MONACO IS A RICH PLACE BUT NOT THE WAY YOU THINK
Today I read an article written by Matt Lillywhite in MEDIUM. In there, he is very dismissive of the Principality of Monaco and gives a description that does not do the city-state justice. Of course, Monaco hasn’t got the charm, the character, and the uniqueness of a city like Venice. But to sum this country up to a costly place where there is nothing to see except yachts, billionaires to be idolized and fancy supercars is unfair and certainly the result of an attitude where stereotypes and prejudices are the main ingredients. After reading his unrealistic description of Paris, I am inclined to think that this is again the case with Monaco.
Below, I take you for a tour of Monaco that I have illustrated with my personal photos. I am neither a professional photographer nor a tour operator; It happens that I go to the French Riviera in the summer on a regular basis and often make several night stops in the principality. Thanks to my text, I hope you’ll realize that Monaco has a lot to offer to visitors.
YACHTS & FANCY SUPERCARS
Let us cover that one right from the beginning. Yes, it is one of the facets of this country that can fascinate many. Below are two recent shots to demonstrate this.
One should not stop there and must do a bit of an effort to go/walk beyond the port and the casino square.
MARITIME SCENERY
One thing is certain, if you’ve got boats, the sea is there and this is one of the first asset of this country. The Mediterranean Sea is omnipresent in Monaco and it offers spectacular views despite the fact you are in town. Below are some examples.
THE OLD CITY OF MONACO
As I said, in Monaco, you should make an effort and walk away from the port and up to the old city. The principality has a long history. It was founded by the Phocaean Greek nearby the 6th-century BC. After a tormented history, in the 19th century Monaco became stable and was able to prosper from a strong economic development. The old city is very picturesque. It is a pleasure to stroll through its narrow streets and walk along its old buildings. You can feel the influence of Northern Italy.
MONACO AND ROCOCO STYLE BUILDINGS
When the principality started enjoying its strong development growth at the beginning of the 20th century, many buildings representative of the rococo style were built- Among them, the famous casino.
MONACO ARCHITECTURAL AVANT-GARDE
But Monaco is not a city-state of the past. It has many symbols of modernism representative of the 20th and 21st century. If you like modern architecture, the principality is a place that you can enjoy as well. Many buildings of the most modern architectural style are visible in Monaco.
MONACO IS A CITY OF ART
Not only does architecture indicate that Monaco is a city that promotes art and culture, but the streets and the port are full of various pieces of art that you watch and enjoy free of charge. Not bad for a costly place. Many of them are the creation of very famous artists like Miro, Vasarely, Botero, etc. You can see them in the gardens, in the port, in the streets, etc. It is fascinating.
MONACO MUSEUM OF ART
For those who are prepared to spend time in the museums, in addition to the famous Oceanographic Museum, there are the two museums, Villa Paloma and Villa Sauber, that make up the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco. Exhibitions that are highly rated internationally are available there. There, among others, we had the opportunity to see Miro’s and George Condo’s paintings and that was fantastic. If price is your concern, note that the ticket is very cheap because it is highly subsidized by the prince. Below are some shots we made.
MONACO AND MUSIC
The Grimaldi Family is reigning over Monaco. This family has a long tradition of a passion for music and ballet. The Philharmonic Orchestra of Monte Carlo is renowned and I recommend that you go to one of its concerts in the Rainier III auditorium to attend one of its sessions.
MONACO GARDENS
Monaco is a green city where you have many parks and gardens to go for a rest while walking through this very active city. Especially in summer, you see flowers everywhere and the presence of many trees give a taste of nature to the principality.
MY CONCLUSION
Monaco is certainly a wealthy city but it is rich in many other ways. I hope that I have aroused your curiosity enough to come and discover them.
