Say Au Revoir To Winter At The Nice Carnival

From the last weeks of February and into March, the Mediterranean city of Nice welcomes visitors with a carnival of colour and light.

As winter draws to a close, where better than the sophisticated city of Nice to welcome in the first shoots of spring? In the run-up to Mardi Gras, this year’s festivities carry the theme ‘King of the Mediterranean’ and run from February 18^th to March 8^th.

At the centre of the Nice carnival, giant grinning and scowling papier-mache heads are controlled by crews on floats as they move from the Albert Premier hotel along the Place Massena. These are the product of enormous preparation and artistry in the previous weeks.

From earlier times, a relatively modest custom of throwing bouquets of flowers between individuals on the Promenade des Anglais, has grown into a truly memorable and cheerfully riotous display, the Bataille des Fleurs. As the floats pass slowly along the streets of Nice vast numbers of flowers are thrown into the delighted crowds.

After dark, the Parade of Lights sees the carnival floats illuminated. The strange giant figures seem to take on new life and weird animation in the coloured light, and giant screens ensure no-one need miss any part of the spectacle.

There is much live music and street-theatre, teams of dancers, and of course all manner of food and drink as you would expect at an event like this in France.

Quality Villas can offer luxury French Riviera villas for anyone wishing to visit the beautiful city of Nice during this unforgettable event.