Villa des Arènes, current Nice Matisse Museum

This mansion was built amongst the Roman ruins and olive groves of Cimiez at the end of the 17th century by Jean-Jerôme Gubernatis, the president of the Senate and ambassador for the Dukes of Savoy. It was constructed in a typical Genoese style, with a richly-coloured façade adorned with trompe l’oeil decorations. Count Raymond Garin Cocconato bought the property in 1823. Around 1870, the villa became an English guest house, and, later, seasonal rental accommodation. In 1950, in order to preserve the site, the city of Nice acquired the property. Henri Matisse, who lived next door, died in 1954 and then, in 1963, the villa became the Matisse Museum, after a large donation to the City of Nice by the Matisse heirs.