Exceptionally beautiful Massena Square in scale is not inferior to Paris. This is the real center of the city, to which I want to walk and walk.

Square nearly two centuries: it originated in the period of intensive development of the city in the years 1820-1830. Its development was promoted by an ideal location between the Old Nice and the central Avenue Jean Medsin leading to the city train station.

At first, the area was much smaller and was called in honor of the King of Sardinia Charles Albert, who ascended the throne in 1831. Close to the current outline she got to the historic Nice to 1860, when the city was annexed by France. That's when the area was named after Marshal Massena, who occupied Nice in 1792. Paradoxical decision due to the fact that the brilliant commander Andre Massena - a native of Nice. Patriot France, and he loved his hometown.

Unusual, elongated outline of the modern area is simple: it is situated on the two banks of the river Payon crossing Nice. The river, flowing down from the Alps, in the old days regularly commit Nice devastating floods. Now Payon is not visible - it is securely shackled underground pipes passing near the southern part of the area.

Place Massena resembles a chessboard immense size: it is almost entirely paved with dark and light with stone slabs, and represents a huge pedestrian zone. The exception - its central axis. In the XIX century there was running tram, then trams and cars, which led to traffic jams. It was decided to build a line through an array of modern light rail, the very same area to give pedestrians. More immediately available station "Velo Bleu" - public municipal network of low-cost rental bikes.

In the southern area of ​​the fountain of the sun noise. It is surrounded by bronze statues of the Earth and Mars. Venus, Mercury and Saturn by the sculptor Alfred Zhannio. In the center of the fountain - a seven-meter marble Apollo, which in 1970 already out of here because the caller nudity. In 2011, the statue, however, returned to his seat.

Earlier in the square there were seven ten-meter metal pole topped with plastic figures of seated men. In the evening they glow in different colors. The composition is called "Conversation in Nice 'and its author, the Catalan sculptor Jaume Plensa, believes that the figures represent the seven continents of the Earth.

At all times, the area was one of the main social centers of the city. In 1941, the pro-Nazi Vichy regime then organized a large propaganda festival of Joan of Arc. Four years later, a hundred thousand citizens in the square singing "La Marseillaise", welcoming General de Gaulle arrived in the liberated capital of the Alpes-Maritimes. In our days here in February, the biggest noise in France two weeks Carnival City in December features an outdoor skating rink and Christmas market all year round exhibitions. Past the cafe regulars rush skaters and skateboarders, the Arcade surrounding houses with beautiful red facade - plenty of enticing shops.