“Nice” describes two distinct types of things: moral and nonmoral. It may also refer to a person’s kindness or consideration. People who are nice are often thought of as friendly. People who are nice to others are often thought of as friendly and thoughtful. When we say “nice” to someone, we are expressing gratitude for their kindness or thoughtfulness. In the same way, we can say “nice to yourself.”

The natural vegetation of Nice reflects its Mediterranean climate. In its marshy zone, trees grow scattered across the landscape, though some areas have dense forests. Large, native trees include holm oak, stone pine, and arbutus. There are also introduced species, including palm trees and citrus. The subtropical climate of Nice also lends the city a lush, tropical appearance. Other trees found in Nice include Norway spruce, linden, and horse chestnut.

Winters in Nice are mild with cool evenings and sunny days. However, winters can be rainy and damp. The average minimum temperature in January is five degrees Celsius. The city rarely receives snow; in fact, the last time it snowed in Nice was on 26 February 2018. The summer months are warm and sunny, with temperatures averaging around 28 degC in late May. The city is home to several festivals and events throughout the year.

The city has also been a haven for artists and writers for centuries. Famous artists have drawn to Nice and left their work in its museums. The Musee Marc Chagall, Matisse, and the Musee des Beaux-Arts are only a few of the notable artworks in Nice. Other notable artists who influenced the city’s culture include Frank Harris, who wrote his famous novel “My Life and Loves” while Friedrich Nietzsche, who spent six consecutive winters in Nice, contributed to the city’s growth. And Russian writer Anton Chekhov completed his famous novel “Three Sisters” while in Nice.

The word nice began as a pejorative term, derived from the Latin nescius, which means ignorant. It entered English as early as the 1300s, when it was used to describe ignorant and foolish people. Ultimately, nice has come to be associated with refined culture and polite society. A semantic improvement of the word happened in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, when it was associated with more desirable traits than coyness.

The city’s tumultuous history is not without historical interest. Giuseppe Garibaldi was born in Nice and was active against the cession of the city to France. During the war, he argued that the French had rigged the ballot. In Nizza, many Italians had migrated to other Ligurian towns, which spawned a local branch of the Italian irredentist movement. They considered regaining Nice a national goal.

If you plan to visit Nice, be sure to take a train to Sophia Antipolis. This technology park is located northwest of Antibes. It has international connections to many countries. The city has excellent connections to France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, and Russia. Several suburban stations serve the city. Nice is also the southern terminus of the independently-operated Chemins de Fer de Provence railway line. In addition to being a technological hub, Nice has numerous technological parks and other innovative areas.