash several kilometres into the air, but officials say the activity poses no danger. The level of alert due to the volcanic activity was raised at the Catania airport, but no immediate interruptions were reported. An official update declared the ash cloud emission had ended by Monday afternoon. Italy's INGV National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the spectacle on Europe's most active volcano was caused when part of the southeast crater collapsed, resulting in hot lava flows. It was the 14th eruptive phase in recent months. The area of danger was confined to the summit of Etna, which was closed to tourists as a precaution, according to Stefano Branca, an INGV official in Catania. Sicily's president, Renato Schifani, said lava flows emitted in the eruption had not passed the natural containment area, "and posed no danger to the population". The event was captured in video and photos that went viral on social media. Tremors from the eruption were widely felt in the towns and villages on Mount Etna's flanks, Italian media reported. Video showed tourists running along a path on the flank of the vast volcano with smoke billowing some distance in the background. Excursions are popular on Etna, which is some 3300 metres high, with a surface area of some 1200sq/km. Sicily's Mount Etna has put on a fiery show, sending a cloud of smoke and ash several kilometres into the air, but officials say the activity poses no danger. The level of alert due to the volcanic activity was raised at the Catania airport, but no immediate interruptions were reported. An official update declared the ash cloud emission had ended by Monday afternoon. Italy's INGV National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the spectacle on Europe's most active volcano was caused when part of the southeast crater collapsed, resulting in hot lava flows. It was the 14th eruptive phase in recent months. The area of danger was confined to the summit of Etna, which was closed to tourists as a precaution, according to Stefano Branca, an INGV official in Catania. Sicily's president, Renato Schifani, said lava flows emitted in the eruption had not passed the natural containment area, "and posed no danger to the population". The event was captured in video and photos that went viral on social media. Tremors from the eruption were widely felt in the towns and villages on Mount Etna's flanks, Italian media reported. Video showed tourists running along a path on the flank of the vast volcano with smoke billowing some distance in the background. Excursions are popular on Etna, which is some 3300 metres high, with a surface area of some 1200sq/km.
