U2 front man Bono has been enjoying some down time on the French Riviera, hanging his cowboy hat in the picturesque city of Nice. The 44-year-old singer, who took a stroll through the city’s busy port in front of Bay of Angels, is somewhat of a regular in the bustling Mediterranean city.
Not only was part of U2’s latest studio-effort How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb recorded in the coastal city, but Bono has owned a villa just up the road in picturesque Villefranche-sur-mer for years. The area is a hotspot for celebs, and Bono counts Elton John and Tina Turner among his neighbours.
Nice, the capital of the Riviera, is packed with wonders and is known for its eclectic collection of museums and art galleries as well as its many restaurants and cafés. You can't miss the main thoroughfare of the city, the famous seaside walk-way, Promenade des Anglais – so named because of the number of wealthy English tourists who since Victorian times have escaped the cool UK winters for the warmer climes of Nice. The strip is lined with palm trees and lavish hotels offering guests a dazzling view of the Mediterranean.
Bono will tell you that the heart and soul of the city lies in the old town, Vieux Nice. The pedestrian district consists of narrow shaded streets lined with small shops, while trendy restaurants and café terraces make it the ideal locale to escape the heat in summer. And do not miss out on the exotic aromas and tastes of the Cours Salyeya, the main square in Old Nice. Here you will find the famous flower, fruit and vegetable market that runs from Tuesday through Sunday, while on Mondays the square is taken over by antiques merchants eager to flog their wares.
Nice lies at the heart of the Riviera and its fantastic rail-links to many villages and cities make it the ideal base for getting to know the wonders of the entire coast from posh Monaco to star-studded Cannes. If you lose your way just ask Bono for directions.
Photo: Rex
