Monaco
The first inhabitants of the area were the Ligurians, who were mountaineers. The route to Monaco and the old fortifications there were attributed to the Greek hero Heracles. This place was known as Port Hercules. The name “Monaco”, “Monoikos” in Greek is nearly always associated with Hercules. In Greek, Heracles Monoikos may mean “Heracles alone” or “Heracles who has only one temple.” After the fall of the Roman Empire, barbarians ravaged the region until the end of the 10th century. On June 10, 1215, the Genoese Ghibellines laid the first stone of the fortress. It was a place of constant strife, capture and recapture by representative of the Guelphs and the Ghibellines. It was Lambert Grimaldi who convinced King Charles VIII of France to recognize the independence of Monaco.
When the French Revolution broke out, dire straights came to Monaco. The Princes of Monaco depended on income from their lands in France, which was removed by the suppression of feudal rights voted by the French Constituent Assembly. Two opposing parties came into being in Monaco; one was the supporter of the sovereignty and the other, the Party of the People, wanted the power of the government to be in the power of the people. The Party of the People won, and decided to become part of France. The second Treaty of Paris placed the Principality under the protection of the King of Sardinia. It wasn’t until 1861 that Monaco regained independence, but its land was greatly reduced. The Principality was deprived of revenue, so the ruling family came up with the idea of establishing a gaming house.
It was Prince Albert I to which Monaco owe its development. Prince Albert’s son, Prince Rainier married Miss Grace Kelly in 1956. Prince Rainier transformed Monaco into a thriving international financial, business, cultural and sports and premier luxury tourist destination. He also launched the land reclamation project that extended Monaco’s territory by 20%. On September 14, 1982, Princess Grace died in a motor car accident, that was believed to have been caused by her daughter. In 1993, Monaco became the United Nation’s 183rd Member State.
When the French Revolution broke out, dire straights came to Monaco. The Princes of Monaco depended on income from their lands in France, which was removed by the suppression of feudal rights voted by the French Constituent Assembly. Two opposing parties came into being in Monaco; one was the supporter of the sovereignty and the other, the Party of the People, wanted the power of the government to be in the power of the people. The Party of the People won, and decided to become part of France. The second Treaty of Paris placed the Principality under the protection of the King of Sardinia. It wasn’t until 1861 that Monaco regained independence, but its land was greatly reduced. The Principality was deprived of revenue, so the ruling family came up with the idea of establishing a gaming house.
It was Prince Albert I to which Monaco owe its development. Prince Albert’s son, Prince Rainier married Miss Grace Kelly in 1956. Prince Rainier transformed Monaco into a thriving international financial, business, cultural and sports and premier luxury tourist destination. He also launched the land reclamation project that extended Monaco’s territory by 20%. On September 14, 1982, Princess Grace died in a motor car accident, that was believed to have been caused by her daughter. In 1993, Monaco became the United Nation’s 183rd Member State.
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Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception but sometimes called Saint Nicholas Cathedral (name of the old church which was demolished in 1874), or Monaco Cathedral, is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monaco, where many of the Grimaldis were buried, including Grace Kelly and—more recently—Rainier III. The cathedral was built in 1875–1903 and consecrated in 1911, and is on the site of the first parish church in Monaco built in 1252 and dedicated to Saint Nicholas. Of note are the retable (circa 1500) to the right of the transept, the Great Altar and the Episcopal throne in white Carrara marble. Pontifical services take place on the major religious festivals. On feast days and during religious music concerts, one can hear the magnificent four-manual organ, inaugurated in 1976. |
Monte Carlo Casino
Casino comes from the word “casina”, a small house for courtesans. The first casino was built in 1863, and named in 1866 in honor of Prince Charles III of Monaco. Monte Carlo Casino is known for its high-class European gaming environment. Monte Carlo was where French roulette was first introduced in the 18th century. |
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Prince's Palace
The Palace first began as a fortress in 1911 when the German Emperor Henry IV ceded the land to the Republic of Genoa on the condition that they build defenses to combat piracy. On January 8, 1297 Francois Grimaldi disguised himself as a monk and asked for shelter at the Palace, Grimaldi then captured the fortress for the Grimaldi. During the French Revolution, on January 1793 the National Convention of France ordered all occupied lands to be governed by independent administrations based on those of France. The Palace was occupied and looted by the citizens of Monaco. The objects of Grimaldi wealth were sold at auction. The State Apartments were turned into a military hospital for the Italian army, the throne room was used as a kitchen and the rest of the Palace was a Poorhouse. |
Port Hercules
This natural harbour has been used for trade since antiquity by the Roman empire however the actual port project was envisioned by Prince Albert I in the early 1900s. Realising the importance of urbanization and advancement, he undertook various infrastructural projects in the principality and Hercules port was one among them as a requirement of a harbour was crucial for promoting trade and tourism, particularly for accommodating increased boats and yachts in that part of the sea. The construction of the port began in 1901 and was completed in 1926. The port was carefully designed and initially, two jetties were constructed. However, the port faced the eastern wind system and needed enhanced sheltered protection. Hence in the 1970’s it underwent an expansion and necessary infrastructural development. It was in this direction that a harbour wall, weighing more than 1 lakh tonnes and 350 meters long was constructed to provide shelter. Prince Albert II built the Yacht club in Monaco and continued to develop the port into one of Europe’s most modern, luxurious and well-equipped marinas. Thus, today the port is one of the world’s most famous ocean cruise destinations, welcoming yachts and superyachts along with boats and huge cruise ships and vessels. |
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