This noble palace was built in the mid-17th century for the Comtes Lascaris-Vintimille, nephews of the 57th Grand Master of the Order of Malta.
It remained the property of this family until the French Revolution.
Sold in 1802, it suffered considerable damage before being purchased by the City of Nice in 1942.
Classified as a Historic Monument in 1946 and subsequently restored, the Palace, influenced by the Genoese Baroque style, combines a 17th-century ensemble with 18th-century embellishments and modifications.
The buildings are arranged around two small courtyards, onto which a monumental staircase opens through arched openings.
The vaulted ceiling of the entrance hall bears the Lascaris-Vintimille coat of arms.
On the upper floor, the ceremonial apartments occupy each of the building's two wings.
The ceilings of this suite of rooms are adorned with frescoes of mythological themes or stucco ornamentation, dating from the late 17th century.
Aubusson and Flanders tapestries, 17th- and 18th-century furniture and antique musical instruments are currently on display.
On the upper floor, the ceremonial apartments feature ceilings decorated with frescoes of mythological themes or stucco ornamentation, dating from the late 17th century.
The Palais is also home to over 500 early musical instruments, including a prestigious collection of European scholarly musical instruments, the Antoine Gautier legacy, which represents the second largest collection in France (after that of the Musée de la Musique in Paris) and one of the most important in Europe.
In 2013, the Palais Lascaris benefited from the prestigious deposit, by the Institut de France, of the famous collection of musical instruments assembled by Gisèle Tissier-Grandpierre, famous harpist and friend of Gabriel Fauré.
The Palais Lascaris is the largest and most sumptuous Baroque civil building in Vieux-Nice and the surrounding area.
The Palais Lascaris has been awarded the Musée de France label.
The Palais Lascaris has obtained “Qualité Tourisme” certification.
Palais Lascaris
15, rue Droite (Vieux-Nice)
06364 Nice cedex 4
Tel: 04 93 62 72 40
https://www.nice.fr/fr/culture/musees-et-galeries/palais-lascaris-le-palais
Translated with DeepL.com
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