Villa Il Paradiso

Villa Il Paradiso is a substantial villa in Nice, designed by architect Constantin Scala at the beginning of the twentieth century. It was commissioned for Baroness Hélène van Zuylen, born into the de Rothschild family. Its spacious garden surrounds architecture that combines Italian villa references with the character of Parisian mansions. A western loggia and a modified mansard roof define the building’s exterior.

During the Second World War, Villa Il Paradiso provided temporary studios for Académie de France en Rome Prix de Rome scholars. Artists including Bernard Zehrfuss, Pierre-Robert Lucas and René Leleu worked there. After the war, the city of Nice acquired the villa and gave sculptor Marcel Mayer use of a studio. The Nice Conservatory later occupied its generous rooms. The site also hosted the Académie Internationale d’Eté de Nice, bringing students and teachers together for music and arts courses. A children’s playground and outdoor amphitheatre added public facilities to the surrounding grounds. Villa Il Paradiso therefore links private residence, artists’ studios, conservatory rooms and civic education within Nice’s architectural heritage. Its spring flowers and spacious park add a visible garden dimension to the cultural history.