Old Duke of Savoy Palace and Chapelle de la Miséricorde

After Saleya Avenue is the small “Chapelle de le Miséricorde”, also known as “the black penitents’ chapel”. It is considered to be the most beautiful baroque chapel in Nice. It was built during the 18th century, on the land of the old salt cellars of the King of Sardinia. Be sure to take a look at the magnificent fresco on the dome’s roof. Right next to it, at the end of the street is the old House of Savoy palace. Its beautiful columns show that it lived through a time of prosperity. After the siege of 1543, Dukes left their castle on top of the hill and settled in the lower town. It isn’t until 1571 that the construction of a ducal palace began. Keep in mind that this is a secondary residence for the House of Savoy, as they live in Turin. That being said, almost every single Duke of Savoy and King of Sardinia have spent some time here . Victor Emmanuel II, future king of unified Italy, even welcomed the Russian Empress there. In 1792, during french revolution, the palace was torn down, and transformed into a military hospital. Then in 1860, it was the scene of the official handover of Nice to the France of Napoleon III. From then on, it has held the “Alpes Maritimes” prefecture.