Nice (nēs), a French seaport and the largest town of the Alpes-Maritimes department of France, lies on the coast 140 miles from Marseilles. Owing to its southern sea-exposure and shelter by the hills on the north, it has long been a famous winter resort for invalids. The city is divided into three parts — the New Town, the Old Town and the Port. The chief public buildings are the cathedral, church of Nôtre Dame, natural history museum, art gallery, library, observatory and casino. Its main export is olive-oil. The town was founded by a colony from Massalia (Marseilles) and became subject to Rome in the 5th century B. C. It once was in the hands of the Saracens, and after being an independent city acknowledged the counts of Provence and the house of Savoy in 1388. In 1543 it was pillaged by the Turks, and in 1860 was finally ceded to France by Sardinia. In 1887 it was visited by a destructive earthquake. Population 142,940. See Nash’s Guide to Nice.
