Palais Lascaris

The Palais Lascaris stands at 15 Rue Droite in Vieux Nice, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It is a baroque town house built in the 17th century for the Lascaris-Vintimille family, one of the noble families of the former County of Nice, and it is one of the best examples of civil baroque architecture in the city. The facade on the narrow street is modest, but inside a monumental staircase with a stone balustrade, painted ceilings, plaster decoration and richly furnished salons show the wealth of the family. The palace is now a museum with a collection of musical instruments, including harpsichords, guitars, violins and other pieces, displayed in period rooms. Visitors can also see an 18th-century pharmacy with its jars and containers, a chapel and painted ceilings with mythological scenes. A typical visit lasts 45 to 60 minutes. Guided visits are available at an extra charge and need to be booked, while a self-guided visit is the standard option. The ticket costs EUR 5, with free entry for children under 13, and the museum is open from 10:00AM to 6:00PM and closed on Tuesdays, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Weekday mornings are quietest. The palace is easy to reach from the Cathédrale-Vieille Ville tram stop on tram line T2, about four minutes on foot along Rue Droite. Because Rue Droite is a narrow street, the building is easy to miss, and it helps to look for the street number. The museum works well as a compact cultural stop alongside the Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate and the Cours Saleya market, both within a few minutes' walk. Photography is usually allowed without flash.