It’s been a long wait but it’s finally finished. Nice Uncovered: Walks Through the Secret Heart of a Historic City is now published on Amazon as an e-book and paperback. These seven self-guided walking tours take you through Nice’s most fascinating neighborhoods: Vieux Nice, Cimiez, Castle Hill & the Port, Quartier des Musiciens, West Nice, Promenade des Anglais and Promenade du Paillon. With maps and step-by-step instructions getting around couldn’t be easier. Vintage photos make it easy to visualize Nice as it once was.

When I began the project, I knew only the basic outline of Nice’s extraordinary history and culture. Research revealed stories, legends and little-known details that revealed the complexity of my adopted city. As I prowled the streets, I began to look at Nice in a whole new light. The architectural evolution from Baroque to Belle Epoque to Art Deco became vividly clear. I knew we had a rich architectural heritage but I began to understand how and why the city developed as it did. I learned to appreciate great architects such as Georges Dikansky, Charles Dalmas and Sebastien Marcel Biasini.

I began writing the book several months before the Great Pandemic. Work continued during the pandemic last year but with great difficulty during the Confinement which limited our time outdoors. For a time, even the library and Municipal Archives were closed.

Now that the book is published, I’ve been gratified by the overwhelmingly positive response. I was surprised that even people who no longer live in Nice enjoy reading about the city they left behind. People who have been living here for years are amazed that there is still more for them to discover. Newcomers and visitors gain a deeper understanding than they’ve found in standard guidebooks.

So, which to buy: e-book or paperback? Both! The e-book can be downloaded directly to your phone and read on the Kindle reader app which is handy if you’re you’re wandering Nice, something strikes your eye and you want to know more about it. The paperback is most convenient for following the walks and using the maps. It’s a great gift for Nice-lovers and handy to keep around the house for visitors.

You can read more about the book and get a behind-the-scenes look at niceuncovered.com

Eventually the paperback will be available in bookstores but right now you can order the paperback or e-book on Amazon. The e-book is also available on Apple Books or Barnes & Noble.