Why does the Chapelle de la Miséricorde de Guivry stand here? This chapel is a jewel in Nice’s history. Its Baroque architecture fits perfectly into the colors of the old town.
The Chapelle de la Miséricorde was built starting in 1740. Bernardo Vittone designed it. This imposing monument stands across from the famous Nice Flower Market. It sits on the location of the former salt stores of the King of Sardinia.
Behind its yellow facade, the chapel presents a main elliptical nave. Four semi-circular lateral chapels surround it. The facade reminds us of the colors of the old town.
Look up to admire the magnificent fresco. It covers the cupola on a blue background. This gives the impression of an open-air church.
One of its original features is a convent upstairs. Climb the stairs of Cours Saleya to admire it from an original angle. The stairs are situated right opposite the Chapelle de la Miséricorde. The Chapelle de la Miséricorde du Vieux Nice has been a registered Historic Monument since 1921.
The Chapelle de la Miséricorde is a masterpiece of Baroque art. It is set in a privileged location. The church was built between 1747 and 1770. Vittone used a style typical of Baroque Piamonte churches. He had to adapt to a narrow space.
The interior is filled with exceptional murals and frescoes. The outside of the Chapelle de la Miséricorde isn’t stunningly beautiful. The inside is. It is one of the very best examples of its kind in France. The Black Penitents of Nice restored the building’s facade. This religious order is historically associated with the Chapelle de la Miséricorde.
The inaugural stone was blessed in 1639. This happened during the reign of Prince Honoré II, Prior of the Brotherhood of Black Penitents. The chapel is built with just one nave.
For four centuries, this chapel was the starting point for the traditional procession on Easter Friday. It was abolished in 1870. It has been resumed in the last few years.
The Chapelle de la Miséricorde enjoys a privileged location in Vieux Nice. It is close to both the Opéra de Nice and the Cathédrale de Sainte Réparate.
The artistry of the interior decorations led to its declaration as a national monument in 1921. At present, the religious order of the Black Penitents of Nice oversees it. Remember the Chapelle de la Miséricorde. It is a place of history, art, and faith.