Point of interest
Place Garibaldi
in Nice, France
An elegant arcaded square on the northern edge of the Old Town, named after the freedom fighter Giuseppe Garibaldi, who was born in Nice.
Where it is
This broad square lies on the northern edge of the Old Town, near the port, and is a hub on the line 1 tramway.
Address: Place Garibaldi, 06300 Nice
What it is
The square impresses with ochre arcaded buildings in Piedmontese Baroque style, some façades adorned with skilful trompe-l'œil painting. Cafés and ice-cream parlours line the arcades; it is a popular meeting point and a gateway to the neighbouring port district.
History
Place Garibaldi is the oldest square in the city, laid out between 1773 and 1784 to plans by the architect Antoine Spinelli. Originally intended for the kings of Sardinia-Piedmont, it now bears the name of the Italian patriot Giuseppe Garibaldi, born in Nice in 1807, whose 1891 statue presides over it.