Even though many of us long for the sun, it can get too hot here in Nice. Palais Lascaris is a perfect escape from the heat. This baroque-style aristocratic residence now houses a museum dedicated to the art and music of the 17th and 18th centuries. The palace, built for the Lascaris Vintimille family in the mid-17th century, features a monumental staircase, frescoes, and luxuriously decorated salons. Visitors can explore the reception apartments, which boast frescoes depicting mythological themes, stucco work from the late 17th century, and a permanent collection of paintings, sculptures, furniture, objets d'art, and tapestries. The palace also houses a remarkable collection of antique musical instruments, including a prestigious deposit from the Institut de France.

At first, one man’s dream of creating his own castle had many people shaking their heads. But the simple postman Ferdinand Cheval struggled for 33 years, stone by stone, to create a castle, which is now world famous for its mythical scenes.

The Cathedral of Santa María de la Encarnación is Grenada’s most famous cavernous Renaissance and Gothic cathedral. There is a small museum adjacent to the church.