The Principality of Monaco, one of the smallest countries in the world (area 1.95 sq. Km.). Located in southern Europe, on the Mediterranean coast, near the border between France and Italy. It borders on the French department of the Maritime Alps. Monaco is the combined Old Town, Monte Carlo, La Condamine (business center and port) and Fontvieille (industrial zone). Monaco’s main source of income is tourism, which accounts for 15% of the state’s income; it is for tourists with affluent wallets that numerous resorts on the coast and casinos are located here.
Capital – Monaco.
The country’s capital, the city of Monaco (3000 years), beautifully situated on a flat rocky surface, has generally retained its medieval appearance. The main attractions of the city include: the prince’s palace complex built in the 13-19th century, the famous ocean museum visited by many tourists every year, the Museum of Anthropology, the cathedral complex built at the end of the 19th century in a pseudo-Romanesque style. The greater part of the population of the Principality of Monaco lives in La Condamine. It is home to the port, the National Library and the stadium.
Ducal Palace.
The Prince’s Palace – the residence of the ruling Grimaldi family in Monaco. When the prince is in the palace, the prince’s banner is flown on the tower of St Mary’s Church. The palace is situated on a cliff that descends steeply to the sea, on the site of a fortress built by the Genoese in 1215. The square in front of the Palace is surrounded by a battery of cannons, cast in the time of Louis XIV. It offers a unique view of the harbor, Monte Carlo, Fontvieille, in the northeast to Bordighera in Italy and to Cap-d’Ail in France in the southwest. Every day, at exactly 11:55 am, the changing of the guard begins in front of the main entrance to the palace. Carabinieri in gala uniforms (black-winter, white-summer) perform a ritual that has not changed for more than a century.
Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix
From May 13 to 16, 2010, Monaco hosted the 68th Monaco Grand Prix – 6 Formula-1 rounds. The player of the Red Bull Renault team, Mark Webber, became the winner of the stage.
Climate
Mediterranean, with dry summers and warm rainy winters. Sunny weather here is over 300 days a year. The average temperature in July is 22-23 C, in January – + 10-11 C. The rainy season in January and February (almost 60 rainy days a year). Frosts in winter are rare and do not exceed -3 C.
Currency – euro
Banks are open from 9.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. (lunch break – from 12.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m.). Shops are open from 9.00 to 12.00 and from 15.00 to 19.00.
Tips – waiter up to 10% of the total bill, taxi driver – about 10% from the taximeter.
