SIGHTSEEING the Roman road towards La Turbie where the “ Trophy of Augustus ” rises .
The decoration of the monument is intricate including laurier leaf designs . The facade has three imposing vaulted arcades . Research reveals they would have been painted in red blue , green and white . Two floors belong to the funeral enclosure itself , two sides of which remain visible and that was probably accessed from behind . Upstairs , the central frame was decorated with an object applied to the masonry , undoubtedly the inscription commemorating the name and titles of the and extensive remains are now part of a beautiful public garden planted with many olive trees , Le Jardin des Arènes de Cimiez which is the site of Cemenelum , the capital of the ancient Roman province of Alpes Maritimes . The archaeological museum there exhibits a wealth of artifacts . You can stroll among the ruins of the arenas and three sets of Roman baths after you take in the museum . Every year , the Arènes hosts traditional local events like the May Festival . After immersing yourself in thousands of years of history fast forward to the 19th century and the times of Matisse .
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Matisse Museum
There is a colourful 17th century mansion that had been converted to house the Matisse Museum . The museum exhibits a vast collection of Henri Matisse ’ s artworks . Cimiez is full of almost never-ending delights including a monastery with superb gardens .
Monastère Notre-Dame de Cimiez
You ’ ll find the Monastère Notre- Dame-de-Cimiez at the far end of the park . Benedictine monks founded the monastery in the 9th century ; the Franciscans took over in 1546 and built the existing monastery , which includes the Neo- Byzantine style Notre-dame de l ’ Assomption Church , the cloister , cemetery and gardens . The church contains a wealth of religious art , which includes a Pietà , a Baroque wooden altarpiece and a beautiful seraphic Cross . The Italian-style gardens spread over almost 10.000 square metres . They replace the monks ’ orchard and vegetable garden , but have preserved the original layout with the well and ancient pergolas covered under climbing roses . From there , you ’ ll get an inspirational view over Nice and the sea . In the cemetery are the tombs of Henri Matisse and Raoul Dufy .
The Matisse Museum
Monastère Notre-Dame-de-Cimiez
deceased . There would have been ceramic flooring with holes into which would be poured embalming fluids . The decoration and the form are of a rare type that archaeologists had hardly ever seen except one other rare example was discovered in Ostia in Italy , also constructed in the 1st century . The Mausoleum , Villa Lumone is well worth a visit for its rarity .
ROMAN HISTORY AND A LOT MORE AT CIMIEZ ( 20 KMS FROM MONACO )
Nice itself was founded by the Phoenicians about 350 BC . Perched on the hillsides , about 2 kms from the city is where the Romans built their city in 14 BC . The well preserved
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