Frescoes come back to life under the old ceilings of the former Aigle d'Or hotel in Nice.
Large scenes painted in the Baroque era, men in helmets, classical draperies, Ionic columns as well as various more recent polychrome ornaments, etc. The teams of heritage restorers in charge of the rehabilitation of the Saint-François de Nice have brought to light, since the autumn, the old decor of the Franciscan convent.
Abused over the centuries, these ornaments, long hidden away in the depths of Old Nice, are already telling specialists about the unsuspected richness of the site.
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"You really have to be a virtuoso to get out of this kind of decor"
, marveled in a report by our colleagues from France 3, the heritage restorer Leonardo Gianuzzi.
In front of him - or rather, above - unfolds a monumental antique scene.
A work composed with obvious care and which has been well preserved despite some losses.
"We see that the artist had already established his work plan and unrolled his decor in one go
," said the restorer.
The fresco with rich designs but with somewhat faded colors recalls the many developments that the convent has undergone since its construction by the Franciscans in the 13th century.
The antique fresco being restored in the former Hôtel de l'Aigle d'Or in Nice.
Screenshot France 3
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A rich history
Other parts of the convent bear the traces of these different eras crossed by the Christian site.
On the second floor of the old hotel, a colorful fresco from the 19th century is still being restored by teams of heritage specialists.
As was still common until the 20th century, these old decorations were covered with whitewash by the successive occupants of the premises, following the evolution of tastes and whims.
Elsewhere, a keystone built in the Middle Ages has been painted blue, white, red.
The traces left by the French Revolution.
A period that marked the gradual disappearance of the Franciscan complex, engulfed by post-revolutionary horrors and urban development.
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Having become a private property, the former house of God has been transformed into a collective habitat, pierced with housing.
Only the choir of the church was spared from the redevelopments.
The annex building of the convent was transformed into a hotel.
The various buildings of the Saint-François complex subsequently housed a myriad of colorful activities: fishmonger's, cinema, nightclubs and, from 1944, CGT offices.
Funded at nearly 17 million euros by the City of Nice, the complex is being rehabilitated to accommodate the new spaces of the National Theater of Nice (TNN) in the spring, which is currently being moved.
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“We are resurrecting history here. A story which, only ten years ago, was unknown to the people of Nice themselves”
, rejoiced the mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi, during his visit to the site last November.
The old conventual church will eventually house the heart of the new TNN, with a performance space with mobile tiers that is supposed to accommodate up to 300 people.
The annex of the convent will house rehearsal rooms, offices, as well as a bar and a restaurant.
Activities able to continue the motley history of the site.
Opening scheduled for April.
