The picturesque Old Town of Nice, with its maze of narrow alleyways and cobblestone streets, has a lively ambience reminiscent of Italy. Popularly known as "Babazouk," the Vieille Ville begins at the western end of the Colline du Château (Castle Hill) and is bounded by spacious boulevards, including the Jardin Albert I, Place Masséna, and Promenade du Paillon. The southern end of the Old Town borders the Ponchettes market stalls at the Cours Saleya, where fishmongers and grocers sell fresh products. The famous Marché aux Fleurs (Flower Market) is a traditional Provençal event that beautifies the street every morning (except Mondays) with colorful blossoms.
Besides the gastronomic appeal, the area around the Cours Saleya has many cultural attractions. On the Quai des Etats-Unis is the Galerie des Ponchettes (Musée Dufy), a museum dedicated to the artwork of Raoul Dufy. This museum displays an outstanding collection of Dufy's charming, vibrant paintings. Nearby (less than a five-minute walk away) on the Quai des Etats-Unis is the Musée Alexis et Gustav-Adolf Mossa. The 19th-century artist, Alexis Mossa, was renowned for his landscape watercolor paintings, which feature scenes of Nice, the Côte d'Azur, and the Provençal countryside. His son, Gustav-Adolf Mossa, also painted landscapes and later developed his own unique surrealistic style.