Place Garibaldi and Garibaldi Monument
Why is it significant?
Behold the impressive geometric harmony, sweeping scale, and theatrical elegance of Place Garibaldi, laid out beginning in 1773 under King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia to designs by celebrated Piedmontese architect Antonio Spinelli.
Key Facts
| Place | Place Garibaldi and Garibaldi Monument |
|---|---|
| Address | Place Garibaldi, 06300 Nice, France |
| Geo Coordinates | 43.70080, 7.28010 |
| Part of Walk | Old Town, Cours Saleya and Castle Hill: Baroque Splendour and Ancient Heights |
| Generated | Generated |
Behold the impressive geometric harmony, sweeping scale, and theatrical elegance of Place Garibaldi, laid out beginning in 1773 under King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia to designs by celebrated Piedmontese architect Antonio Spinelli. Built to provide a triumphal entrance for travelers arriving from Turin along the royal carriage road, this expansive rectangular plaza represents the finest example of late baroque urban planning in the region. All four sides are framed by impeccably uniform facades resting upon grand vaulted arcades, decorated with masterfully restored trompe-l'œil frescoes that simulate classical pilasters, window mouldings, projecting stone balustrades, and architectural reliefs with dazzling illusionistic skill. At the centre stands the colossal monument dedicated to Giuseppe Garibaldi, inaugurated in 1891 and created by sculptors Antoine Étex and Gustave Deloye. The fearless Hero of Two Worlds, born in Nice on the fourth of July 1807, stands resolute in his iconic patriot uniform, gazing proudly toward his native land, while an allegorical female figure of the French Republic shields a resting bronze lion. Today, clean modern trams glide quietly across this historic stone plaza where bustling outdoor café terraces buzz with lively conversation, laughter, and civic debate under the brilliant Mediterranean sunshine.
Examine the painted facades under the arcades: over six thousand square metres of intricate trompe-l'œil frescoes have been painstakingly restored by master decorative painters.
The Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the south side of the square in 1782 by the Brotherhood of Blue Penitents, is seamlessly incorporated into the secular street arcade.
Garibaldi vehemently opposed the 1860 annexation of Nice to France, poignantly declaring in the Turin parliament that he had been made a foreigner in his own birthplace.
Cross the eastern side of the plaza to Rue Catherine-Ségurane and begin your ascent up Montée Menica Rondelly.