Monaco

Rick Steves:  Although "independent," Monaco is run as a piece of France.  A French civil servant appointed by the French president--with the blessing of Monaco's prince--serves as state minister and manages the place.

We took a taxi from VilleFranche to Monaco.  Not a long ride, about 30 minutes.  We stayed at the Columbus-Monaco Hotel which is in the Fontvielle section of Monaco.  It was a very modern and first class place.  Every day at 11:55 am on the palace square, the changing of the guard takes place.  We checked our watches and headed walking to "the Rock".  Actually it was a 15 minute walk, but a lot of it was up hill.  But we did see the changing of the guard.

 The view from our room at the Hotel Columbus-Monaco

 The Princess Grace Rose Garden

 Morning view looking West from our hotel veranda.

 The Fontvielle area of Monaco is newly built on reclaimed land.

The Place du Palais (Palace Square) is on "the Rock".

It was only a 15 minute walk, but mostly up hill.

 Monaco viewed on the way to "the Rock".

Port Hercule- Monaco

We made it to the Palace Square in time for the changing of the guard.

The views from the Palace level are Wow!  The area is referred to as Monaco-Ville.  It had some restaurants, churches, the Cathedral of Monaco, and the Jacques Cousteau Aquarium.

The statute of a woman with a fishing net is dedicated to Prince Albert I's reign (1889-1922).  Prince Albert is (not in the can).  He's part of the Grimaldi family which captured Monaco in 1297 and is thus the longest-lasting dynasty in Europe.

 Musee de la Chapelle de la Visitation

Chapel of the Visitation

 It's a wedding at the Hotel de Ville (City Hall)

Groom and Bride exiting City Hall

 Cathedral of Monaco

 Cathedral of Monaco, rebuilt in 1878.

 Cathedral interior.

 The grave of Princess Grace......

.......and her husband, Prince Rainer.

We wanted to find some live performing art in Monaco.  We looked around town for posters announcing possibilities.  I thought I saw it.  An announcement from Le Theatre des Muses, Invitation presentation de Saison.  Mmm, that seems to say an invitation to preview the attractions coming for the new theater season.  We took a cab to the theater's address and found a delightful, small theater venue.  People were entering and so we followed.  The presentation turned out to be more of a lecture about all the plays on the menu for the coming season.  Too bad it was all in French!  Oh well, just an hour and a half of smiling like we knew what was being said.  Afterwards we took the first city bus we could grab at 11 pm.  Ouala!  a free tour  of the city at night, including the Monte-Carlo Casino.