Fairfield County Look - Discover the Marvels of Monaco

Discover the Marvels of Monaco

By Carolyn W. Paddock

Stretched along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Monaco, the world’s second smallest country (after Vatican City) at only 0.7 square miles, offers a treasure trove of extraordinary beauty, dazzling excitement, and is bursting with activities. It is probably best known for its Casino de Monte-Carlo, its late movie star princess, Grace Kelly, and the most glamorous race on the Formula One circuit, the Monaco Grand Prix. However, having been fortunate enough to visit this tiny principality close to a dozen times, I want to share some of its current attractions and less famous, but no less exquisite, wonders with you.

View of La Condamine

This summer, the most widely anticipated event is undoubtedly the marriage of Monaco’s current ruler, Prince Albert II, to Charlene Whittstock of South Africa, a former Olympic swimmer. The civil ceremony on July 1st will be televised on giant screens set up in the Palace Square, where all 3,000+ Monagasque citizens are invited to attend and enjoy a buffet cocktail. The religious ceremony will follow on July 2nd and will again be broadcast in the Square. The official dinner and ball have been entrusted to world-renowned chef Alan Ducasse, and the festivities will conclude with a fireworks display. Clearly the British monarchy has nothing on Monagasque royalty when it comes to wedding celebrations!

Port of Fontvielle

If you can’t make it to the wedding, there is always much to see and do in Monaco that has nothing to do with gambling or car racing. For example, the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra will perform outdoor concerts in the courtyard of the Prince’s palace throughout the summer. The annual Monte-Carlo Show Jumping equestrian event takes place in Port Hercule at the end of June and the world-famous Ballet de Monte-Carlo performs throughout out the month of July.

Monaco Cathedral

When you’re not attending a cultural or sporting event, you can stroll through the stunningly beautiful St. Martin Gardens, charming Fontevielle Park or the serenely calm Princess Grace Rose Garden. The other must-see attractions include the opulent Monte-Carlo Casino and Opera House, the Monaco Cathedral where both Prince Ranier and Princess Grace are buried, and the Prince’s Palace.

Given its situation on the sea, it’s only fitting that Monaco would be home to the internationally renowned Oceanographic Museum and with its ever-changing exhibits which house the rarest species of fish and marine life in its approximately 90 pools, including the giant Shark Lagoon. In addition, this summer the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco is offering a unique exhibit entitled “OCEANOMANIA: Memories of the Mysterious Seas.”

Want to do some shopping? No problem. The Carré D’Or in the heart of the city is home to the finest boutiques and designers, while the Place du Casino has exquisite jewelry, art, and antiques. Also wander through the cobblestoned alleys of Monaco-ville, the original fortified town, to find all sorts of traditional souvenirs.

Relax at an outdoor cafe in the habor of La Condamine

When you‘ve finished shopping, go down to the second oldest district of Monaco (oldest is Monaco-Ville), the large harbor of La Condamine and relax at one of the many hotel terraces or open-air cafés while you look out at the enormous yachts moored in the Port Of Hercules. Or stop at Le Michelangelo, a casual restaurant in the Port of Fontvieille for a fun and lively lunch (or dinner) in the Mediterranean style presided over by two charming proprietors. I was delighted to meet one of the owners, Eric, who took our order, served our meals, and chatted with us. This summer, for a special treat, start your evening with a “made to measure” customized mojito—with or without alcohol—and a stunning view of the sea at the bar atop the Fairmont Hotel.

The Sky Mirror

I highly recommend that you sip a glass of Champagne on the terrace of the Café de Paris overlooking the Place de Casino and gaze upon Monaco’s Sky Mirror, one of the most amazing pieces of modern art I’ve ever seen anywhere (as an Art History major I am not easily wowed). It is an absolutely stunning sculpture created by a British artist Anish Kapoor and given to Monaco by Mrs. Lily Safra. Shaped like a shallow bowl standing on end, the huge, polished stainless steel mirror (2.5 meters in diameter) perfectly reflects the sky, the Casino, and the Café itself.

Tiny it may be, but Monaco has an enormous variety of incredibly beautiful things to do and see, and I always depart with a smile… because I know I will visit this sparkling jewel of a country again soon.

Carolyn W. Paddock is a national travel expert and the founder and CEO of In-Flight Insider (www.inflightinsider.com), the essential resource for traveling well. In-Flight Insider is a website that provides valuable insider information and advice on travel prep, health and safety, stylish travel, and the best discoveries. Carolyn has contributed her travel expertise to a range of national media outlets including CNBC, The Washington Post, MSNBC.com, USA Today, The Huffington Post, The New York Enterprise Report, The Daily Beast, Robb Report, Money Magazine, BankRate.com, CreditCards.com, and Divine Caroline. She has also been featured as a travel expert for AOL.com, Peter Greenberg’s Radio Show, Wyndham Worldwide, Prevention’s book “List Maker’s Get-Healthy Guide”, and SilverKris (Singapore Airlines’ in-flight magazine). Carolyn contributes to the online outlets The Three Tomatoes and is featured as the travel style contributor for MedjetAssist’s website.

With more than 20 years in both corporate and commercial aviation, and more than 10 million miles around the world Carolyn comes filled with a font of insider information and tips that even the most frequent of flyers are not privy to. She has done the thousands of hours of legwork, In-Flight Insider readers get the benefits!