The Principality of Monaco (French: Principauté de Monaco) is an
independent city-state in Western Europe.
In the Monegasque
dialect, a variety of Ligurian, it is called Prinçipatu de Mu̍negu.
Entirely surrounded by France, it overlooks the Ligurian Sea and is
about 10 km from the Italian-French border. It is one of the oldest
states in the world, as it has existed continuously since the end of the
thirteenth century; its origin is generally traced back to the
initiative of Francesco Grimaldi, a Genoese Guelph nobleman who
skillfully seized a castle built there, owned by a Ghibelline rival;
having accomplished this feat by entering the manor disguised as a monk,
the circumstance also gave its name to the lordship that arose from it
and which later became a state. As an independent sovereign state, it
was born only in 1815 following the Restoration. In fact, with the
Restoration, the Holy Roman Empire was not reconstituted, and so, most
of the reconstituted European states, which before 1806 were formally
part of the Empire, were actually founded ex novo, in the sense of
independent sovereign states.
Its capital and sole administrative
subdivision is the municipality of Monaco, which has 38,350 inhabitants.
With an area of 2.02 km², the Principality of Monaco is the penultimate
sovereign state in the world by extension: behind it only the Vatican
City with 0.44 km².
The form of state is a principality, i.e. a
constitutional monarchy whose sovereign has the title of prince: he also
has the functions of head of state, but the legislative power is
exercised by a unicameral parliament called the National Council,
elected by universal suffrage. Executive power is also exercised by the
Government Council, whose head, the Minister of State, is the head of
government of the country.
The head of state is Prince Albert II
(1958-), in office since 2005; Sovereign Consort is Princess Charlène,
born Wittstock and of South African descent. The Minister of State in
office is the Frenchman Pierre Dartout, in office since September 2020.
Although it has no administrative subdivisions of a lower grade than
the Municipality of Monaco, the best-known location in the Principality
is the historic district of Monte Carlo, which rises in the city center
and houses the well-known Casino of the same name, often used as a set
for famous films (such as those of James Bond series); sometimes by
synecdoche the name Monte Carlo or Montecarlo is used in place of the
entire Principality.
On the streets of the city-state there is a
non-permanent city car route, the Monte Carlo circuit, on which the
Monaco Grand Prix has been held since 1929 which, since 1950, has been
part of the Formula 1 world championship and has seen the victory of
undisputed figures of motor racing: the winners of the race include
multiple world champions such as the Brazilian Ayrton Senna, the British
Graham Hill, Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart and Lewis Hamilton, the
Frenchman Alain Prost, the Germans Sebastian Vettel and Michael
Schumacher, Dutchman Max Verstappen and others.
The Principality
is the richest country in the world for per capita income (over
$180,000) and, having no income taxes (only those on value added and
social security), bases its economy on the entertainment industry (
tourism, gambling) and real estate sales, as the average price of the
houses therein is among the highest in the world, estimated in 2012 at
more than $58,000 per square metre. Although not part of the European
Union, Monaco is part of the French customs area and has been authorized
by the European Union itself to mint the Monegasque euro, equivalent to
the Union currency and minted by the French mint.
Since 1911, the
powers of the state have been regulated by a constitution, the most
recent of which has been in force since 1962.
Article 8 of the
constitution establishes that the official language of the Principality
is French. However, Italian is also widely used; the Monegasque dialect,
although widespread, is only the third language after the two mentioned.
The citizens of the Principality are called Monegasques, although
sometimes there is a tendency to give this ethnicity even to simple
residents; individually, in fact, the citizens of the country are about
a fifth of the total residents (21%), while on the other hand just over
a quarter (28%) are residents of French nationality, almost 19% are
Italian and, to follow, among the '1 and 10% of representation include
the British, Germans, Swiss and the United States. According to article
9 of the aforementioned constitution, the state religion of the
Principality is Catholicism, even if article 23 of the same text
guarantees freedom of worship.
The Principality of Monaco offers a wide range of historical and
modern attractions. There are various museums and palaces to visit, as
well as shopping malls and casinos. Monaco also offers relaxation
opportunities along the port and even around the attractions. Navigating
Monte Carlo and Monaco is relatively easy once you take the time to
learn where the various "short cuts" are. Maps of the city are usually
available from most newsstands and shops for a small fee. The tourist
office could be a good place to start before setting out to explore the
city.
Casino (casino de Monte-Carlo, Monte Carlo Casino), Place
du Casino. Tel.: +377 98062121, email: vip@montecarlocasinos.com. The
Monte Carlo Casino is a gaming and entertainment complex that includes a
casino, the Opéra de Monaco and the office of Les Ballets de Monte
Carlo. The owner and operator is the Société des bains de mer de Monaco
(SBM), a public company in which the government of Monaco and the ruling
family hold a majority stake. The company also owns the main hotels,
sports clubs, catering establishments and nightclubs throughout Monaco.
If your wallet allows, try your luck at the Grand Casino and gamble with
the richest and often the most famous in the world. You need your
passport to enter the country (since Monegasque citizens are banned from
gambling at the casino), and entrance fees are huge depending on the
room - often from €30 to hundreds. You can also visit the casino without
gambling for a nominal fee of €10. The dress code inside is extremely
strict - men are required to wear coats and ties, and casual shoes are
prohibited. The game rooms themselves are spectacular, with stained
glass, paintings and sculptures throughout. The casino is not open at
this time of day, but visitors are given a half-hour audio guide and are
free to roam the grounds. Minors are also allowed to enter at this time,
and the dress code is less strictly enforced. Open: 14:00-04:00.
Opéra de Monaco (Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Monaco Opera House; At the back
of the Casino). Tel: +377 98 06 28 00. The Monaco Opera House or "Salle
Garnier" was built by the famous architect Charles Garnier. The
auditorium of the opera house is decorated in red and gold and has
frescoes and sculptures surrounding the auditorium. Looking up to the
auditorium ceiling, the visitor will be amazed by the magnificent
paintings. The opera house is extravagant and very beautiful at the same
time. There are some of the best international performances of ballet,
opera and concerts that have taken place at the Opera House for more
than a century; remember to catch a show during your visit. but expect
to pay top dollar! Open: 10:00-17:30; So, Mon closed.
Monaco-Ville. Take a stroll through Monaco-Ville, also known as "Le
Rocher" or "The rock". Still a medieval village at heart, Monaco-Ville
is an amazingly picturesque place. It consists almost entirely of
pedestrian streets and passageways, and most of the houses from the last
century remain. There are a number of hotels, restaurants and souvenir
shops where tourists can stay, eat and shop. You can also visit the
Prince's Palace, the Duomo, the Oceanographic Museum, the City Hall and
the Gardens of Saint Martin.
Port Hercule harbour
Palace
(palais de Monaco, Palais Princier). Located in old Monaco-Ville, the
Palais Princier is well worth a visit. There are guided tours of the
castle with audio guides for self-study. The palace also offers a
breathtaking panoramic view overlooking the port and Monte-Carlo. Every
day at 11:55 a.m., visitors can watch the changing of the guard ceremony
of the "carbine" in front of the main entrance of the palace. "Carbines"
are not only responsible for the security of the prince, but also offer
him honor protection and on special occasions they are his companions.
The "Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince" has a military band (fanfare)
that performs at public concerts, official events, sporting events and
international military music festivals. Open: 10:00-18:00; Jul,Aug
10:00-19:00; Oct 17-Mar 25 to.
Cathédrale Notre-Dame-Immaculée
(Saint Nicholas Cathedral), 4 rue Colonel Bellando de Castro, 98000.
Tel.: +33 7 93 30 87 70, email: cathedrale@cathedrale.mc. Monaco
Cathedral was built in 1875 and stands on the site of an earlier
13th-century church. It is a Romanesque-Byzantine church dedicated to
Saint Nicholas and houses the remains of the former Princes of Monaco
and Princess Grace. The church square is also home to some of
Monaco-Ville's best restaurants. Open: 08:30-18:00; May-Sep:
08:00-19:00.
Jardins Saint-Martin (Saint-Martin Garden), Avenue
Saint-Martin (direction Cathédrale Notre-Dame-Immaculée). Nice park at
the southern end of Le Rocher.
Oceanographic Museum (musée
océanographique de Monaco), Avenue Saint-Martin. Tel: +33 7 93 15 36 00.
The Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium is a world famous attraction.
Located 279m above sea level, the museum houses stunning collections of
marine life, numerous specimens of sea creatures (stuffed and skeletal),
models of Prince Albert's laboratory ships and crafts made from natural
products of the sea. Exhibitions and film projections are presented
daily in the conference room on the ground floor. In the basement,
visitors can watch spectacular shows of marine flora and fauna. With
4,000 species of fish and over 200 families of invertebrates, the
aquarium is now an authority on the depiction of the Mediterranean and
tropical marine ecosystem. Finally, visitors can have lunch at "La
Terrasse" and visit the museum shop. The entrance fee depends on the
month of the visit. Students can get discounts by showing a valid
student ID. Take the number 1 or 2 bus from Monaco Monte Carlo train
station to get to the Aquarium. Feature: changing table. Open: Oct-Mar:
10am-6pm; Apr-Jun,Sep: 10:00-19:00; Jul 10:00-20:00; Dec 25 to.
The Prince's Automobile Museum (musée de l'automobile de Monaco), 5
terrasses de Fontvieille, Monaco 98000. E-mail: mtcc@mtcc.mc. This is
the right place for every car lover. There is everything from carriages
and old cars to Formula 1 racing cars. Around 100 vehicles can be seen
here. Open: 10:00-18:00; Dec 25 to. Price: adults €6.50, students €3.
Stamp Museum (musée des timbres et des monnaies de Monaco), 11 Les
Terrasses de Fontvieille, 98000. E-mail: mtm@gouv.mc
Exotic
Garden (jardin exotique de Monaco), 62, Boulevard du Jardin Exotique.
Email: jardin-exotique@mairie.mc. The Jardin Exotique is one of the many
gardens Monaco has to offer. It is also one of Monaco's top tourist
attractions. Several thousand rare plants from all over the world are
presented in a circuit that is unforgettable both for the view and for
the flora and plants. Due to the difference in elevation, there are not
only many displays of desert plants, but also a handful of subtropical
flora displays. There is also a grotto (cave) that offers guided tours.
The tour starts at the beginning of every hour and lasts approximately
25 minutes. In the cave you have to climb the stairs, which are about
the same as a 6-story building. You have to take bus number 2 to reach
this garden. You can take this bus from either the train station or the
Oceanographic Museum. Open: Nov-Jan: 09:00-17:00; Feb-Apr,Oct:
09:00-18:00; May-Sep: 09:00-19:00; Nov 19,Dec 25 to.
Yacht Club
Monaco (Yacht Club de Monaco), Quai Louis II. Tel: +377 93106300. The
Yacht Club de Monaco was founded in 1953 by Prince Rainier and has been
managed by Prince Albert II since 1984. It unites more than 1200 members
from 60 nations. Many of the most prestigious private yachts in the
world are testament to the rise of the Yacht Club de Monaco and
testament to its unique position on the international yachting scene.
The new building designed by Lord Foster is located in the heart of Port
Hercule, opposite the YCM Marina. The YCM Gallery is a new area open to
the public.
La Condamine. is the second oldest district in
Monaco, after Monaco-Ville. Here you can stop and admire the many
luxurious yachts and cruise ships that usually adorn the docks in the
marina. La Condamine is a thriving business district where you can visit
the Condamine Market and the Rue Princesse Caroline pedestrian street.
Offering pleasantly landscaped areas and modern buildings, La Condamine
is certainly worth a visit.
Grimaldi Forum, 10, Avenue Princesse
Grace. Tel.: +377 99 99 20 00, email: gf@grimaldiforum.mc. The Grimaldi
Forum is the Monaco Convention Center. Completed in July 2000, the
sun-filled oceanfront building features a remarkable glass entrance, two
meeting restaurants, an auditorium for ballet and opera, and two other
auditoriums for meetings and other affairs. The forum also offers two
large exhibition halls that can be used for trade fairs or other
exhibitions. It is also within walking distance of the surrounding
hotels.
Champions Promenade (Golden Foot). The Golden Foot
Footballer of the Year winner leaves a permanent form of his footprints
here on the beach.
Japanese Garden (jardin japonais de Monaco).
The garden is 0.7 hectares and features a stylized mountain, hill,
waterfall, beach, stream and a zen garden for meditation. The garden was
designed by Yasuo Beppu, winner of the 1990 Osaka Flower Show, as a
miniature representation of Shinto philosophy.
Rose Garden
Princess Grace
Marlborough Fine Arts Gallery, 4 Quai Antoine 1er.
Tel: +377 (0)97 70 2550. The Marlborough Fine Arts Gallery was founded
in London by Frank Lloyd and Harry Fischer. A second gallery opened in
Rome, another in New York and another in Monaco. The gallery has a large
collection of post-war artists and even paintings by Pablo Picasso, Joan
Miró, Jules Brassai, Louise Bourgeois, Dale Chihuly, David Hockney and
Henri Matisse. The gallery also offers group exhibitions. Price: free.
New National Museum - Villa Sauber, 17 Avenue Princesse Grace. Tel:
+377 98 98 91 26, email: public@nmnm.mc. Art exhibition in one of the
last Belle Epoque villas in Monaco. Open: 10:00-18:00 during
exhibitions. Price: 6€ (Villa Paloma + Villa Sauber).
Nouveau
National Museum - Villa Paloma (Nouveau musée national de Monaco, New
National Museum - Villa Paloma), 56 Boulevard du Jardin Exotique. Tel:
+377 98 98 48 60, email: public@nmnm.mc. Art exhibition at the second
location of the New National Museum. Open: 10:00-18:00 during
exhibitions. Price: 6€ (Villa Paloma + Villa Sauber).
In addition to the Monaco Grand Prix, the city also hosts the
prestigious Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, a well-known tennis competition
that has taken place every year since 1897 in April. In addition,
numerous other international cultural events take place including
concerts by major international artists, trade fairs and art
exhibitions; they mainly take place at the Grimaldi Forum, the
multifunctional exhibition center located near the beach, or at the
exclusive Sporting Club.
All events are always held under the
high patronage of the reigning prince.
Monaco Grand Prix
Monaco Red Cross Grand Gala
Monte-Carlo
International Circus Festival
Monte-Carlo Television Festival
Monaco Film Festival
Imagine
Printemps des Arts
Since Monaco is completely surrounded by France, except on the coast,
entry is only possible from France. Border controls do not take place.
By plane
The nearest airport is in France, Nice Aéroport Nice
Côte d'Azur (IATA: NCE). From there there is a helicopter shuttle to
Monaco. However, you can also travel from the airport to Monaco by train
or taxi, which is much cheaper.
By train
Monaco has only one
train station, Monaco-Monte Carlo. This is very modern and is located
near the city center. The architecture is spectacular and sometimes
confusing: the station was built into the rock together with a huge
parking garage and is almost completely underground. It is accessed from
the city via escalators and elevators - the main entrance is seen from
the tracks "above", from there it goes to the city center - the exit
with daylight directly on the platform leads to "nowhere", at least for
tourists.
The following lines operate here:
ter on the
(Grasse–) Cannes–Antibes–Nice–Monte Carlo–Menton–Ventimiglia line
(regional train with all intermediate stops, runs every 30 minutes
during the day; only 2nd class)
TGV inOui on the Paris-Gare de Lyon -
Marseille - Nice - Monte Carlo - Menton line (high-speed train, runs
only 1-2 times a day)
By bus
There are several bus routes
running along the coast between Menton and Nice, serving Monaco.
In the street
From North and West Germany you use the Autobahn via
Trier - Luxemburg - Metz - Nancy - Dijon - Lyon - Orange - Cannes - Nice
up to the Monaco exit of the French Autobahn A8. Don't forget to fill up
in Luxembourg.
Between Nice and Monaco there are three more
scenic roads: the Basse Corniche (Low Coast Road - Highway 98), along
the sea, the Moyenne Corniche (Middle Coast Road - Highway 7), which
runs through Eze-Village, and the Grande Corniche (Great Coast Road)
passing through La Turbie and Col d'Eze (Eze Pass). All are pretty
drives with spectacular views over the coastline. For extra indulgence,
rent a convertible sports car from the many airport rental companies and
enjoy the French Riviera in style.
Taxi rides to and from Nice
cost around €90. So if you're on your own, the helicopter is a viable
alternative.
By boat
Monaco has two ports (Port Hercule and
Port de Fontvielle) which are year-round destinations mainly for luxury
yachts from all over the world. West of the heliport is the port of Cap
d'Ail.
On foot
A pleasant way to arrive in Monaco is to walk
the Sentier du bord de mer (from the Cap d'Ail). (Coastal path), about
45 minutes walk on a concrete path in a natural and quiet environment.
Take the train and stop at Cap d'Ail train station (the last one before
Monaco if you come from Nice; not all trains stop there). Outside the
train station, follow the road a few meters and take the stairs on the
left to pass under the tracks. Arrived at the small road, turn left and
walk a few meters, then take the stairs to the right of the "La Pinède"
restaurant to get on the path. If you want to take the route from Monaco
to Cap d'ail train station, go west of the Fontvieille district, cross
the French border to reach Cap d'Ail port and follow the coast. After a
few minutes you will reach the Sentier du bord de mer (from Monaco) just
after a last parking lot. It can be dangerous and closed in bad weather.
In this case, you will either have to go back and take the train, or
walk on the street. There is no lighting at night.
On foot
Walking is by far the best way to explore Monaco; however,
there are some areas, such as B. the Exotic Garden, which have a large
difference in height and therefore allow for rather strenuous hikes.
There are also seven public escalators and elevators (all free) that
help negotiate the city's steep slopes. If you're on foot and want to
reach the opposite shore from Port Hercule, look for the little Bateau
Bus, a pedestrian ferry that runs every 20 minutes or so during daylight
hours; it costs €2.
By bus
Monaco has a municipal bus service,
operated by the Compagnie des Autobus Monaco, through the city's five
bus routes (designated 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6) serving 143 stops. Each stop
has the bus number(s) that stop there, and most stops have a real-time
display showing waiting times for the next service. Each stop has a name
and a network map. Service usually starts around 6am and lasts until
around 9pm. Tickets can be bought on board the buses themselves (€2) or
from many news vendors and shops around the city and from machines at
the bus stops (€1.50) - they often point out where you can do this. A
day pass allows you to use the buses all day for €5.50 (9/2016) and can
also be purchased on board the bus. A night bus runs from 10:00 p.m. to
4:00 a.m. in the roundabout.
Scooter
You can easily rent a
scooter in Nice and take a short trip east along the sea to Monaco. The
views are beautiful and the drive along the winding coastal road is fun.
There is plenty of free parking. Theft is not a problem as there are
cameras and police everywhere. To rent one you must be at least 16 years
old.
In the street
Private vehicles are uniquely useless for
getting around Monaco as you will spend more time parking than if you
walked or took a taxi.
International car rental companies have
offices at Nice Airport and also in Monte Carlo City. These include
Avis, Gare Monte Carlo, Europcar and Hertz - drivers must have held a
national driving license for at least a year and charges are usually
required to be paid on the driver's credit card. Driving in the city
center can be intimidating in Monte Carlo with heavy traffic - but it's
often worth driving alongside the more expensive vehicles in the city!
Taxi
Taking a taxi in Monaco is rather nonsensical, since the
distances are very small and everything can be reached on foot in a very
short time. In addition, taking a taxi in Monaco is very expensive and
even if you drive for a few minutes, it can happen that you have to pay
extortionate prices.
Taxis cannot be hailed on the streets (they
won't stop) and there are two main taxi ranks open 24 hours a day on
Avenue de Monte Carlo and the train station, although it's always best
to agree a fee beforehand or make sure the counter is running. Most
hotels offer taxis or taxi drivers. It is best to get the taxi service
phone number to call a taxi wherever you are.
The colloquial language and sole official language is French. In addition, a Ligurian dialect is spoken, which is called "munegascu" and can also be heard in a similar form in Liguria in Italy. Due to the proximity to Italy, one often hears Italian as well.
Shopping
Small fashion boutiques and souvenir shops can be found
throughout the city. Most of these can be found in the old town.
Shopping in Monte Carlo tends to be quite exclusive and certainly not a
place for a cheap vacation. There are plenty of ways to melt the credit
card alongside Europe's high rollers. The chic clothing stores are
located in the Golden Circle, framed by Avenue Monte Carlo, Avenue des
Beaux-Arts and Allées Lumiéres, where Hermès, Christian Dior, Gucci and
Prada are represented. The area around Place du Casino is home to
high-end jewelers such as Bulgari, Cartier and Chopard. However, you'll
find that most tourists will just enjoy wandering the area and window
shopping, even if they don't buy anything. Normal opening hours are 9am
to 12pm and 3pm to 7pm.
For more sophisticated shopping in Monte
Carlo, visit the Condamine Market. The market, located on the Place
d'Armes, has existed since 1880 and is lively and attractive - many
hours can be spent just wandering around buying souvenirs from the many
small shops, boutiques and friendly locals. However, if your shopping
tastes are more modern, just take a short stroll along the promenade to
the pedestrianized Rue Princess Caroline.
The Fontvieille
Shopping Center is also a 'normal' shopping experience with 36 shops
selling electronics, CDs, furniture and clothing, as well as a Carrefour
supermarket and McDonald's. The Tourist Office also publishes a useful
free shopping guide to the city.
The food in Monaco is varied but generally expensive, and even very
simple meals will often set you back over 20-30 euros. Check out the
menu before you visit even shabby restaurants, or be in for a surprise.
There are places where you can find decent bang for your buck, but they
often require you to know beforehand. Restaurants where the locals often
dine a bit off the waterfront and often serve up better food at lower
prices (though since you're in Monaco: nothing beats a bargain).
There are many restaurants for tourists, from the Cafe de Paris opposite
the casino to the waterfront restaurants along Port de Fontvieille.
During the winter months you will find that the restaurants have a
slightly lower price. Bouillabaisse is a good tip.
If you absolutely want to stay overnight in the small principality,
you should inquire about the prices beforehand. Most hotels are in the 4
to 5 star category.
Fairmont, 12 Avenue des Spelugues, 98000
Monaco. Tel: +377 93 506500, +888 270 6650 (toll free, for room
reservations only), Fax: +377 93 300157, Email: montecarlo@fairmont.com.
Apart from the Vatican State, Monaco is probably the safest country in the world. There are police stations on all access roads, and all major intersections are secured by uniformed police officers who also ensure that traffic flows smoothly. In addition, there are several hundred video surveillance cameras, including in all public elevators and underpasses. The police officers are friendly but determined.
The European health insurance card is not valid.
Even today, Monaco has stricter dress codes than neighboring regions. Attempting to visit the city in swimwear or similar will end up at the first cop! The dress code for the cathedral is similar to that for St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
If you want to send a postcard from Monaco, you should also buy a
Monegasque stamp, because French stamps are not valid in Monaco.
Therefore, you have to throw in the card again directly in Monaco.
Monaco is not part of the EU and therefore not part of the EU
roaming zone - making calls with your local SIM card can therefore be
very expensive. However, French networks, to which the EU roaming
regulation applies, can also be received in many parts of Monaco - so it
may help to switch off the automatic network selection and dial the
French roaming partner manually.
Inhabited since the Neolithic, the fortress and the natural harbor
already represented a safe haven for primitive populations; later it was
inhabited by the Ligurian tribes.
After the presence of the
Phoenicians, the Monegasque territory was conquered by the Greeks, who
called it Monoïkos (Μόνοικος), giving rise to the toponym "Monaco". This
name was later Latinized into Portus Herculis Monoeci (pronunciation:
portus hèrkulis mònoeki) by the Romans, who settled permanently in the
surrounding area in 122 BC, as also testified by the Thropheum Alpium,
erected by the emperor Augustus in the nearby municipality French from
La Turbie.
The territory was part of Liguria under the Roman
Empire, in the Lombard Kingdom and in the Kingdom of Italy of the
Carolingian age (therefore as part of the Empire "of the Franks and the
Romans").
Between the seventh and eighth centuries there were
numerous foundations, the abbey of San Martino of the Gallinara Island
of Albenga, which had possessions in Italy, in Catalonia and Barcelona,
in Provence especially in the Fréjus area (including the church of San
Leonzio ) and in Corsica, the monastery of Villaregia di Santo Stefano
al Mare, the abbey of Nostra Signora del Canneto di Taggia, and in Nice
between the 7th and 8th centuries the monastery of Cimiez to which the
jurisdiction of the Monegasque territory depended, which after the
damage by the Saracens it was rebuilt by the monks of the abbey of
Saint-Pons of Nice founded by the monks of Lérins towards the end of the
8th century and to which the territorial jurisdiction will pass in 1075,
together with the ancient church of Santa Devota di Les Gaumates (now La
Condamine).
In the 9th century the incursions, looting and
destruction by the Saracens became pressing and destructive and towards
the 10th century they occupied a part of Provence establishing a
fortified operational base in Frassineto (today the Garde-Freinet, near
Saint-Tropez) from which carry out raids in a large maritime area from
Marseilles to Genoa and in the Provençal, Nice, Ligurian and Piedmontese
hinterlands, with extensive destruction of entire cities, houses,
churches and monasteries. Because of the Saracen raids, the remains of
Santa Devota were saved in the monastery of Cimiez (today in the
municipality of Nice); having escaped the danger of profanation, they
returned again to his church. In 941 the Byzantine fleet destroyed that
of Frassine; in 973 there was the battle of Tourtour with the subsequent
destruction of Frassineto, fought by the combined forces of Ligurians
and Provencals organized by Count William I of Provence with the help of
the Marquis of Turin Arduino il Glabro, Pope John XIII and the emperor
Otto I of Saxony, who definitively put an end to the raids and the
Saracen occupation in Provence.
The information in the High
Middle Ages is fragmentary; it is mentioned in an imperial diploma from
Federico I Barbarossa, who in 1162 allowed Genoese merchants to use the
Monegasque territory to increase their commercial traffic. In 1215, to
guard the port, the merchants of the Ghibelline faction built the first
nucleus of the fortress on the rock, seat of the current Palazzo dei
Principi. Soon the contrasts between the Guelph and Ghibelline factions
of the nearby Republic of Genoa increased; therefore the independence of
the territory dates back to the conventional date of 8 January 1297,
when the Guelph Francesco Grimaldi, known as Malizia, seized the castle
with a stratagem: he entered the fortress disguised as a monk and, at
the right moment , with the help of his cousin Ranieri I, lord of
Cagnes-sur-Mer, assumed control with the title of Lord.
Since
then their Lordship was opposed and disputed by the major Genoese
aristocratic families, who however had to face several times the French
and Spanish armies rushed to its defense.
It was only in 1489
that King Charles VIII of France recognized the autonomy of the
Monegasque territory, officially guaranteeing its military protection.
However, in 1524, the King of Spain Charles V imposed Spanish rule on
Monaco, but a few decades later the Kingdom of France was again the
guarantor of him.
In 1612 the Grimaldis obtained the title of
Princes and Monaco legitimately became a Principality.
Surrounded
for decades by territorial disputes between the Kingdom of France, the
Kingdom of Spain and the Duchy of Savoy, the Monegasque territory was
larger than the current one. In 1794, in the wake of the revolutionary
uprisings, the Principality of Monaco was annexed to republican France.
It was only in the period of the Restoration that the Principality
regained its independence with the support of the Savoys. Until the
mid-nineteenth century, the Principality of Monaco also included the
neighboring municipalities of Menton and Roccabruna, bordering on three
sides with the province of Nice in the Kingdom of Sardinia.
On 20
March 1848 Mentone and Roccabruna declared themselves "free cities" and
placed themselves under the protection of King Carlo Alberto; the
territory of the Principality was therefore resized and grouped under
the sole municipality of Monaco, assuming the current border lines.
Already a popular tourist destination since the beginning of the
19th century, the principality underwent great development under the
reign of Charles III, who was the first to want to make the Principality
a place of elite tourism. In 1858 he commissioned the construction of
the Grand Théâtre and the annexed Casino, as well as the famous Société
des Bains de Mer, created in 1863 to enhance the beautiful Mediterranean
beaches and the particularly mild climate of the place. In 1868, taking
advantage of the construction of the French railway line, Charles III
also had a first station built, which stood in the La Rousse-Saint Roman
district. Founded following the opening of a first gambling house to
restore the state budget, the new Casino soon became a prestigious
attraction which achieved such a turnover that it allowed Charles III to
opt for the abolition of all direct taxes. The surrounding neighborhood
was also born with the Casino, which was named in his memory with the
name of Monte Carlo.
In 1860, following the Plombières Accords of
1858, Savoy, the territories surrounding the Principality and the County
of Nice were again annexed to France with the Treaty of Turin, as
territorial compensation for the military support given by France to the
Italian Risorgimento ; since then the Principality of Monaco borders
only with France, with which it maintains close ties, sanctioned by the
Treaty of Versailles of 1919.
In 1911, following a series of
street protests defined as the Monegasque revolution, the Principality
revised its system of government, establishing the form of
constitutional monarchy, and was divided into the three municipalities
of Monaco Vecchia, Monte Carlo and La Condamine. After 1917, the three
municipalities became four districts, with the addition of Fontvieille,
and were again merged into the single municipality of Monaco.
During the Second World War, Louis II of Monaco was forced to manage the
delicate issue of the Italian and German occupation from November 1942,
while maintaining the neutrality of the small state.
The most
recent and radical transformation of the Principality is due to Prince
Ranieri III who, having ascended the throne in 1949, continued with the
realization of the ambitious project of creating a high-level
international tourist centre; this intention was facilitated by the
meeting with the famous American actress Grace Kelly, who became his
wife in 1956.
Princess Grace Kelly managed to confirm the
prestige of the Monegasque royal family. Thus, Charles de Gaulle's
France had one less reason to annex the micro-nation. Subsequently
Monaco became a coveted place for numerous celebrities, with the
consequent increase in requests for prestigious properties. The work of
Prince Rainier III was characterized by the growing real estate
development and expansion of the areas of Larvotto and Fontvieille, a
district built in the seventies on land reclaimed from the sea. In
addition to increasing the size of the Monaco territory by 40%, he also
concentrated on the promulgation of favorable financial laws, which
contributed to increasing the international aura of the "dream"
Principality. To counter the flight of capital and residents in the
Principality of Monaco, the neighboring nation France imposed the
promulgation of a law that still today prohibits particular privileges
to those who obtained Monegasque citizenship after 1957.
From the
marriage of Prince Rainier III with Princess Grace Kelly three children
were born: Caroline, Albert and Stéphanie; unfortunately, on 13
September 1982, the tragic death of his wife following a serious car
accident deprived the Principality of Monaco of the figure of Princess
Grace, to the great dismay of the Monegasque population and the entire
international entertainment world.
However, Prince Ranieri III
continued with his family in his ambitious development project, also
supported by his son-in-law Stefano Casiraghi, husband of the eldest
daughter Caroline. Unfortunately Stefano Casiraghi also died suddenly on
October 3, 1990 following a nautical accident that occurred during the
offshore world championships, while he was off Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat,
piloting his catamaran.
In 1993 the Principality of Monaco became
a member of the United Nations and, although it is not part of the
European Union, it has aligned itself with the economic and customs
policy of Europe, also adopting the Euro.
In the spring of 2005
the health conditions of the old Ranieri became critical and his son
Albert II took over the regency. On 6 April of the same year, after the
death of his father, who died at the age of 82, Albert II became the new
ruler of the Principality of Monaco.
On 1 July 2011, Albert II of
Monaco was civilly married to former Zimbabwean athlete and model
Charlène Wittstock; the religious function was celebrated by the
Archbishop of Monaco, Monsignor Bernard Barsi on 2 July 2011 at the
Palace of the Princes of Monaco, in the presence of representatives of
the major noble houses of Europe, as well as celebrities and financial
figures.
Remnant of the ancient Italian states, the Principality of Monaco
with its 2.02 km² is, after the Vatican City, the second smallest
sovereign state in the world.
Its territory is a narrow strip of
land on the Côte d'Azur at the foot of the Alps whose highest point is
at the top of the Chemin des Révoires, 163 meters above sea level. It
falls within the Italian geographical region, overlooking the Riviera di
Ponente, on the coast of the Ligurian Sea, 18 kilometers east of Nice
and 14 km southwest of Ventimiglia and on the border with Italy.
It is surrounded on three sides by the French department of
Alpes-Maritimes in the French region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and
borders the French communes of Cap-d'Ail, Beausoleil, La Turbie and
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, of which it shares part of the urban
agglomeration.
From an administrative point of view, the
principality consists of a single municipality, divided into ten
administrative districts (Quartiers) which cover the entire national
territory.
The principality's climate is typically Mediterranean, characterized
by mild, wet winters and hot, dry, windy summers with a high percentage
of sunny days.
The average temperature, according to the last 75
years of observations, varies from 10.2 °C in January to 23.7 °C in
August, while the days of sunshine are around an annual average of 107
and those with rain do not exceed 62. Snow precipitations are very rare.
The Principality of Monaco has been a hereditary constitutional
monarchy since 1911. Its system of government is a unicameral one and,
according to the Constitution of the Principality of 17 December 1962,
the legislative power belongs to the reigning sovereign in the role of
Head of State, who since 6 April 2005 is Albert II of Monaco, son of
Rainier III and Grace Kelly, already regent since March 31 of the same
year.
Executive power is exercised by the Government
(Gouvernement Princier), made up of the Minister of State (Ministre
d'État), the second office of the State, appointed by the reigning
prince from a list of candidates proposed by France, and by the Council
of Government (Conseil du Gouvernement Princier) which in turn presides;
this body is made up of five Ministries (Départements), represented by
as many ministers (Conseillers du Gouvernement Princier). The current
Minister of State is Pierre Dartout.
Legislative power is
exercised by the reigning prince and by the National Council (Conseil
National), the parliament made up of 24 members elected every 5 years by
direct universal suffrage elections and by list ballot by Monegasques
over the age of 21. This assembly votes the laws and the state budget,
meeting twice a year in ordinary session, and can be convened in
extraordinary session by the prince or at the request of 2/3 of the
members. The meetings are public and the report of the debates published
in the Official Gazette of Monaco. The prince has the initiative of the
law; therefore, bills are prepared by the Government and voted by the
National Council, but only the prince has the power of promulgation.
The judicial power belongs to the sovereign, who delegates its full
exercise to the courts and tribunals. In Monaco there is no Minister of
Justice, whose functions are managed by the Directorate of Judicial
Services (Direction des Services Judiciaires); the judges are
independent and the judicial organization of the principality is
complete. The judicial system refers to French law and makes use of the
activity of a Supreme Court (Tribunal Suprême), which deals with
constitutional aspects, administrative disputes and conflicts of
jurisdiction.
Then there are other administrative bodies:
Crown Council (Conseil de la Couronne): appointed by the Prince, it
includes 7 members of Monegasque nationality. The president and three
members of the Council are appointed by the sovereign. The three
remaining members are appointed on the proposal of the National Council.
It meets at least twice a year to deliberate decisions on matters
concerning the best interests of the state. It is compulsorily consulted
for international treaties, the dissolution of the National Council,
applications for naturalization and cases of pardon or amnesty;
Council of State (Conseil d'État): it is a consultative assembly made up
of 12 members designated by the prince, whose mission is to issue, at
the request of the prince, an opinion on draft laws and sovereign
ordinances.
Economic Council (Conseil Économique et Social): made up
of 30 members appointed by the prince and upon presentation by the
Government, the Patronal Federation and the Workers' Union (Union des
syndicats de Monaco). The Government can consult him on State economic
matters and his essential function is to foster dialogue between the
social partners.
A peculiarity about the principality concerned its fate in the absence of direct heirs of the reigning prince: in their absence, in fact, the Monegasque territory would have become French. Until 2002, to make up for this legislative loophole, it was only possible to issue an ordinance (Ordonnance Souvraine) which legitimized the assumption of the Grimaldi surname and coat of arms, for all male members who married a descendant of the aforementioned family. However, in 2002 an amendment to the Principality's Constitution issued by the Conseil National established that "in the absence of direct and legitimate descendants, the succession takes place for the benefit of the brothers and sisters of the reigning prince and their direct and legitimate descendants, in order of primogeniture, with precedence given to males with the same degree of kinship". This will allow the Principality of Monaco to remain a sovereign state even in the absence of direct heirs to the throne.
The Principality of Monaco is one of the few autonomous states in the
world that does not have a national army.
However, the Police de
Monaco, as the only police force in the principality, carries out a
widespread service throughout the territory. The body of the Police de
Monaco was founded in 1902 at the behest of Prince Albert I and since
1962 it has depended directly on the Minister of State. With over 500
police officers at its disposal, the Police de Monaco incessantly
patrols (by car or more often on foot) the streets and places of
greatest affluence and, supported by a complex system of video cameras,
constantly keeps the entire town under control and all the accesses to
it.
There is also a division named Police Maritime which operates
every year in the summer to patrol the waters and the major public beach
located in the Larvotto district.
Then there is the Prince's
Company of Carabinieri (Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince) which is a
special ceremonial military unit in service at the Palazzo dei Principi,
founded by Prince Honoré IV in 1817 with the name of Company of the
Guards. The military corps assumed its current name on 26 January 1904
following a reorganization desired by Prince Albert I and its task is to
protect the person of the sovereign prince and his family, especially on
solemn civil, military and religious. It is therefore present on every
public occasion within the principality where a member of the Grimaldi
family is present and often also makes use of the collaboration of the
Police de Monaco.
The principality can also count on the Corps
des Sapeurs-Pompiers, the firefighters, who have two operations centers:
in the Fontvieille and La Condamine districts.
The number to dial
for any type of emergency is 17.
There are mainly three parties: Union of Monegasques (Union
Monégasque), Grouping & Betting (Rassemblement & Enjeux) and Primo!
Priority Monaco (Primo! Priorité Monaco). Other parties are the National
Union for the Future of Monaco (Union nationale pour l'avenir de Monaco)
and the Union for the Principality (Union pour la Principauté), gathered
in the coalition Union for Monaco (Union pour Monaco). There are also
minor parties, the most important of which are Promotion of the
Monegasque Family (Promotion de la famille monégasque) and Monegasque
Synergy.
Elections to the National Council (Conseil National)
take place every five years; the last legislative elections in 2018
assigned the absolute majority of votes to Priorité Monaco (21 seats),
to the outgoing coalition (mainly made up of Raggruppamento & Scommesse
members) 26.1% (2 seats) and to Union Monégasque on 16 .2% (one seat).
The Union des syndicats de Monaco is the only trade union in the Principality of Monaco and brings together all the acronyms of trade unions.
Thanks to the huge revenues of four very famous casinos and the
various tourist activities managed by the Société des Bains de Mer
group, the economy of the principality is characterized by the absence
of direct taxes and by the presence of a highly confidential banking
secrecy; this makes it a sort of "tax haven". However, according to a
precise agreement stipulated with France, French citizens cannot enjoy
this exemption if they obtained citizenship of the principality after
1957.
With over 200,000 visitors annually, its flourishing
economy is based on tourism, but also on various financial and real
estate activities and on light industry active in the chemical,
cosmetic, food, clothing and polygraphic sectors.
Although the
principality is not part of the European Union (and will never be able
to be part of it until there are direct taxes on citizens), at the
customs level it is considered as such, therefore all companies on its
territory have their own "VAT" (the European VAT) starting with the
abbreviation "FR".
The principality was linked to the French
franc for a very long time, but since 2002 the legal tender has been the
euro. Similarly to what happened with the franc, even with the entry
into force of the euro, the Principality of Monaco has continued to mint
its own coins in reduced quantities and for this reason they are also
highly sought after by collectors. The face of Albert II is portrayed on
the 2 euro and 1 euro coins, the monogram of Prince Albert II is
depicted on the 50, 20 and 10 cent coins, while the 5, 2 and 1 cent
coins bear the the princely coat of arms of the Grimaldi dynasty.
An example above all, which testifies to the value and rarity of
some coins of the principality of Monaco, is the 2 euro commemorative
coin minted in 2007 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the death
of Princess Grace Kelly. The value of this coin easily exceeds €1000 and
is highly sought after by numismatic collectors.
The Principality of Monaco, despite its small size, is a cosmopolitan
state. Furthermore, the population density rate is the highest in the
world, with an average of 1.86 inhabitants per square decametre. It has
a presence of 38,800 inhabitants of which just 7,634 are Monegasques, or
20.1% of the population, so that the Principality of Monaco is one of
the European sovereign states with the lowest percentage of native
population.
The most important presence is that of the French
with 26.3% of the population, followed by the Italians (18.57%) and the
British (7.51%).
The remaining 24% includes about 140 different
nationalities.
France France, 8 435
Munich Munich, 8 218
Italy Italy, 5 558
United Kingdom United Kingdom, 2 378
Portugal
Portugal, 1 003
According to the provisions of the Constitution, Monegasque
citizenship is acquired by naturalisation, marriage, adoption or
filiation.
In the latter case, article 1 of the Law on
Citizenship makes use of the ius sanguinis, therefore the child born of
a Monegasque father is Monegasque. As far as the transmission of
citizenship from the mother's side is concerned, the legislative
framework is more complex; in fact, the person born:
to a mother born
in Monaco who still held citizenship at the time of birth;
to a
Monegasque mother with a Monegasque-born ancestor;
from a Monegasque
mother who acquired Monegasque nationality by naturalisation, by
reintegration or by option in application of law number 964 of 8 July
1975;
from a mother who acquired Monegasque citizenship following a
declaration preceded by simple adoption.
Unlike in the past,
being a resident or born in the Principality of Monaco does not entitle
you to acquire Monegasque citizenship. Only individuals born in Monaco
of unknown parents obtain Monegasque citizenship by birth; this is the
only case in which Monegasque law uses the ius soli, in addition to the
usual ius sanguinis.
Residents of the Principality of Monaco
benefit from advantageous tax conditions, such as the total absence of
any direct tax, with the exception of residents of French citizenship,
who are subject to French taxation following the tax convention of 18
May 1963. Hence the considerable interest in obtaining this residency
and its rights.
The Catholic religion is the official cult of the state, however
religious freedom is guaranteed.
The principality is the seat of
the archdiocese of Monaco, immediately subject to the Holy See and
governed by Archbishop Dominique-Marie David, since 21 January 2020. The
cathedral of the Immaculate Conception stands in the Old Monaco
district.
The patron saint of the principality is Saint Devota, a
Roman martyr whose veneration dates back to 300 AD. She is celebrated on
January 27 of each year by the faithful who flock to the small and
graceful chapel of the same name at the port, to then proceed with the
ritual burning of the boat duly filled with olive, pine and laurel
branches. Tradition has it that a thief, in ancient times, wanting to
take possession of the relics of the saint, was blocked fleeing on a
boat by some fishermen and that this was burned; the re-enactment of
this event is meant to symbolize the expiation of sins.
Another
venerated saint is Saint Romanus, a legionary martyred in 258 AD. during
the reign of Emperor Valerian; his anniversary is November 19th.
On the other hand, June 24 is dedicated to the anniversary of Saint John
the Baptist and for the occasion on the square of the Palais Princier
parades in historical costumes, dances and songs are held, while inside
the chapel of the palace, dedicated to Saint John, the Grimaldi family
attend a religious ceremony. Subsequently, two valets of the palace
light a large bonfire in the center of the square, around which it is
customary to dance the farandole, an ancient Provençal dance that
symbolizes the human journey through life's experiences.
The official language of the State is French but, due to the
international tourist vocation of the principality and the high presence
of foreign residents of various nationalities, Italian and English are
also widely spoken.
Monaco (monégasque or monéguier/muneghié), on
the other hand, is a Ligurian dialect similar to the Ventimiglia
dialect. It enjoyed the prerogative of official language together with
French until 1962 [citation needed], the year of the entry into force of
the new Constitution, and is optionally taught in the schools of the
principality. In the alleys of the old town, the street names are shown
in both French and Monegasque, as well as on the signs that delimit the
national borders.
Finally, Occitan is a known language,
especially until the mid-nineteenth century, when the territory of the
principality was more extensive, but in recent decades it has been
spoken very little.
Monegasque education depends on the Départment de l'Intérieur and is
free and compulsory from 6 to 16 years of age. Organized on the model of
the French one, it includes primary schools and seven-year lycées.
University
The principality of Monaco has its own university: the
International University of Monaco, founded in 1986.
In the
Fontvieille district there is also a private university with courses
exclusively in English, mainly oriented towards economic disciplines.
Sanitary system
From a medical point of view, the principality
offers an excellent level of health care service but, not being part of
the European Union, requires specific documentation or health insurance
policy for all non-resident foreign citizens.
The modern Center
Hôspitalier "Princesse Grace" polyclinic is located in the La Colle
district, made up of the hospital which is located in the principality
and of Cap Fleuri, located across the border in Cap-d'Ail. The facility
specializes in cardiac surgery and overall hosts 17 wards with over 600
beds.
In addition, the following private structures are based in
Munich:
Institut Monégasque de Médecine et Chirurgie Sportive (clinic
specializing in sports medicine)
Center Cardio-Thoracique (a world
renowned private cardiology clinic)
Center d'Hémodialyse (specialized
hemodialysis clinic)
Clinique "Ranieri III" (geriatric clinic)
Finally, the Monegasque Red Cross (Croix-Rouge Monégasque), or the
National Society of the International Movement of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent, founded on 23 March 1948 by Prince Louis II, is located at 27
Boulevard de Suisse.
Vehicles and license plates
The Principality of Monaco issues its
own vehicle registration plates for all motor vehicles and motor
vehicles registered in its territory by persons or companies residing
there and on which road tax is in force.
They are recognizable by
their smaller size compared to other European plates and the blue
alphanumeric characters on a white background; to the side there is a
box, where the receipt of the road tax is applied annually in the form
of a sticker bearing the coat of arms of the principality and the
current year.
In addition to a whole series of plates intended
for particular uses (public transport, diplomatic corps, vintage cars,
test plates, temporary plates), there are also plates intended for
vehicles used by the Grimaldi family, distinguished by the letters "MC"
before the numbering and by the Grimaldi coat of arms next to it.
Since 2013, plates also include the initials "MC" in a blue
rectangle, in compliance with European Community standards.
Roads
and highways
The Principality of Monaco has no motorway section
within it and the closest motorway exit is the La Turbie exit "58" of
the Autoroute A8 "La Provençale", which is connected to Monaco via the
Autoroute A500, of owned by Autoroutes Esterel-Côte-d'Azur (ESCOTA); the
toll booth of the A8 is 8 km from the Principality of Monaco.
The
other connections with France are with the following departmental roads:
D 53 Monaco - Beausoleil
D 6307 Monaco - La Turbie
Furthermore, the D 6007 which goes from Menton to Mandelieu-la-Napoule
passes not far from the border with the Principality of Monaco.
Bus
The principality has its own urban transport company managed by
the CAM (Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco), founded in 1936.
The
company is made up of a fleet of 34 buses that manage 5 ordinary urban
lines, for a total of 43 km and 142 ordinary stops.
For users
over 65 years of age, the service is completely free.
Railroad
The Principality of Monaco is also crossed for 1.7 km by the railway
line, managed by the French company SNCF, the only station is that
Monaco - Monte Carlo which is partly located in the neighboring French
municipality of Beausoleil.
You bring
Renowned marina for
decades, destination of celebrities from all over the world, Port of
Hercules Port Hércule is the main port of call of the principality.
During the first years of the 21st century it underwent a major
expansion, which now also allows large cruise ships to dock, thanks to
the construction of a semi-mobile quay partly anchored in the water and
partly fixed to the mainland.
Not far away there is also a second
minor port, the port of Fontvieille, built in the seventies together
with the district of the same name.
Air connections
The
nearest airport is Nice Airport, 32 km away. In the principality there
is a well-equipped heliport on the seafront in the Fontvieille district
with two transport companies which guarantee capillary connections by
helicopter with the nearby "Nice Cote d'Azur" airport in just a few
minutes.
Another helicopter landing pad is located on top of the
Center Hôspitalier "Princesse Grace".
Postal Service
A first Monegasque postal delivery service began as
early as 1640 following a Franco-Monegasque friendship treaty.
The first Monegasque stamps were only printed from 1885 at the behest of
Prince Charles III. Since 1937, the postal service of the principality
has been managed by the company La Poste Monaco.
Founded at the
behest of Prince Louis II, the historic headquarters are at the Palais
de la Scala, in Avenue Henri Dunant and consists of 7 branches within
the principality.
The postal code of the Principality of Monaco
is, similarly to the French system, distinguished by the number 98000.
Telephony
As early as 1890, the principality was equipped with
the first public telephones managed by the Office Monégasque des
Téléphones.
In 1997 Monaco Telecom was born, which supplies the
principality's residents and businesses with the full range of products
and services of a telecommunications operator, holding a monopoly on
fixed-line telephony, internet access and television according to a
concession agreement stipulated between the Monegasque State and Monaco
Telecom.
The telephone company is a member of Eurecom and has
also developed on the international market by establishing various
commercial agreements with other players in the telecommunications
sector.
All calls made within the territory of the principality
are completely free.
Press and newspapers
There is only one
newspaper in the principality:
Monaco Matin (local edition of Nice
Matin)
Three weekly:
Le Journal de Monaco (the equivalent of
the Official Gazette)
Monk Hebdo
QE-Magazine
Five monthly:
The Principality
The Observer of Monaco
The Monaco Gazette
Montecarlo In (in Italian language)
WAP Munich
In addition to
numerous other periodicals.
Radio
In 1933, in the European
frequency plan, a radio wavelength was assigned to the Principality of
Monaco. At the end of the 1930s Max Brusset, former owner of Radio
Méditerranée, asked for authorization to found an entirely Monegasque
radio station based in the principality.
Thus was born RMC,
national radio of the principality and its exclusive broadcaster from
1943 to 1981. Since then RMC has grown into an editorial group at the
head of different radio stations broadcasting from Monaco and Paris to
the Principality of Monaco, France and the Middle East.
In 1966
an Italian-language radio channel of the same name was also born which
later, thanks to the direction of Noël Coutisson, became the independent
broadcaster Radio Monte Carlo with headquarters and studios in Milan,
Rome and Monaco, from which it broadcasts simultaneously on Italy,
Principality of Monaco and the French Riviera.
Its moment of
maximum splendor was between the end of the sixties and the
mid-seventies. The private broadcaster, free from the constraints of
traditional Italian radios, broadcast songs often censored by Rai,
helping to spread an informal language throughout the peninsula.
Purchased by the Finelco S.p.A. Group in 1987, since then it has become
part of a network that includes the major Italian private radio
stations.
Overall, the following radio stations are present in
the principality:
Monaco Info (broadcasts in French)
Radio Monaco
(98.2 MHz / 95.4, broadcasts in French language)
Radio FG Monaco
(96.1 MHz, broadcasts in French)
RMC (98.8 MHz, broadcasts in French)
Radio Monte-Carlo (92.7 / 101.6 MHz / 106.8 / 107.3 MHz, broadcasts in
Italian)
Riviera Radio (106.3/106.5 MHz, broadcasts in English)
Television
In the Principality of Monaco almost all the channels
of French television and some of Italian television can be received, in
addition there is Télé Monte-Carlo, also known only by the acronym TMC,
which is the national television broadcaster of the principality, as
well as the oldest broadcaster private television station in Europe,
founded in 1954 and inaugurated by Prince Rainier III. His first live
television broadcast was on the occasion of Prince Rainier III's Mariage
Princier with American actress Grace Kelly.
In the 1980s an
agreement was stipulated with France and the signal was strengthened,
which could be picked up as far as Montpellier.
After a period of
decline and downsizing during the nineties, the channel was relaunched
returning to a daily programming. Since 2001, the channel has taken on a
new format which has reduced its connotation as a Monaco network and has
become available via digital terrestrial.
TMC's target audience
is general entertainment and news dissemination.
Similarly to
what happened for the Monegasque radio station, in 1974 TMC also began
broadcasting its programs in Italian and a television station of the
same name was founded with headquarters in Milan, becoming one of the
first national networks in the nascent Italian private television
market. The Italian TMC was active until 2001, when it changed its name
to LA7.
There are also two other private television stations in
the principality: Monaco Channel and Monaco Info.
One of the most exclusive destinations in the world, the city is
characterized by a densely populated urban area which coincides with the
entire area of the Principality of Monaco. In addition to the Rocca (le
Rocher) and the Palazzo dei Principi, one of its characteristics is the
dense succession of various multi-storey buildings concentrated mainly
in the Larvotto district and in that of Monte Carlo, considered the true
geographical centre.
It houses the famous Sporting-Club, the Port
Hércule and the famous Casino, perhaps the best-known place, visited by
tens of thousands of people who try their luck and stay in the exclusive
Hôtel de Paris or at the no less well-known Hérmitage.
The urban
plan is complex and varied, with more or less pronounced curves and
gradients sloping down towards the seafront. However, a good road
organization, a series of tunnels and numerous underground car parks
make it quite easy to travel and park even with your own means.
The constant need for building space has led since the seventies to a
great expansion of its territory by subtracting space from the sea. The
most obvious example is the Fontvieille district where, together with an
industrial area and a second port, there is also the multipurpose
stadium named after Louis II.
Since the nineties, the city, in
constant ferment, has been affected by the construction of new
accommodation infrastructures and by expansion works in the areas
closest to the sea and in Port Hércule itself, which is now able to
accommodate even the largest cruise ships . In the La Rousse - Saint
Roman district, the Tour Odéon was built (2009-2015), the tallest
skyscraper in the principality at 170 m in height.
The city also
has several green areas, including the Japanese Garden, which is located
near the Grimaldi Forum.
Administrative subdivision
The
Principality has no administrative subdivisions, but its entire
territory constitutes a single municipality which, however, has a legal
personality distinct from that of the State.
The four traditional
neighborhoods are:
Old Monaco, the original city, located on a rocky
promontory that extends over the Mediterranean, known as le Rocher (the
Rock);
La Condamine, the port area (Port Hércule);
Monte Carlo,
undoubtedly the most famous area of the principality, known for its
famous casino, social life and because its streets host the famous
Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix;
Fontvieille, the new residential area
that extends southwest, towards Nice, built almost entirely on an
embankment conquered from the sea.
Other sub-neighborhoods are
counted for statistical purposes:
Moneghetti (in the La Condamine
area);
Larvotto (in the Monte Carlo area), the easternmost area,
where the beaches and the famous Sporting Club are located;
La
Rousse/Saint-Roman (including Le Ténao), in the Monte Carlo area;
Saint Michel, in the Monte Carlo area;
La Colle, in the La Condamine
area;
Les Révoires (in the La Condamine area), the innermost area,
where the well-known exotic garden is located.
An eleventh
district, Le Portier, is being studied and should be built on an
expansion area towards the sea, in the area between Monte Carlo and
Larvotto. The project was abandoned in 2009 by Prince Albert II due to
the state of the principality's finances but new funds were subsequently
raised and the project was restarted.