Église Saint-Pierre d'Arène

Église Saint-Pierre d'Arène is a Catholic church in Nice, near the Promenade des Anglais and the former shoreline. Don Massot founded its original chapel in 1762, dedicating it to Saint Peter. The building became a church after consecration by Bishop Jean-Baptiste Colonna d'Istria in 1814.

Expansion began in 1914, and the present structure opened in 1938, although its bell tower and baptismal fonts remained unfinished. Six chapels face east and west, honouring Saint Peter, Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Expedit, John the Baptist, Padre Pio and Saint Thérèse. A Marian adoration chapel follows them, while the reliquary holds relics connected with six religious and historical figures.

Renovations from 2012 to 2017 created the Jorge François solidarity space beneath the building. A solidarity restaurant, an art gallery and a theatre now share that community area. Since 2011, artists gather here for the annual Ash Wednesday messe des artistes on the Côte d’Azur. The most distinctive detail may be the reliquary’s range, from Popes John Paul II and John XXIII to Charles of Austria, Jerzy Popiełuszko, Jacques Hamel and Saint Charbel Makhlouf.