Greek dreams, Brazilian fantasies, or both? These two exceptional exhibits will allow you to travel without leaving town.

It’s too hot and crowded on the Coast during the summer months for your taste. You want to escape. But you’re tired of the hassles of long lines at the airport, and unfamiliar food upsets your stomach.

Ville de Nice has the perfect solution for you: two brand new and exquisite exhibits will ensure you will get your foreign-shores fix all while staying cool in an air-conditioned museum. Sounds tempting? We think so!

RÊVES DE GRÈCE
Musée de Cimiez, until 2nd October

A splendid exhibit of rarely-seen Greek vases and ceramics is on display at the Cimiez museum of archaeology, complementing its permanent well-curated exhibit of Greek and Roman artefacts.

Hailing from two exceptional private collections, one of which is usually only shown at the Louvre in Paris, these unique treasures showcase Nice’s heritage – founded as Nikaïa by the ancient Greeks almost 3,000 years ago – and celebrate the town’s crucial role in history at the crossroads of Mediterranean trade.

Using modern technology, these objects have been reproduced to allow visitors to touch and handle them to better understand Greek culture and everyday life.

The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, closed Tuesdays.

FANTAISIES BRÉSILIENNES
Musée International d’Art Naïf, until 3rd October

A unique and original exhibit of naïve Brazilian art, born from ethnic heritage, religious syncretism, and the hardships of daily life, compensated by the use of vivid colors, just opened at the Musée International d’Art Naïf Anatole Jakovsky. Samba, football, voodoo, corn fields, and the frenetic pace of its cities … all the aspects of the day-to-day life in Brazil are represented in these œuvres.

Bridging decades, between the 1940s and today, and featuring artists of renown such as Antonio Poteiro, Chico da Silva, Miranda, Isabel de Jesus, Ivonaldo, Madeleine Colaço, and Waldomiro de Deus, this exhibit is designed to explore why naïve art, so deeply rooted in rhythm, colour, and authenticity, plays such an essential role in Brazilian life, and why it has intrigued and influenced intellectuals for many years.

The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, closed Tuesdays.

As always, this is a good opportunity to remind those Niçois residents who don’t have their Passe Musées de Nice yet, to get one now. It is free, and allows you to visit all the major museums in town for free.

CONTACT DETAILS

Musée d’Archéologie de Nice – Site de Cimiez
160, avenue des Arènes
06000 Nice

Tel : + 33 (0) 4 93 81 59 57

Musée International d’Art Naïf Anatole Jakovsky
Château Sainte-Hélène
23, avenue de Fabron
06200 Nice

Tel: + 33 (0) 4 93 71 78 33

Lead image © RIVIERA BUZZ