Saturday Travel Feature
Royal Palace, Monaco
"Monaco /ˈmɒnəkoʊ/ (help·info), officially the Principality of Monaco (French: Principauté de Monaco; Monégasque: Principatu de Múnegu; Italian: Principato di Monaco; Occitan: Principat de Mónegue), is a small sovereign city-state located in South Western Europe on the northern central coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It is surrounded on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its center is about 16 km (9.9 mi) from Italy. Its area is just under 2 km² with an estimated population of almost 33,000.
"Monaco is the name of the country and its capital (and only) city. It is famous as a tax haven, and wealthy foreigners make up the majority of the population, around 84%.[7] It is often referred to as the Las Vegas of Europe." Wikipedia. It is the second largest micro country, the largest being the Vatican. "Monaco is a constitutional monarchy and principality, with Prince Albert II as head of state. The House of Grimaldi has ruled Monaco since 1297, and the state's sovereignty was officially recognized by the Franco-Monegasque Treaty of 1861. Despite being independent, Monaco's defence is the responsibility of France." Wikipedia
The statue sits in a park on the bluff above the harbor port Fonvielle. The inscription reads, "" Hommage des Colonies Estrangeres a S.A.A. le Prince Albert XXV ler a l'occasion di ses XXV annees de regne". Translated it is, "Tribute to Colonial Strangers PAC Prince Albert ler XXV during its XXV di years of reign." The building in back of the statue is the Royal Palace. The flag flying is the red and white national flag of Monaco. The clock tower is similar to the one in every town in Italy, but there seen on the church steeple. At noon the changing of the guard can be observed in the town square adjacent to the statue. A route is roped off for the Monaco guard to be led to the Palace by snare drummers. The guards dressed in dark uniforms with brilliant red and white braid on their shoulders and blue helmets perform with their rifles before replacing the guards posted at the entrance to the Royal Palace. The ceremony is completed with the chiming of carillon bells.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monaco
Link: http://translate.google.com/#fren
Link: http://www.palais.mc/monaco/x-net/internet-palais-princier/english/sovereign-house/the-palace-guards/the-palace-guards.453.html
Photo: Taken in April 2010 in Monaco by SW.
