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.

This is the last surviving part of the former 14th-century town hall. It has become, accidentally, the city’s own leaning tower, as it bends slightly off-centre by 55 centimetres, apparently caused by the wind and the passage of time.

In the days of the tsars, the people who enjoyed themselves in the Riviera’s casinos until late on Saturday night, were not exactly short of money. They went here, to church though, on Sundays. After the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, things are much as they were in the old days, but thick wads of dollars now rain down on the Riviera — and the beautifully restored cathedral. Strict dress code applies.

Located on a hill overlooking the city, the Asahiyama Memorial Park is a great place to get an amazing view of Sapporo and its surroundings. After a small hike up a path in the woods, you can enjoy the spectacular scenery either during the day or at night when the city lights are shining in the dark.