Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate

Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate is the cathedral of Nice and the largest church in the old town. Its glazed-tile dome and bell tower rise over Place Rossetti, a small square in the heart of Vieux Nice that is also known for its café terraces and for the Fenocchio ice-cream shop.

The present building dates from the seventeenth century. It was designed by the architect Jean-André Guibert, commissioned by Bishop Didier Palletis, and construction of the main body began in 1650. The church was consecrated in 1699, although additions continued for centuries. The cupola over the crossing is covered in coloured tiles glazed in the Genoese style, and the bell tower was added between 1731 and 1757.

The interior is Baroque, with stucco, marble and gilding. Around the nave are about ten side chapels, which historically belonged to wealthy families and trade corporations who paid for their decoration and upkeep. Their dedications include Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, the Crucifixion, Saint Rose of Lima, Saint Rosalia, Saint Joseph, Saint John the Baptist and Saint Reparata herself, so it is worth walking slowly round the aisles rather than just stepping inside the door.

The church became the seat of the bishops of Nice in 1590, when it was recognised as a cathedral in a ceremony attended by Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, who then ruled the city. That link with Savoy and Piedmont is a reminder that Nice only became French in 1860, and the cathedral's Italian Baroque style fits the rest of the old town, where many churches and palaces follow the same tradition.

The cathedral is open every day, with a break in the middle of the day, and stays open a little later on Saturdays. Entry is free. As a working church it holds regular services, so visit outside Mass times if you want to look around, keep your voice down and dress respectfully. Allow 20 to 30 minutes.

Place Rossetti sits a short walk from the Cours Saleya, the Opéra and Place Masséna, in the maze of narrow lanes that makes up Vieux Nice. After your visit, take an ice cream on the square, or carry on uphill towards Castle Hill for the view over the rooftops you have just walked through.