It's hard to put down the allure of South of France in words, which is ironic for a writer. The balmy summer afternoons, picturesque beaches, cobbled streets, rows of yachts bobbing lazily by the Côte d’Azure along with the smell of Niçoise soaps hanging heavy in the air create the most surreal experience. As I visited Nice in the summer, I realized firsthand why people call it the city for lovers, escapists, and thinkers, and most of all, a city for antiquarians and history buffs.
The town features more than five centuries of architecture and design and has managed to keep the imprint of each period safely within its walls, including Henri Matisse's apartment. Among the iconic buildings in Nice is a 17th-century convent, constructed entirely by the nuns using lime whitewash, stone, tiles, and timber repurposed from a neighboring chateau. Its history and period architecture made it a landmark in Nice. Four centuries later, mesmerized by the building's unique history, Valéry Grégo — founder of the luxury hospitality Perseus Group — has transformed it into the firm's latest leisure idyll, Hôtel du Couvent.
