Hello Monaco #17 — Spring 2023

International magazine № 17 Spring 2023

MONACO • FRENCH RIVIERA LONDON • PARIS • GENEVA

EXCLUSIVE Prince Albert II Evokes The Legacy Of Prince Rainier III

FORMULA ONE Charles Leclerc Races To The Top!

PORTRAIT The Year Of Pablo Picasso

JUBILEE

NIGHT LIFE

Best Places To Party In The Principality During The 80th Monaco Grand Prix

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The History Of Société Des Bains De Mer

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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

D

ear Readers!

Olga Taran, Founder, Editor-in-Chief of HelloMonaco

2023 is rich in commemorative dates and jubilees. Prince Rainier III’s centenary is this year’s main highlight. The fruit of his reign just cannot be overestimated. The construction of the Larvotto district, the new train station, the Grimaldi forum, the Fontvieille area …building it from scratch! — His Serene Highness unsurpisingly nicknamed “the Builder Prince” has totally changed the country’s landscape. Prince Rainier III made a huge contribution to the Principality’s international reputation and diplomatically resolved the French conflict back in 1962. He was the one to write a new Constitution on December 17th in the same year, to open a number of museums and new festivals (Television, Printemps des Arts, Circus Festival and many more). He initiated The Rose Ball, the Red Cross Ball and the Philharmonic Orchestra summer concerts held in the Princely Palace courtyard.

The festivities marking Prince Rainier’s 100th anniversary will start off on his birthday, May 31st, 2023 and will go all the way until January 2024.

In his exclusive interview, Prince Albert II shared some of his precious memories related to his father.

www.hellomonaco.com

On April 2nd, the famous Société des Bains de Mer is celebrating its 160th anniversary. We will tell you all about the history of the group founded

by Prince Charles III, the most revolutionary of the Grimaldis, and how SBM has transformed the life of the Principality.

Another historic date is the Monaco Grand Prix 80th anniversary. ViceChampion of last season, Charles Leclerc, demonstrated the most impressive results for a Monegasque in racing history. This year, we are very much hoping to see him Number 1.

And last but not least is the 50th anniversary of Pablo Picasso’s death.

The legendary artist spent the last 25 years of his life on the French Riviera that truly fascinated and inspired him. It still holds some of Picasso’s most famous works. The great master passed away on April 8th, 1973 at the age of 91 in Mougins, only sixty kilometres away from Monaco. We therefore just could not bypass this pivotal date.

These are this spring edition’s most important highlights, and there are many more!

Enjoy your reading!

Sincerely Yours, Olga Taran

2 / Hello Monaco Spring 2023 www.hellomonaco.com

Website: twigaworld.com/montecarlo Reservation: +377 99 99 25 50

MASTHEAD

International magazine

HelloMonaco № 17 • Spring 2023 Periodicity: 3 editions per year Print run: 20.000 FOUNDED AND PUBLISHED BY HelloMonaco by Olga Taran 2 Avenue des Ligures, 98000 Monaco Registre: 15P08559

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Publisher assumes no responsibility for the products or services advertised within this publication. Editorial contained within does not necessarily reflect the opinions of HelloMonaco editorial team. © HelloMonaco by Olga Taran • All rights reserved. HelloMonaco magazine is authorised for publication by Gouvernement Princier Principauté de Monaco. Authorisation is valid from 01.09.2017.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without expressed written permission of the publisher.

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MAKING NEWS

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DID YOU KNOW? Survivors Of The Titanic Honour A Brave Monegasque And His Fellow Musicians

This magazine was printed following all ecological certificates and rules by a printing company using certified materials.

Distributed by SEC Monaco - Societé Presse Diffusion.

Internet: www.hellomonaco.com  welcomemonaco (eng)  monacoru (rus)  hello_monaco COOPERATION & GENERAL INQUIRIES E-mail: info@hellomonaco.com ADVERTISING & ADVERTORIALS E-mail: ad@hellomonaco.com EDITORIAL OFFICE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, FOUNDER: Olga Taran EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Olga Chereshneva PROOF-READER: Justin Brisk TRANSLATOR: Angelina Clibbens CONTRIBUTORS/WRITERS: Natalia Bezruk Julia Belyakova Justin Brisk Xania Keane Nicole Laffont Helena Litvak Alesya Reznik Olga Taran DESIGNER: Irina Roina PHOTOGRAPHERS: Valentin Breton, Olga Sauvaire COVER PHOTO: Chaumet Jewellery: Promenades Impériales transformable necklace in white gold and pink gold, set with a pear-shaped Padparadscha sapphire of 16.31 carats from Ceylon with a ‘sunset’ colour, 1 cabochon-cut Padparadscha sapphire of 9.03 carats from Ceylon, 1 ovalcut diamond D VVS1 of 1.13 carats.

White and pink gold Treasure Hunt earrings, set with two round pink tourmalines of 3.15 and 3.12 carats, two angel skin coral pearls, whimsical tanzanites, Padparadscha and purple sapphires and brilliant-cut diamonds.

Outfit: Alexander Vauthier jumpsuit and jacket, boutique YOUR’S Monaco Model: Katarina Filipovic Photographer: Olga Sauvaire

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FAMOUS MONEGASQUES Looking Back at the Life of Prince Rainier III on his 100th Birthday

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EXCLUSIVE Prince Albert II Evokes The Legacy Of Prince Rainier III

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WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO WITH Sylvana Lorenz Dave van Dorst Anne Vitrant Claudio Sgura

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CONTENTS

100 54 58 67

FORMULA ONE Charles Leclerc Races To The Top! The 80th Monaco Grand Prix: An Intricate History Of The Legendary Race

NIGHT LIFE Best Places To Party In The Principality During The 80th Monaco Grand Prix

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ART DE VIVRE The Sleeping Company

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HM PHOTO SHOOT On Cloud Nine with Chaumet

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MADE IN MONACO Meet Amura!

Fine Caviar From Monaco

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MONACO’S GOT TALENT Manila di Giovanni

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MONACO HERITAGE Mur-de-Barrez: A Happy 150-Year History With Monaco

100 JUBILEE The History Of Société Des Bains De Mer

112 HISTORY PAGES Pigeon-Shooting Club Of Monte-Carlo

114 DYNASTY Charles III: Golden Pages In The History Of Monaco

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54 118 ON BOARD 124 PRO SPORT

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Rugby-7s In Monaco: French Champions 2022!

128 I LOVE ART Top Spring Art Expositions

132 Bruno Mantovani, The Artistic Director Of The Printemps Des Arts De Monte-Carlo: “A Festival Is All About A Celebration”

134 PORTRAIT The Year Of Picasso: 50th Anniversary Of The Artist’s Death

140 MONACO NEIGHBOURHOOD In The Footsteps Of Picasso In Mougins

146 KEEPING MONACO HEALTHY Spice Up Your Life!

148 SPORT IN THE CITY FLEXY LADIES Women’s Pass In World Class Monaco Club

152 TOP EVENTS Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 5 www.hellomonaco.com

MAKING NEWS The Principality undeniably has a lead on the Mediterranean coast regarding the variety of events and entertainment, its cultural and social life being very diverse. There have been several important happenings and news worth recalling over the last few months. We offer you this list which features a kaleidoscope of noteworthy events that made the headlines in the media.

The 20th anniversary of the Golden Foot Monaco Award Embraces Women and Men

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he 20th anniversary of the Golden Foot Monaco Award took place on 21 December under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. On the Champions promenade in Monaco at this 20th anniversary award ceremony was Barcelona striker, Robert Lewandowski in a star-studded ceremony in the presence of Prince Albert II and Louis Ducruet.

The 34-year-old also picked up his second consecutive European Golden Shoe a few months ago. The Polish captain has enjoyed a strong start in Barcelona, scoring 13 league goals in 14 appearances in La Liga. He joins other soccer legends such as Mohamed Salah (2021), Cristiano Ronaldo (2020) and Luka Modric (2019), winners of the last editions. The peculiarity of this award is that the winner leaves a permanent mould of his footprints on “The Champions Promenade”, a “Walk of Fame” of international football on the seafront of the Principality of Monaco. A football player can win the Golden Foot award only once.

© Golden Foot Award

Prince Albert II of Monaco attending the 20th Golden Foot ceremony

Kosovare Asllani is the first to win the Women’s Golden Foot.

The 33-year-old plays today at AC Milan in mid-field. It’s a great move forward for women’s football. The Golden Foot Prestige prize rewards a club or federation president. Florentino Pérez, the famous manager of Real Madrid, is the third winner of the prize, after Andrea Agnelli in 2020 and Gabriele Gravina in 2021.

New director at the wheel of the Club des Résidents Etrangers de Monaco (CREM)

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ince January 3rd, CREM has been engaged in welcoming its new director, Mr Alexandre Boin. This Monegasque gentleman, a business school graduate with a wealth of experience abroad, originally chose to begin his professional career by working for the Monegasque public service. He was in charge of providing information to users wishing to settle in the Principality on a personal and professional basis at the Welcome Office. He then specialised in matters relating to the attractiveness of Monaco by joining the Government’s Attractiveness Unit headed by Mr Frédéric Genta. This young director is now keen to put his ideas and vision at the service of CREM, without altering the essential direction and vision passed on to him by its previous founder and President, Mrs Louisette Levy-Soussan Azzoaglio.

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© Club des Résidents Etrangers de Monaco - CREM

MAKING NEWS

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Shake Up of Ferrari’s Racing Management

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he Prancing Horse stable have decided to shake up the very top of its racing management team. Italian Mattia Binotto is out and on January 9th, 2023 there became a new team Principal and General Manager. Frédéric Vasseur, the new Chief, has over 25 years of winning motor racing experience, commencing in the junior formulas and over the last decade in Formula 1. During this time, he has also been widely acknowledged for his success in fostering leading driver talent, claiming the GP2 series in both 2005 with Nico Rosberg and 2006 with Lewis Hamilton. Vasseur has most recently held the position of CEO and Team Principal of Sauber Motorsport (currently Alfa Romeo F1 Team) since 2017. Prior to this he was the Team Principal of Renault F1 Team in 2016. As well as furthering the career of the Monegasque vice-world champion in GP3 Frédéric Vasseur oversaw Charles Leclerc’s first steps in F1 with Alfa-Romeo, after his spell at the Ferrari Driver Academy.

Monaco’s Economy Bounces Back Strongly after the Covid Era

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onaco Statistics Institute (IMSEE) keep regular tabs on how the Principality is doing. Their latest quarterly bulletin for the third quarter of 2022 has lots of sunshine. For the first time since the health crisis, all the major economic sectors are not only up on 2021, but also all Real Estate activities have a higher level even than 2019. The Principality’s revenue, excluding Financial and insurance activities, was close to €14 billion in the third quarter of 2022. This record level is due to a remarkable increase of nearly €2.4 billion (+21.0 %) compared to the same period last year.

60,112 active jobs are recorded in the private sector in September 2022. This is more than 3,000 more jobs than in the third quarter of 2021, or an increase of 5.5 % over one year. Accommodation and food service activities which showed the largest increase in workforce in volume (+14.4 %) still failed to recover their almost 9,700 jobs from September 2019. This is also the case for Transportation and storage which, although up by more than 8 %, does not reach its 2019 headcount.

With an exceptional third quarter, the year 2022 already represents a record for the new housing market, which has exceeded one billion euros with 82 transactions since January. In 9 months, 4 times more new properties (including off-plan sales) have been sold than in the whole of 2021, which still corresponded to the 2006-2021 average. The resale market recorded 326 transactions (23 more than in the same period in 2021) for €1.7 billion, i.e. almost €380 million more than in 2021 (+28.5 %). Compared to 2019, the real estate market (new and old) increased by 25.5 % in volume and 34.6 % in value.

The increase observed since the beginning of the year in the main tourism indicators persists compared to the previous year. The number of person arrivals is increasing, as is the average length of stay. The number of occupied rooms is almost 140,000 nights higher than in the same period in 2021. As a result, the occupancy rate also increased, reaching 60.2 %.

© Martin Messmer

Yacht Club de Monaco celebrates 70 years with Jam-packed Program of Festivities

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© HelloMonaco

jam-packed program of festivities and events for 2023 was unveiled by the Yacht Club de Monaco as it celebrates its 70th anniversary. The year-long agenda includes the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, the Primo Cup, Monaco Ocean Week, WLS Trophy and the Superyacht Chef Competition in February and March. From May to August, the Yacht Club will host and co-host events like the Monaco E-Prix, the Grand Prix, the Fête de la Mer, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge and Palermo-Montecarlo. September and October will include the YCM Marina Concert, Smart & Sustainable Marina, Monaco Classic Week, the Monaco Yacht Show, Oktoberfest, Monaco Optimist and Laser Academy and the YCM Awards.

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 7 www.hellomonaco.com

MAKING NEWS

© Direction de la Communication

The Principality is Safer than Ever

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articularly fitting for the Public Security following their selfless dedication are that the latest crime statistics show a decline in crime.

Looking at the crime figures, since 2016, when Richard Marangoni took over as head of the Public Security, General delinquency has fallen by over 20 %. 59 incidents recorded (compared to 90 in 2019). These have fallen almost 70 % since 2016. Drunk driving is down over 10 %. There are over 7000 emergency police interventions in a year which requires 25 police officers working 7 days a week, 24 hours a day in a Command and Supervision Centre.

The new operational command and supervision center (CSCO) will be ready in a few months. The future CSCO aims to become a technological laboratory in terms of security at the service of the Principality.

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© Frédéric Nebinger

t could have been one, two, three on the podium for Toyota in the Monte-Carlo Rally, except for a puncture during Elfyn Evan’s fifth stage which lost the Welsh driver more than 40 seconds to knock him out of contention for second place to eventually finish fourth, still only one minute and 12 seconds off the winner’s pace. That allowed the Belgian Thierry Neuville to spoil the Toyota sweep and capture third place on the podium. Nevertheless Toyota won an incredible 16 of the 18 stages. And the Toyota team winner, Sébastien Ogier broke the record that he so valiantly tried to snatch last year when he was also denied by a puncture. Nine times Sébastien Ogier has won the inaugural round of the world championship. He also has eight world championship titles to his belt being the 2nd most successful World Rally Championship driver, just one world title short of former Citroën WRC teammate Sébastien Loeb (9 titles).

The Prince’s Barbagiuans Soccer Team Triumph over Cirque FC at the Fight Aids Cup

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he third edition of the Fight Aids Cup was full of entertainment, “the crazy clowns” adding good cheer and lots

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of laughter to the event as the Barbagiuans and Cirque FC returned to the pitch at Louis Stade. The Barbagiuans team (the Red and

© ACM – Olivier Caenen

The Jewel in the Crown Goes to Ogier who smashes the Monte-Carlo Rally Record

Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais, winners of the 2023 Monte-Carlo Rally

Whites) led by H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Cirque FC (the Blues) led by H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie‘s daughter, Camille Gottlieb are centre stage.

Despite the charitable stakes, the competitive nature of all the players was not long in being felt as everyone wanted to win the prestigious Fight Aids Cup trophy. Formula 1 ace Charles Leclerc, there at the kick-off, played his heart out for the Barbagiuans for 30 minutes, showing himself dedicated to the values of the Fight Aids Cup. Cirque FC dominated bigtime for more than half of the first period. In the second half, the trend is reversed. Still led by Louis Ducruet, the Barbagiuans take over the play from Cirque FC. From then on, Cirque FC resisted the repetitive attacks of the Barbagiuans. Clarence Seedorf managed to score in the final moments in the 91st minute reducing the gap at the end of the match with a superb goal. The Barbagiuans retained their advantage and won the Fight Aids Cup for the first time. At the Barbagiuans gala, Ernesto Javier Chevanton was voted man of the match this year and received the trophy designed by artist Fred Allard from the hands of H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Louis Ducruet.

MAKING NEWS

The Principality as Focal Centre of Chinese New Year Celebrates the Holiday with Style

We are moving from the Year of the Tiger to the Year of the Rabbit, a water rabbit that brings longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese Culture, which sets up 2023 as the year of hope.

The calm Water Rabbit of 2023 is particularly associated with water helping trees to grow fitting perfectly with Monaco’s love for the environment.

New Year is clearly the most important event in the Chinese calendar marking the end of winter and the beginning of the spring season. The New Year always falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. To celebrate it in the Principality, the impressive gala dinner at the Hermitage Belle Époque Salon on 24th January was organised by Monaco Dragon Prestige and the Monaco-China Association and opened with a speech by the Her Excellency Ambassador of Monaco to China, Marie-Pascale Boisson.

The Dragon Dance had plenty of competition at the Hermitage with the dance show performed by the 1920’s style dancers in their shimmering outfits who danced like birds — gracefully and seductively flapping red fans like wings. It all brought back the 20s craze with dancers called flappers except in the middle of the dance trio the dancer managed to pull off some extraordinarily tricky acrobatic gymnastic moves balanced on a discreetly placed apparatus …exquisite!

It’s not an exaggeration to say the festive meal prepared especially for this unique evening by renowned chefs was amazing.

Traditional dishes are a must at Chinese New Year namely dishes with fish symbolizing “abundance”, as well as noodles symbolizing “longevity”, reimagined by renowned SBM chefs in a gastronomic Mediterranean meal with Asian flavours. And a special part of the evening was the Fashion show — AMC Haute Couture Monaco.

H.E. Ambassador of Monaco to China MariePascale Boisson

The whole festive evening was enjoyed by the numerous guests from the Principality’s and European and International political, economic and cultural spheres including representatives of the Chinese community from European countries who were delighted that Monaco had been chosen as a focal point of the celebrations.

© Monaco Dragon Prestige

© Monaco Dragon Prestige

It never disappoints, the Dragon Dance, so colourful, so uniquely performed at the Hermitage and the dragon so so long.

Did you know that means lots and lots

of luck. The dance is an intricate motion that requires synchronized movements by the puppeteers with poles beneath the undulating body of the fearsome beast — a beast though that has a benevolent disposition. Great power, dignity, fertility and wisdom that’s what we wish for in 2023. Monaco’s Chinese Festival dragon at the Hermitage bestows it on us with style.

© Monaco Dragon Prestige

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hinese New Year is celebrated by more than 20 % of the world, and is the most important holiday in China and Monaco has been chosen to be a focal point of the festivities.

The Dragon Dance

AMC Haute Couture Monaco fashion show

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 9 www.hellomonaco.com

MAKING NEWS

Princess Charlène celebrates St. Devote with Jacques and Gabriella © Michel Alesi / Palais Princier

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rincess Charlène and her twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella celebrated Monaco’s St. Devote day by attending various events. On 26 January, the Princess and her children attended the ceremony of Salut du TrèsSaint-Sacrement at the St. Devote church.

Afterwards, on Quai Albert I, the Princess and her two children set the symbolic boat on fire with red and white torches. To close this evening, an 8-minute drone show set to Corsican polyphonic songs lit up the sky with various symbols associated with the traditional festival. The following morning, St. Devote celebrations continued during a pontifical mass presided over by Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, followed by the procession on the rock. The mass was attended by Princess Charlène and Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy. After the mass came the presentation of the relics to

the Princely Family, who watched from the Palace balcony. Prince Albert II unfortunately

could not attend the celebrations because he was in isolation with Covid-19.

25th Historic Monte-Carlo Rally Ends with a Flourish and Precision of a Swiss Watch

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Swiss duo ran off with first prize in Monte-Carlo’s Historic Rally. And they did it in a Lancia Fulvia. All credit to the Swiss crew no. 242, Claudio Enz and Cristina Seeberger, six-time Historic Rally competitors, in their 1970 Lancia Fulvia.

In fact the Rally was swarming with Lancias, a red and black wave totaling 29 cars in all, high profile among the 250 or so entrants.

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© АСМ

© АСМ

Swiss duo had claimed the overall lead at the end of the first part of the common stage. So from then on it was a matter of not relenting and holding on to the finish line at the Col de Turini beating Ilya Kashin and Boris Kostyrko in a 1982 Volkswagen Scirocco, and Giovanni and Tiziana Chiesa in a 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti 1600 who joined them on the victory podium in Casino Square, Monte-Carlo.

The culminating heart of the Rally is in the treacherous mountains around Monaco’s neighbours with an exciting culminating stage at the Col de Turin. In the end the Swiss pair held their consistent pace from start to finish of the 16 regularity stages.

Team no. 242 kept their Fulvia Coupé 1.3S in the top 100 of each timed event. Perfectly imitating the precision of a Swiss watch the

MAKING NEWS

© Manuel Vitali / Direction de la Communication

Death-Defying Acrobat breaks World Record at International Circus Festival! the tightrope walker Viktoriia Dziuba who plays with and makes the human body do things that amaze.

Rounding out the Silver Clowns were the couple performing on the aerial hoop with the enchanting name Secret of my soul, the horse trainer Alex Giona and the young tiger trainer Bruno Togni. Added to his Silver Clown, Bruno Togni also swooped up four special prizes including that from the junior jury and the public.

Two New Generation juniors Vladislava Naraieva and contortionist Sofiia Hrechko also crowned themselves with Silver.

Another four clowns were needed to award the depth of talent — this time Bronze. They included the Bingo troupe with Pauline Ducruet also netting a special prize for the Best costume of the troupe.

The three other Bronzes included the Mystery of Gentlemen troupe, a knife throwing spectacular by the couple named Deadly Games and Elisa Cussadie and her parrots. Notably from the New Generation juniors Kimberly Zavatta received a junior bronze for her performance on aerial straps.

Camille Gottlieb, Prince Albert II, Princess Stéphanie, Louis and Marie Ducruet

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Sofiia Hrechko

senting Sofiia Hrechko with a cup in memory of Princess Antoinette, which rewards the very youngest artist of the festival. © Manuel Vitali / Direction de la Communication

There’s only one gold but so much talent that the jury also awarded six Silver Clowns respectively to the trapeze troupe Flying Martini, the acrobatic troupe Mustafa Danguir for their acrobatics on a giant wheel,

Young artists have always been revered and encouraged in Monte-Carlo and Pauline Ducruet did the honours for tradition on this occasion by pre© Manuel Vitali / Direction de la Communication

Every year, Princess Stéphanie is very involved in the organization of the festival, selecting the best international acts for audiences in Monaco. The jury of circus professionals, specialists and journalists, under her chairmanship has made its decision for the best circus acts, including awarding the coveted Golden Clown (Clown d’or), Silver Clown (Clown d’argent) and Bronze Clown (Clown de bronze), in the form of statuettes to 2023’s heros. René Casselly Jr who performs with his two partners Merrylu Casselly and Quincy Azzario, took the Golden Clown this year.

As for the New Generation competition, Ameli Bilyk took the Junior Gold.

© Stéphane Danna / Direction de la Communication

he International Circus Festival de MonteCarlo was back after 2 years of postponement due to the pandemic. The 45th edition of the festival and the 10th edition of New Generation Competition kicked off in the presence of HSH Princess Stéphanie, HSH Prince Albert II, Louis and Marie Ducruet and Camille Gottlieb at the Chapiteau de Fontvieille on 20 January. The festival started with a bang when death-defying acrobat Wesley Williams broke a world-record during the first evening of the Festival when he pedalled around the big top on a 10.6 metre tall unicycle! Princess Stéphanie, Louis Ducruet, Charlotte Casiraghi and her son Raphaël Elmaleh attended the festival’s 2nd day on Saturday 21 January.

On Sunday 22 January, Christian Estrosi, President of the Nice Côte d’Azur and Mayor of Nice came to enjoy the festival with his entire family.

Elisa Cussadie

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 11 www.hellomonaco.com

freepik.com

MAKING NEWS

Resounding Victory in the Davis Cup for Monaco at the MonteCarlo Country Club

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here was a lot at stake when the Principality’s best tennis players were pitted against Dominican Republic in Monaco in the Davis Cup at the MonteCarlo Country Club. In World Regional Group 2, a string of defeats could have them relegated to Regional Group 3. A string of victories and promotion to Regional Group 1 would be the dream. In the knowledge that the Domincan Republic’s number two had reached the top 200 in the world in the past, there was tension going into the first match. Valentin Vacherot for Monaco showed his strength of character beating his opponent Roberto Cid Subervi, in three sets. Lucas Catarina for the Principality beat the odds by winning against the Dominican Nick Hardt.

The doubles, had become decisive for securing the essential third win and overall victory. Hugo Nys and Romain Arneodo for the red and whites had their work cut out as the match went to a tie-break in the first set. With three match victories that was it — overall victory for the Monegasques and official integration into World Group 2 of the Davis Cup.

Clear Overwhelming Victory for the Union Nationale in the Monegasque Elections

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he National Elections have been put to bed. Unsurprisingly the Union Nationale led by the President of the Conseil National Brigitte Boccone-Pagès has emerged the majority party winning handsomely. Fortunately the voter turn-out was over 50 % at 57 %.

The opposition party, the NIM, didn’t garner enough votes to qualify for proportional representation in the Chamber. Each candidate in the Union Nationale received on average just over 3000 votes with the stand-outs being Nathalie Amoratti-Blanc and Balthazar Seydoux with one hundred to one hundred fifty extra votes. The “minority party” the NIM with a small list of 14 candidates had Jean-Charles Tonelli and Daniel Boéri heading their results with between 700 and 800 votes each but in the end to no avail just not enough overall to be in the Chamber.

The Union Nationale’s 24 candidates racked up 72,602 votes against 8,401 for those just 14 candidates on the NIM list and thus take up all the seats in the Conseil National.

Jimmy Gressier breaks European 5km record at the Monaco Run

The flagship event of the Monaco Run, the 5km Herculis, saw the triumph of Frenchman Jimmy Gressier in 13:12. Dominic Lobalu (13:24) and Oscar Chelimo (13:32) complete

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the podium. AS Monaco’s Alex Milne, ranked 25th in a creditable 14:54. Among the women, the victory went to Mirriam Chebet in 15:40 ahead of Ine Bakken (16:24) and Jenipher Contois (16:28).

© Stéphane Danna – Direction de la Communication

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he event, organized by the Monegasque Athletics Federation and which obtained the World Athletics Label this year, was split into two parts.

On February 11th 170 runners — including around thirty from the AS Monaco Athletics School — took part in the traditional 1,000m on Port Hercule. Sunday February 12th, three races were on the program: the City Trail, the 5km Herculis and the 10km APM Monaco. This year, on the City Trail, Adrien Janin took first place with a time of 53:11. Maximilien Duquesne and Valentin Bouthier (AS Monaco) complete the podium in 54:03 and 55:28. Only a few minutes behind were the fastest women just a smidgeon off the hour mark. Nathalie Favreau won in 1:00:05 ahead of Nadezhda Solovieva (AS Monaco) (1:04:21) and Katia Bonnard (1:06:14).

Jimmy Gressier

© Stéphane Danna – Direction de la Communication

In the 10km, it was Yohan Le Berre who won with a time of 29:52. Behind him, we find Domink Herren (30:14) and Clément Simon (30:21). On the women’s side, the victory went to Zuzana Gejdosova who crossed the finish line in 36:50. Lisa Migliorini and Elodie Lhomer completed the podium with times of 39:15 and 40:37.

MAKING NEWS

Discover the Turbo-Charged Future of the Enhanced Grimaldi Centre

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he Grimaldi Forum by being a magnet for events and conventions is reaching full capacity. Just as it reaches its fifteenth year, the Grimaldi extension project to be delivered at the end of 2024, will give it a turbo-charged lease of life and accommodate 6,000 m2 of additional space intended in particular to increase its exhibition capacity. The culture and convention centre, which receives an average of one hundred events and 250,000 visitors per year, intends to host larger-scale events and combine more events simultaneously. With an increase by 50 % of space, the useful area goes up to well over 40.000 m2. The aim, of course, is to create large spaces and high heights with a minimum of posts ideal for an exhibition and convention centre. The structure is nearing completion on the Larvotto side, while the waterproofing part has already begun. © Grimaldi Forum Monaco

Exhibition of “75 years of Porsche sports cars” at the Car Collection of H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco

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At this exceptional exhibition, the public could discover twelve of Porsche’s most legendary racing and sports cars in the new location of the Car Collection, which was inaugurated just a few months ago on the Port Hercule. Some of the cars were on loan from the department of the Porsche Heritage and Museum in Stuttgart. Another 908 “short tail”

© HelloMonaco

he “Cercle des Amis de la Collection de Voitures de S.A.S. le Prince de Monaco” was organising a unique exhibition of vehicles from the German sports car manufacturer Porsche, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, from 20 February to 20 March 2023. Founded in 1931 under the name “Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche G.m.b.H., Konstruktionen und Beratung für Motoren und Fahrzeuge”, the Stuttgart-based engineering office has become a cradle of automotive technology and has shaped international series and racing car construction for decades with its numerous innovations. In 1948, Ferry Porsche realised his dream of a sports car: with his team, he built the Porsche 356 ‘No. 1’ Roadster. It marked the birth of this legendary brand and laid the foundation for an exemplary success story, for the Porsche legend.

Prince Albert II and Thierry Boutsen at the opening of the exhibition

model from 1969 belonging to the Prince’s collection was also on display. This competi-

tion car was driven by Hans Herrmann and Kurt Ahrens in the 1968 Austrian Grand Prix.

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 13 www.hellomonaco.com

MAKING NEWS

MAGIC 2023

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fter a few years of postponement due to the pandemic, the 6th Monaco Anime Game International Conferences came back to the Principality on 25th and 26th February 2023. There was a completely free and exciting line-up of events. The program includes animation, manga, video games, exhibitions, an international cosplay competition, an international manga competition and several special guests. Yōichi Takahashi, creator of the famous manga Captain Tsubasa attended and designed the MAGIC 2023 poster. Astronaut Thomas Pesquet was one of the guests of this 2023 MAGIC event. The relationship between space and pop culture comes alive as the astronaut interacts with great artists. The surreal is the norm in MAGIC and space is omnipresent in pop culture. The Final Fantasy genius, Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of the Final Fantasy franchise was also among the guests.

Then the ultimate in make-up design from films and sagas such as Harry Potter, Star Wars and The Fifth Element … it’s none other than the designer Nick Dudman. Rounding out the incredible special guest line-up are William Simpson, the storyboarder of Game of Thrones, and Yoichi Takahashi, the author of Olive and Tom and designer of the poster of MAGIC in 2023. MAGIC was hosted by Jacky, the TV presenter from the famous 80’s and 90’s French kids show ‘Le Club Dorothée’.

© HelloMonaco

Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo 2023

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Kazuki Yamada, the Artistic and Musical Director of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra

he biggest springtime festival dedicated to classical music in Monaco was held from 8 March until 2 April. Thirty-six concerts, conferences, masterclasses, lectures and more took over Monaco this spring. The festival, directed by Bruno Mantovani, had North American music as its major theme and featured performances that were inventive, inspiring and powerful. Opening and closing the Printemps des Arts, Michel Dalberto and the Quatuor Diotima were in the spotlight at the Festival. Four world premieres took place at the Festival. François Meïmoun questioned the myth of Antigone in a great work where the voice of Laurent Stocker responded to the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Philippe Schoeller created a new string quartet between fury and mystery (Extasis), the harpsichord cycle of Désordres by Christophe Maudot was performed for the first time in public, and Fabrice Jünger has concocted a polymorphic score for the young generation that made audiences rediscover the world around them.

The Rose Ball

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his traditional ball was held on Saturday 25 March 2023, in Salle des Etoiles. The theme of this year was “Bollywood”. This evening has always symbolized the arrival of spring, encouraging good deeds. All the funds raised over the gala evening are donated to the Princess Grace Foundation’s charity projects. Since 1954 the Rose Ball has been organised every year in March by the Monte-Carlo SBM Group in the prestigious Sporting Monte-Carlo. This exceptional event brings together the elite and international high society for the first important social event of the year. Currently presided by H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince Albert II and H.R.H.

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https://www.montecarlosbm.com/

Princess Caroline of Hanover, the Rose Ball is a symbol of glamour that maintains the fascinating Monte-Carlo legend that it has

helped create. The aura is such that it attracts many people who wish to be part of the dream and enchantment of Monaco.

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To become a member of CREM is to choose to enjoy Monaco, and much more…

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DID YOU KNOW?

https://ru.wikipedia.org/

SURVIVORS OF THE TITANIC HONOUR A BRAVE MONEGASQUE AND HIS FELLOW MUSICIANS

Monegasque Roger Bricoux (1 June 1891 – 15 April 1912)

By Justin Brisk

https://ru.wikipedia.org/

One of the most successful ‘box-office’ movies in the history of cinema, James Cameron’s ‘Titanic’ is celebrating its 25th anniversary. On this occasion, the film is once again appearing on the screens all around the world, and the audience will again empathize with young lovers Rose and Jack. However, at the 111th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic (April 1912), it is the memory of the real heroes of the tragedy that we honour, none more than the musicians of the orchestra, who were playing — until the very last minute, even seconds ! — on the deck of the sinking vessel. The youngest member of the Titanic orchestra was 20-year-old Roger Bricoux, originally from Monaco...

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Titanic departing Southampton on April 10, 1912 for its first and last trip.

Photo: Francis Godolphin Osbourne Stuart

DID YOU KNOW?

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The passengers of the Titanic are watching the floating ice from the deck, not yet knowing that it will cause a terrible tragedy…

t’s unimaginable, being on the grandest safest ship in the world, thought to be unsinkable, a young Monegasque exhilarated was playing his heart out as a cellist.

The Orchestra in those days was a star attraction. It’s not too much of a stretch to think of it as if the Beatles or the Rolling Stones were on the Titanic. Six talented musicians, not the least of which was Monegasque Roger Bricoux in a prime moment of his flourishing career.

What thoughts must have been going through his mind when the jolt of the iceberg striking the hull reverberated through the ship as he was playing his cello to the adulating passengers surrounding him… all of them vying to have the orchestra play their favourite tune.

Surely at the moment of that completely unexpected jolt there was no connection to the hellish spectacle that was soon to unfold.

As if at the focal point in a ski resort where the seeds of an avalanche are hidden in a clap of thunder the Orchestra now takes on a calming role in this immense floating hotel.

Preventing panic, the musicians went back to playing in the first-class lounge.

The lull is short-lived. Within the next one and two hours panic begins to spread. Passengers rush to the upper deck. The musicians then begin to play in the main staircase.

The passengers jostle trying to find places in the lifeboats. The musicians move again.

They settle down on the upper deck, to starboard, towards the second funnel. The Orchestra stands fast in its key role. Keep order, prevent panic and play, play, play.

At what point did they realize that everyone’s lives were at peril …. that not only was there to be a mass evacuation … that most would perish in the icy void of the black seawater. There were not enough lifeboats.

The upper deck had taken on an incline like a slide … the Orchestra held fast with difficulty, still contributing to stemming

Enveloped in music, in blissful security the orchestral show goes on unperturbed.

Stabilizing was sadly not what was happening to the elegant cruise liner unfortunately.

For the passengers though it was not obvious in that last enjoyable interlude.

https://ru.wikipedia.org/

As a questioning unrest starts to sprinkle in the audience around the Orchestra, the musicians become the stabilizing influence.

Titanic Starboard side Cafe Verandah, 9 April 1912. Photo: Robert John Welch

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 17 www.hellomonaco.com

https://ru.wikipedia.org/

DID YOU KNOW? ALL ABOUT ROGER BRICOUX

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t was not a coincidence that a Monegasque was playing in the Titanic Orchestra. Under Prince Albert I the cultural life in Monaco was thriving with its own symphony Orchestra where Roger Bricoux’s father Leon Bricoux played the horn.

While living in Monaco, Leon and MarieRose Bricoux decided to start a family. Roger was their third son and Marie-Rose had gone to her mother’s in Cosne-sur-Loire (Burgundy) to give birth to him on 1st June 1891.

Last lifeboat arrived, filled with Titanic survivors. This photograph was taken by a passenger of the Carpathia, the ship that received the Titanic’s distress signal and came to rescue the survivors. It shows the last lifeboat successfully launched from the Titanic.

Of its total 2,240 passengers and crew, only 706 people survived the Titanic.

Of the brave Orchestra musicians, there would be no such divine luck, not for Roger Bricoux, not for any of them. Survivors attested that these kind dedicated and dutiful musicians were among the bravest of the brave.

https://ru.wikipedia.org/

Titanic’s passengers on the A-Deck ’s af t promenade: the six-year-old Robert Douglas Speden, throwing a spinning top, under the watchful eye of his father, Frederick.

an uncontrollable mass panic allowing those too few lifeboats to load the third of the passengers and crew who would survive.

Playing their hearts out, perched at an impossible incline on the deck as if on a ski slope, they engaged in their last act of defiant bravery. At 2:15 am, not three hours after the Titanic hit the iceberg, it is clearly now sinking … chandeliers crashing and shattering below while a huge wave washes the Orchestra away into the black void of the awaiting icy sea.

All that can be said is that our Monegasque hero died doing what he loved best, his nimble fingers caressing the bow of his cello as it flowed across the strings…

Roger then spent his childhood in the Principality with his parents, while attending Saint-Charles College. Having taken to music and profited from his exposure to his father’s talent together with musicians from the Monaco orchestra, Roger pursued his studies in Italy in Bologna where he won first prize and then at the Paris conservatory and added a first prize from the Monaco conservatory too.

Entering the music profession, he began as a stand-in in the orchestra of Monaco and also played in venues across the Côte d’Azur.

Both he and the pianist in the Titanic Orchestra Theodore Brailey had served on the Cunard steamer Carpathia.

The White Star Line, proud owners of the Titanic, knew where to find the best musicians and one day, Roger received a life-changing telegram with an offer to hire him as a cellist ... a cellist on the largest ocean liner in the world, the Titanic leaving Southhampton England on April 10th, 1912.

The band leader Wallace Hartley and the other musicians were English. Roger

THE SINKING OF THE TITANIC: WHAT WERE THE CHANCES OF DYING OR SURVIVING

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id you know that if you were a woman in first-class on the Titanic you had over a 95 % chance of surviving?

And that if you were a man in second class only around 20 %. You like many of us thought the star of the film Rose lived and co-star Jack died. Sor t of … because they were actually fictional characters.

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Molly Brown, played by Kathy Bates, on the other hand (the “unsinkable Molly Brown”) was a real-life rich socialite and even raised money for her fellow survivors using her notoriety and resources after the catastrophe.

The most recognizable name in the fatalities and richest was probably John Jacob Astor IV, a German-American millionaire who had made his

fortune in real estate and was the great grandson of John Jacob Astor, founder of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. Following the guidelines of women and children first, Astor IV’s wife made it to a lifeboat and survived, but Astor didn’t, and died aged 47.

Another famous and rich passenger who died was Benjamin Guggenheim. The story goes

that he changed into his formal evening wear to face death.

And Isidor Straus who was the German-born co-owner of Macy’s department store in New York, died alongside his wife Ida. They were last seen sitting in deck chairs on the deck, having refused to be separated in the lifeboats: they wanted to be together, no matter what.

DID YOU KNOW?

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THE FINAL HYMN

onegasque cellist Roger Bricoux and the brave musicians of the ship met their fate trying to calm the passengers so as many as possible could be loaded onto the lifeboats … and the others could pray and meet their fate with dignity.

But even the surviving passengers are conflicted over what was the actual final orchestral piece that the heroic musicians were playing in those dying seconds.

Historians often list it as “Nearer, my God, to Thee”, because that is the last thing that many Orchestra musicians play at the grave of a fellow musician.

But a surviving wireless operator was convinced the band on deck was playing “Autumn”.

The confusion is understandable as both hymns have similar words though with different melodies.

Both hymns have an apt line “Hold Me Up in Mighty Waters”.

The musicians of the Titanic orchestra, Roger Bricoux at top right

a 20-year-old Monegasque would be the youngest in the orchestra.

A model of the Titanic from the Naval museum of Monaco

The liner sinking made the headlines all around the globe. Monaco and the world were stunned. The Principality had one of its own among the heroic musicians. On May 1st Leon Bricoux, his father, received a telegram from the White Star Company informing him that his son’s body had disappeared … the assumption had to be he had drowned.

The Sainte-Dévote church according to historic records was absolutely crowded … all the musicians of the Monaco orchestra were among those honouring Roger. The Principality paid homage to the Monegasque cellist who played his heart out, helping the passengers to the very last moment … a hero whose kind soul will remain in our memories forever.

The Principality was swift to act. On May 2nd, in the Church of Sainte-Dévote a tribute to Roger Bricoux was immediately organized.

The calamity of the “unsinkable” Titanic was not the first tragedy for Roger’s parents Leon Bricoux and his wife Marie-Rose. They had had two other boys who died at a young age.

© HelloMonaco

In a strange twist of fate the Carpathia on which Roger had previously played would undertake the heroic rescue of the only survivors of the Titanic disaster … not without a significant degree of peril, however, as Carpathia endured its own hazards, dodging icebergs along the entire 58-mile route to save the survivors. Roger sadly would not be among them and his body was never recovered. The Carpathia would itself eventually be sunk by torpedoes in World War II.

Their torment with losing Roger was not to end there either, as his death certificate was not officially registered after the disaster. In 1913 during World War I, in a fateful administrative mistake Roger Bricoux had been considered a deserter by the French army whose records mistakenly assumed he was still alive.

It was not until 2000, thanks to the work of the Association Française du Titanic that he was officially registered as having died. On 2 November 2000, the AFT helped have a memorial plaque unveiled in memory of the Monegasque hero Roger Bricoux in Cosne-sur-Loire, the city where he was born on 1 June 1891.

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 19 www.hellomonaco.com

FAMOUS MONEGASQUES

L ooking Back at the L ife of Prince Rainier III on his 100th Birthday

By Xania Keane

Summing up a person’s entire life in a few short paragraphs is no easy task. Especially if that person was Prince Rainier III, who would be celebrating his 100th birthday this spring. Crucially responsible for reviving Monaco's economy after a world war, captivating the world’s attention with his fairy tale marriage to Grace Kelly, turning Monaco into a tourist and business destination, creating an entire new district full of cultural spaces, guaranteeing the independence of the Monegasque State with a new constitution and bringing Monaco into the United Nations are just a few of the historic and fulfilling accomplishments Prince Rainier achieved during his lifetime.

SOLE HEIR TO THE THRONE OF MONACO

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ainier III was the only grandson of Monaco's Prince Louis, making him the only heir to Monaco’s throne.

Rainier must have felt the weight of duty at a very young age, because according to the law at the time, Monaco had to have a male Grimaldi as ruler or the Principality would revert to French ownership. In 2002, that law changed when a new treaty between France and Monaco was created by Prince Rainier III, stating that if no heirs could carry on the dynasty, the Principality will remain an independent nation rather than revert to France.

Rainier III became the Sovereign Prince of Monaco after the death of Prince Louis II on 9th May 1949, at the tender age of 25.

Rainier ruled the Principality of Monaco for almost 56 years, until his death at the age

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of 81, making him one of the longest-ruling monarchs in European history.

SERVING AS SECOND LIEUTENANT IN WWII

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rince Rainier's early education took place in England at public schools in Sussex and Buckinghamshire, which is why the Prince spoke English with a British accent. Rainier then studied in Switzerland and France, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1943 before he studied at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris.

During World War II, Rainier joined the Free French Army in September 1944 and served under General de Monsabert as second lieutenant. As a soldier, he witnessed the atrocities of war during the last major German offensive of World War II on the Western Front in Alsace. Prince Rainier III received the French Croix de Guerre with a bronze star.

REBUILDING MONACO’S EMPTY TREASURY

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f ter ascending the throne, the Prince was left in charge of Monaco’s treasury, which was practically empty. Prince Rainier III decided to rebuild Monaco's prosperity, which was deeply affected by WWII. At the time, Monaco’s casino-going clientele, made up largely of European aristocrats, found themselves with reduced funds after the war. So Rainier decided to begin promoting Monaco as a tax haven, commercial centre, real-estate development opportunity and international tourist destination.

In 1955, Monaco's entire cabinet resigned after the Societé Monégasque de Banques et de Métaux Précieux, a bank which held a significant amount of Monaco's capital, went bankrupt from its investments in media company Images et Fils. Although the event painfully marked the beginning of

© alamy.com

FAMOUS MONEGASQUES

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 21 www.hellomonaco.com

FAMOUS MONEGASQUES under Prince Rainier’s reign. The Principality will be celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of its UN membership following the centenary party on 31st May. Monaco has been an entry point to the Schengen Area since 1985 and in 2004, six months before Prince Rainier III died, Monaco became the 46th Member State of the Council of Europe.

INCREASING MONACO’S ECONOMY TWENTYFOLD!

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ccording to a Forbes Magazine article published the day Prince Rainier III died, his longest lasting legacy may be his revitalization of Monaco's economy. Monaco's revenues grew from 3 billion francs in 1970 (€518 million) to over 12 billion euros in 2004. That’s an astounding 2300 % increase.

“Rainier III knew how to develop industry to diversify sources of revenue. He developed hospitality and tourism, financial activities, and as a result of all this, he also developed the property market,” states the Princely Government.

PRESERVING THE MONEGASQUE LANGUAGE

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© Droits réservés - Archives du palais de Monaco - IAM

years ago, in 1982, Prince Rainier III established the Academy of Dialectal Languages.

Since then, every young person in Monaco

Prince Rainier III’s reign, what followed changed Monaco forever.

In 1962, Rainier III selflessly ratified the Principality's new constitution to significantly reduce the power of the sovereign. The changes ended autocratic rule, placing power with both the Prince and a National Council of eighteen elected members, which has continued to improve the administrative and political life of the country to this day.

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MONACO JOINS THE UN

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n 1962, the conflict which had Prince Rainier III clash with General De Gaulle, President of the French Republic, resulted in the proclamation of a new Monegasque constitution guaranteeing the sovereignty and independence of the Monegasque State.

Monaco became the 183rd United Nations Member State on 28th May 1993,

© HelloMonaco

Prince Rainier with his mother Princess Charlotte and his sister Princess Antoinette on a beach accompanied by dogs. Behind them, there is a beach cabin. Le Touquet-Paris-Plage / NordPas-de-Calais / Pas-de-Calais, early 1930s

© Fausto Picedi

FAMOUS MONEGASQUES

The construction of the Fontvieille district continued for 20 years.

Prince Rainier III on the occasion of his accession standing in the gardens of the Prince's Palace. He wears the insignia of the order of Saint-Charles. A young girl dressed in traditional Monegasque costume presents a tray to Prince Rainier. One can see the Prince’s parents Princess Charlotte (on the right) and Prince Pierre (behind). April, 11, 1950

has been united in learning Monegasque, which has been a compulsory subject in local schools since 1976.

“Dialectal languages have always represented and still represent the hearts and minds of men who are attached to their country… Thus, teaching our language to young Monegasques is one of the surest means of safeguarding our identity… To let a language die is to forever tarnish the deep soul of a people,” declared Prince Rainier III when he inaugurated the Academy of Dialectal Languages.

THE BUILDER PRINCE REVIVES MONACO

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pearheading construc tion projec ts that changed the face of Monaco, most notably the creation of the Fontvieille district, earned Rainier the “Builder Prince” nickname. Beginning in 1990, he supported the construction of a new tunnel, underground railway station and the restructuring of the main port, all of which boosted tourism and business.

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 23 www.hellomonaco.com

© Palais Princier de Monaco

FAMOUS MONEGASQUES

Grace Kelly and the Prince Rainier III say hello, Palais princier, Monaco, May 6, 1955

Before the Mareterra project, Fontvieille was Monaco’s first construction project to build on reclaimed land from the Mediterranean sea. The new district added 20 % more surface area to the Principality and encouraged new construction projects. Today, the district is home to over 3,000 people.

In 1981, not long after Albert, then Crown Prince, laid the cornerstone for the new Fontvieille district, Prince Rainier III decided to establish a new sports stadium in the neighbourhood and brought in Parisian architects to build the Stade Louis II. The ambitious project required 120,000 m³ of

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concrete, 9,000 tonnes of iron, 2,000 tonnes of steel and has a seating capacity of over 16,000. Now home to AS Monaco’s football team and numerous international sporting events, Prince Rainier III inaugurated the complex in 1985.

CHANCE ENCOUNTER WITH GRACE KELLY LEADS TO “WEDDING OF THE CENTURY"

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ravelling on a train through France before the Cannes screening of Hitchcock’s ‘To Catch a Thief’ Grace

Kelly was given an idea that would alter history. Paris Match journalist, Pierre Galante, spontaneously suggested to arrange a meeting between the actress and the Prince of Monaco. Grace Kelly agreed and the journalist accompanied her to the palace. Wearing a black silk dress printed with pink and green flowers, she waited for Prince Rainier III on 6th May at 3 pm.

According to a press interview with Prince Albert II, his father was running late, so the palace's maître d'hôte gave Grace Kelly a tour of the famous grand apartments. It was nearly 4 pm when Prince Rainier III finally appeared in the royal antechamber,

FAMOUS MONEGASQUES wearing a navy blue suit. The now-famous handshake photograph was taken before Prince Rainier asked the actress if she would like a tour of the palace, but Grace Kelly told him she had already seen it. So, the prince and future princess walked through the palace gardens instead. That’s when, according to Prince Albert II, the atmosphere changed, the couple relaxed, sparks began to fly and their romance began to blossom.

Less than a year later, Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly were wed during what was described by the media as the “wedding of the century”. The ceremony, held on 19th April 1956 at Saint Nicholas, was broadcast

by MGM Studios and watched by over 30 million people across the globe. The couple honeymooned in the Mediterranean on their yacht, Deo Juvante II.

© Fernand Detaille - Archives du Palais Princier de Monaco

TURNING MONACO INTO A HUB OF CULTURE

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ts spectacular glass and steel design makes the Grimaldi Forum an instantly recognizable feat of Monegasque architecture. Inaugurated in 2000, the building is the expression of Prince Rainier III's desire to position Monaco as one of Europe’s main cultural destinations. Today, the Grimaldi Forum receives 250,000 visitors per year for conferences, fairs, exhibitions, concerts and shows.

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III during the wedding ceremony at Monaco’s St Nicholas Cathedral on April 19, 1956

Besides the Grimaldi Forum, the Builder Prince also helped establish the Principality’s Naval Museum, Stamps and Coins Museum, the Museum of Old Monaco, the Yacht Club and the much-loved Prince’s Cars Collection.

Monaco’s Naval Museum, founded in 1993, exhibits an extraordinary collection of more than 250 model ships, paintings and maritime objects, dating from ancient times to the present day and includes numerous antique models from the magnificent personal collection of Prince Rainier III.

© Shutterstock.com

Established by Sovereign Ordinance of Prince Rainier III in 1995, the Museum of Stamps and Coins is home to rare stamps depicting the Principality’s postal history, dating from the first Charles III stamp in 1885 to the present day.

A stamp issued in Monaco on the occasion of the princely wedding

In 1974, the Museum of Old Monaco was inaugurated by Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace.

Featuring ceramics, paintings, furniture and costumes, the museum’s mission is to preserve Monegasque heritage and identity.

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© Fausto Picedi - Archives du palais de Monaco – IAM

FAMOUS MONEGASQUES

Always passionate about vehicles, Prince Rainier III began collecting vintage cars in the 1950s. His collection grew over the years and the Prince's Palace garage soon became too small to house all of his cars.

In 1993, Prince Rainier III opened his priceless collection to the public. The Cars Collection of HSH the Prince of Monaco now contains over one hundred models, from a 1903 De Dion Bouton, to the Lexus LS 600h Landaulet used for the royal wedding in 2011, to racing cars from the Monaco Grand Prix.

Founded in 1953 by Prince Rainier III, the Yacht Club de Monaco currently has over 2,500 members from 81 nationalities. The Yacht Club plays a dynamic leading role in the life of Monaco’s main port, serving as a link between those who love the sea and tourism. Many of the world’s most prestigious private yachts fly the Yacht Club de Monaco’s flag, including twenty-five of the world’s largest superyachts.

A PLACE FOR SCIENCE

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n order to provide the Principality with the means to conduct scientific research, the Scientific Centre of Monaco

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Prince Rainier III, Princess Grace and Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the director of the Museum, during the inauguration of the “Man under the Sea” Exhibition in the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, 1962

© Institut Audiovisuel de Monaco

A dinner at the civil wedding of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace (in the centre) at the Prince's Palace of Monaco, in the presence of Princess Charlotte (left) and Prince Pierre (right). April, 18, 1956

FAMOUS MONEGASQUES

Folon wasn’t the only sculptor that Prince Rainier III took a shining to. Croatian contemporary sculptor Matéo Mornar, who currently lives and works in Monaco, was regularly praised by Prince Rainier III, who

faithfully visited the artist’s exhibitions.

Many of Mornar’s sculptures can be found across the Principality. In the 1980s, Prince Rainier III began to acquire several of Mornar’s pieces for his private collection. Prince Albert II, who accompanied his father to the sculptor’s exhibitions, continues to support Mornar’s work. Mornar frequently collaborates with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and donates part of the proceeds from his sales to the Foundation.

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© Gaëtan Luci - Archives du Palais Princier de Monaco

Prince Rainier III welcomed legendary Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon to his new studio and home in Monaco, on Quai Antoine Ier. The artist lived and worked there for twenty years, until his death.

An official portrait of Prince Rainier III and Hereditary Prince Albert, Prince’s Palace of Monaco, 2000

was founded in 1960 by Prince Rainier III. The centre specializes in the study of coral reefs, as well as the fight against cancer in partnership with the Flavien Foundation. It supports governmental and international organizations aimed at protecting marine life.

PATRON OF THE ARTS

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rince Rainier III was a big supporter of the arts. Not only was he a patron of big names in the art world, he also supported artists of the future.

The Prince Rainier III Academy of Music and Theatre provides free music tuition to students in the Principality and its surrounding areas.

The Builder Prince’s support of the arts extended beyond bricks and mortar. Prince Rainier III also funded the arts by creating prizes for literary, musical and contemporary artists through the Prince Pierre Foundation, established in 1966 by Prince Rainier III in memory of his father, Prince Pierre, who was also a great patron of lite­ rature and the arts.

Prince Rainier III, Princess Grace with their children Caroline, Albert and Stéphanie in 1965

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FAMOUS MONEGASQUES ENCOURAGING A NEW ART FORM…TELEVISION!

MASSIVE PARTY ON 31ST MAY 2023

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rince Rainier III elevated Monaco’s status as a cultural melting pot by founding festivals which instantly became internationally renowned. By creating the Festival de Télévision de Monte-Carlo in 1961, Rainier wished to “encourage a new art form, in the service of peace and understanding”.

elebrations will kick off exactly one hundred years to the day after Prince Rainier was born with a big party on the Rock for Monegasques and residents. According to Princess Stéphanie, who is the chair of her father’s centenary committee, the party will include a big birthday cake, workshops, activities related to Prince Rainier’s passions and several surprises.

The project generated worldwide interest and, over the years, many distinguished celebrities have sat on the juries. Every year during the festival, the best of worldwide programming are awarded with one of the most prestigious prizes in international television: a Golden Nymph statuette. The award was inspired by the "Salmacis" nymph, created by Monegasque sculptor François Joseph Bosio, chief court sculptor to Louis XVIII, the original of which is on display at the Louvre.

Prince Rainier was known for his love of bringing Monegasques together and the big event will help introduce him to younger generations.

On 31st May, an exhibition will also commence at the Prince's Palace featuring a collection of photos taken from the archi­ ves which will tell the story of the sovereign in his home.

CELEBRATIONS CULMINATE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS FESTIVAL

OPENING THE PALACE COURTYARD TO THE PUBLIC

W

P

The first four concerts, in August 1959, were conducted by Paul Paray with works by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Strauss. Critics from across Europe unanimously hailed it as one of the best symphonic organizations in Europe and the concerts continue to this day.

assionate about the circus, Prince Rainier III began the International Circus Festival to support traditional circus performers by showcasing their talents in Monaco. Now considered to be the biggest and most famous circus event on earth, the festival was created in 1974 by the Prince.

© HelloMonaco

hen Prince Rainier III ascended to the throne in 1949, the Prince did something unprecedented and invited the public to the occasion. Before then, Monaco’s princely courtyard had rarely been open to the public. Ten years later, as a testament to the Prince’s love of music, Rainier renewed the tradition of Palace concerts in 1959. To do so, many courtyard renovations had to be undertaken. The entire Cour d’Honneur was repaved and experts from the Louvre were hired to restore the 14th century frescoes.

A love of the circus was passed on to his daughter, Princess Stéphanie, who became the President of the festival in 2005. After a two-year break due to the global pandemic, the festival was back this January for 10 days of unforgettable shows featuring clowns, animals, acrobats, tightrope walkers and magicians. The Rainier III centenary celebrations will end in January 2024 with the 46th International Monte-Carlo Circus Festival.

A statue of Prince Rainier III by the Dutch sculptor Kees Verkade

P

rince Rainier III led an incredibly prolific life and, even though he’s gone, his spirit continues to live on through each one of his extraordinary accomplishments. His knack for economics helped pull Monaco out of the wreckage caused by the world war, and into the budgetary stratosphere. His love of the arts transformed the Principality into a shining beacon for culture and tourism, full of museums, festivals and events. The devotion he felt for his home helped him create a whole new district which continues to thrive to this day. His warmth and passion for bringing people together has been passed on to his three loving children, who, starting on 31st May 2023, will show everyone that his life and legacy is something wonderful to be celebrated.

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EXCLUSIVE

PRINCE ALBERT II EVOKES THE LEGACY OF PRINCE RAINIER III Interview by Nicole Laffont

© Michael Alesi / Palais princier

HSH Prince of Monaco Albert II during the exclusive interview for Hello Monaco in February 2023

30 / Hello Monaco Spring 2023 www.hellomonaco.com

A few months b efore the festivities k ick- of f o n M a y 31, m a r k i n g the centenary of Prince Rainier III ’s bir th, the Sovereign Prince Albert II kindly answered our questions and dwelt on his father’s legacy. This builder-prince, modern and open to the world, w a s a v is i o n a r y w h o completely transformed the face of the Principality.

Prince Albert is Honorary President of the centenary organizing commit tee alongside his younger sister, Princess Stéphanie.

The Monaco sovereign is delighted by the enthusiasm the event has aroused particularly among the younger generations who have little or no knowledge of Prince Rainier III. This celebration is, naturally, festive but also historical and educational.

© Georges Lukomski – Archives du Palais princier

EXCLUSIVE

Prince Rainier III in his office in 1966

Hello Monaco: What do you believe is your father’s most significant legacy?

Prince Albert II: The most striking thing is, when he succeeded his grandfather, Prince Louis II, the Principality was emerging from the Second World War. Monaco was, if not impoverished, then definitely faced with a lack of infrastructure and breathing space... It was a small country in need of prospects for the future. My father was the main architect of the Principality’s development, growth and economic diversification. My parents’ marriage, of course, also contributed to Monaco’s opening up to the world. It was not at all an easy ride, however. A French

“My father was the main architect of the Principality’s development, growth and economic diversification.”

crisis was underway and, in addition, the one related to SBM governance… My father then endowed our country with a new constitution. He contributed to our entry into the United Nations in 1993 and into the Council of Europe in 2004 which I personally ratified in 2005 shortly after his passing away. : Thanks to all these initiatives, the Principality has become a major state, not in terms of territory, of course, but in terms of its reputation...

Prince Albert II: This is Monaco’s paradox.

Its size is not in line with its image and prestige around the world. I would not like

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 31 www.hellomonaco.com

EXCLUSIVE to appear pretentious, far from that, but to draw a parallel with the world of sports, however, we are boxing in the very top category…

© Georges Lukomski – Archives du Palais princier

: What kind of values did your father pass on to you?

: How did your father influence your style of reigning?

Prince Albert II: I learnt that every problem needs to take time to be solved. You do need to hear all the parties, all the opinions before settling on a decision that has to be seen to be objective by most. : Do you have vivid memories from your younger years by your father’s side?

© Gaëtan Luci – Archives du Palais princier

Mediterranean cruise on board the Costa del Sol princely yacht in 1960

Prince Albert II: Fairly simple pieces of advice, I would say: listening to others whilst demonstrating critical thinking, and not taking things at their face value but being conscious of everything that is going on.

My father was a man of details. He closely supervised his files, his projects… Back when I was very young, I attended cabinet meetings, government councils. This is how, very early on, I got familiar with the functioning of the State.

Prince Rainier III accompanied by Hereditary Prince Albert and Princess Stéphanie during the Monte-Carlo Circus Festival in 2000

32 / Hello Monaco Spring 2023 www.hellomonaco.com

EXCLUSIVE Prince Albert II: On top of accompanying him to various events, I do remember moments of relaxation with the family, those of real intimacy … trips away to Switzerland for winter sports among them. We were a skiing family. Then in summer, we would all go on short cruises aboard a yacht. My father was the captain. He did have a deckhand, but we were all helping him with daily jobs.

I was the one washing the deck. Do you think we were couch potatoes? No way! : Is there a destination that you particularly enjoyed?

Prince Albert II: We have been all over the Mediterranean, including Corsica on several occasions. I have a particular affection for this island and cherish our historic connections.

Prince Albert II: Yes, there is a certain medal I was wearing for several years. It was his gift for my 18th birthday, an astrological sign of the fish. I care a lot about it and keep it dearly. : Was your father keen on astrology?

Prince Albert II: Not really. My mother more so. He just found it fun. : Did you have a nickname when you were little? And what words did your father use to comfort you?

Prince Albert II: My nickname was rather given to me by the American family. It was actually a diminutive, Albie. It wasn’t used since my teenage years, obviously. As for comforting, my parents were always there. They took time to listen to us. It’s true that I would more spontaneously go to my mother. Father was a little intimidating, demanding rather than harsh. People who knew him well do say that sometimes he was not easy. In fact he was impulsive, at other times almost close to exhibiting a type of shyness … I did see him uncomfortable with people he didn’t really know, for example.

© Georges Lukomski – Archives du Palais princier

: Has your father ever given you a symbolic gift that is particularly dear to you?

Prince Rainier III surrounded by his family at the Princely Palace in 1965

: Is there anything you wish you should have told your father that you never did?

Prince Albert II: No. This being said, there are times I wish I had his opinion on certain subjects, certain issues.

Prince Albert II: He would probably have a lot of trouble adapting to it all. He had not really taken to computers much. He wasn’t very good at it. I myself am questioning artificial intelligence a lot. In my opinion, there should be appropriate measure or even moderation to many things. Certain applications are helpful, but we cannot solely rely on digital solutions to solve all our problems.

: As a father, do you follow his example?

: Would you tell me what about…?

Prince Albert II: Jacques and Gabriella have never been particularly boisterous until now. I let them flourish and open up to the world. They are very cheerful, very curious and fairly easy going. Charlène and myself, we don’t really have to tell them off much.

Prince Albert II: Oh no, I can’t really tell you that (laughs). I do believe however he would have been fairly upset about certain events going on internationally.

: Could you dwell a little on the coming festivities and tell us what you expect of them?

: What about the modern world? Would he be in tune with new technologies?

Prince Albert II: A lot of people rememb er my father. But what our

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 33 www.hellomonaco.com

© DR – Archives du Palais princier

EXCLUSIVE

Prince Rainier III with his family while skiing in Switzerland in 1968

entire family is hoping for is for younger generations to get a chance to know him better and and appreciate everything he has done for the Principality. There should be a general understanding that what we are now is largely thanks to him and his actions. I hope these celebrations will only make it ever more obvious. It all starts off with a big party on May 31, 2023, open to all Monegasques and Monaco residents. : What is your vision of that party?

: Will the festivities continue into the end of the year?

Prince Albert II: Yes. They will carry on as late as January 2024 with a major exhibition organized on the occasion of the MonteCarlo International Circus Festival. It was launched in 1974, and my father had it particularly close to his heart.

34 / Hello Monaco Spring 2023 www.hellomonaco.com

© Michael Alesi / Palais princier

Prince Albert II: Well, you’ll get to see it with your own eyes... My sister is in charge of organizing it. It will all be happening on the Rock, with a number of festivities and surprises in store. Several exhibitions will be honouring my father’s life, some of them hosted by the Grand Appartments at the Palace open to the public.

HSH Prince Albert II and Hello Monaco journalist Nicole Laffont during the exclusive interview in February 2023

Protecting and progressing Planetary Health

Every one of us has an opportunity to help progress Planetary Health for present and future generations.

Join us in building our legacy, together.

Protéger et faire progresser la santé planétaire La Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco est une organisation internationale à but non lucratif, oeuvrant dans le monde entier afin de promouvoir des solutions efficientes pour la biodiversité, le climat, les océans et les ressources en eau de notre planète.

Au travers de nos initiatives et des centaines de projets que nous soutenons, nous participons à construire un avenir plus conscient.

Chacun de nous a la possibilité de faire progresser la santé planétaire pour les générations actuelles et futures.

MO NACO PARIS LO ND O N GENEVA NEW YO RK MO NT REAL MUNICH RO ME SINGAPO RE MAD RID BEIJING

Ensemble, œuvrons en faveur de notre héritage commun.

www.f p a 2 .o rg

Photo : ©Gerardo Ceballos

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, a global, non-profit organization, works around the world to bring humanity together to empower impactful solutions for our planet’s biodiversity, climate, ocean and water resources. Through our initiatives and the hundreds of projects we support we aim to build a more conscious future.

Learn to Swim

Water Safety

Sport & Education

www.fpcm.mc

HELLO MONACO PRESENTS:

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO BUILDING A LIBRARY OF HUMAN WISDOM

M

onaco is a unique place in the world. But in the wider public’s mind, the names Monaco and Monte-Carlo remain synonymous with casinos, Formula One, luxury yachts, and offshore tax havens. But there is so much more to Monaco than these clichés. It’s the residents of the Principality who truly make Monaco unique: outstanding sportsmen, businessmen and women, film stars, artists, creative entrepreneurs, scientists, philanthropists, art collectors and more.

We come from different countries with different cultural heritage, religions and traditions. People who move to Monaco have a different personality and outlook on life. And we all manage to peacefully co-exist, literally sideby-side, in 2 square kilometres of territory. It could be argued that Monaco is the perfect prototype for countries of the future, where multi-cultural people live and create together.

Our project, “HelloMonaco: Words of Wisdom in Monaco” (WOW), will introduce you to the residents of the Principality who have achieved much in life.

We will also interview eminent guests of the Principality, visiting Monaco on tour, for a concert, or here on holiday. Each person’s experience in life is different, but they all have valuable lessons to share. These interviews will be an invaluable resource, vital to our mission of building a library of human wisdom. We won’t be asking the usual questions — we will be asking questions about life, love, wellbeing, success and more. And many answers could be life changing.

Each of our WOW columns of the spring edition heroes has completely transformed their lives. Get introduced to these 4 extraordinary stories, truly inspiring about change. These people do stand out for their creativity, resourcefulness, perseverance and an adventurous spirit.

Sylvana Lorenz was determined to marry Pierre Cardin and become his muse back at the tender age of 9. Following his misfortunes in business and love, entrepreneur Dave van Dorst turned back to his long-standing passion and eventually became a successful artist. Liberal nurse Anne Vitrant has always dreamed of crossing the desert. 30 years later, she fulfilled her dream starting off from the Princely Palace Square on an electric buggy as a participant of the famous women’s desert rally. The story of Claudio Sgura seems completely unbelievable. Working as a nurse in a children’s hospital in Milan, Claudio dreamed of becoming an opera singer. And now he is performing in La Scala, Covent Garden and the Monte-Carlo Opera.

This truly represents the triumph of the human spirit suggesting that everything is possible if only you believe in yourself!

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 37 www.hellomonaco.com

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO

WITH SYLVANA LORENZ

By Nicole Laffont

© Michel Restany

She was his fellow worker, his muse, his inspiration, his mistress.

Sylvana Lorenz used to live for and through Pierre Cardin. She recounts her devouring passion in “Madame Cardin. At the court of the last fashion emperor”, a book to be presented on April 15–16 as part of the Monaco book fair. An exposition of the great couturier’s m os t b eau ti f ul creatio ns , in particular, dresses draped around Jeanne Moreau’s gorgeous body, will be held at the Grimaldi Forum (See our section “I Love Art”).

Sparkling as the bubbles she used to share so often with Pierre Cardin, touching in her sincere re co lle c tion of h er fe elings, mischievous and unconventional, Sylvana Lorenz considers herself the high priestess of Pierre Cardin’s cult. She told us everything she knew about this man who, in his own words, was a star, who shaped, transformed and finally put her in orbit.

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WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO He retorted he was not a seller. And then I just burst out: “The problem is, dear Sir, that if I leave I will never see you again”. It touched him right down to his heart! We then had lunch at the Espace Cardin where I confessed: “I saw you in a magazine when I was nine and fell in love with you”. I then signed up for running the shop on Avenue Matignon. : Are we talking of a real love story here?

SL: He was bisexual. He had to seduce ever yone. He only confessed his homosexuality much later on, however...

With me he had a feeling he was loved like never before. We shared some very tender moments. But at that time Pierre Cardin also had a lover, Peter, suffering from AIDS. One day he told me: “You have to go. Your presence is killing him psychologically”.

Sylvana Lorenz at the galerie Depardieu in Nice (DR)

Hello Monaco: When and how did you meet Pierre Cardin?

Sylvana Lorenz: I was nine years old.

My mother, a great coquette, was a reader of “Jours de France” that once published a photo of Jeanne Moreau and Pierre Cardin.

It was early in their idyll, in 1962. She was wearing a suit signed by the great couturier.

She was very pretty. And he had everything of a “Latin lover” about him. Suddenly I saw glitter in my mom’s eyes. So I asked “Who is this gentleman?” “He’s a great Parisian couturier,” she replied. I would have liked so much for my mother to look at me that way...

So I thought there and then: “When I grow up I will go to Paris and marry him!”

in his sixties, with some white hair... In a soft drawling voice he then said: “You had a small bronze sculpture of a hand in the window. Would you get it delivered to me?”

I recognized him. I felt like the sky had fallen on my head. Puzzled, he had to repeat his question three times before I could as much as utter a word.

Everyone was jealous of me at the “court” of Pierre Cardin.

: What kind of a relationship did you have with your mother?

: And you were the one to deliver the sculpture...

SL: My mother was a pianist at the Nice Opera. She was not made for motherhood.

She should have aborted me! I loved her madly and will never get over that unrequited love. I believe these feelings were transposed on Pierre Cardin. He was the only one who made me feel alive every time he looked at me. This look gave sense to my life.

SL: Yes, I was, but I didn’t know how to establish the connection... His assistant came to meet me at the elevator. And then it was just luck. A door opened in the hallway, and there he was. He saw me: “You delivered the sculpture... Goodbye. See you soon”. And then two words just burst out of my throat in spite of me: “But when?”. He turned on his heels.

: How did you meet him?

SL: I went to Paris in the 80s hoping for our paths to cross. I thus opened an art gallery in the Bristol hotel, just opposite his stronghold, 59 Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

One day in May 1983 a Gentleman walked in.

He had an impressive look à la Jean Gabin,

Months went by, and one day in 1984 the Bristol informed me of a decision not to renew my rental. I knew that Pierre Cardin had several boutiques. I asked to see him and finally got an interview. It was in a black lacquered office with a view of the Elysée.

He was very stiff, his gaze was dark. “Would you sell me the lease on Avenue Matignon...”

Sylvana Lorenz arriving at Cannes’s film festival dressed by Pierre Cardin (DR)

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 39 www.hellomonaco.com

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO : You didn’t marry Pierre Cardin...

SL: To my great regret, no. But everyone was jealous of me at the “court” of Pierre Cardin. And they called me with irony “Madame Cardin”... : What are your fondest memories of Pierre Cardin?

Cardin was a man from the future.

He loved progress and was very positive.

SL: Our short stays in Venice. Sometimes he would tell me: “We have three days!”. He then took me to his Bragadin Palace in Venice, the one where Casanova held his libertine parties.

Three days just for the two of us. A dream! : Do you have a dream today?

SL: That of joining him! Follow the stars in our rocket, dressed up in cosmosuits. His passing away sickened me. I started writing just to escape the madness and to reconnect with him. He also used to tell me: “The only one who can tell my life story is you...”

Sylvana Lorenz and Pierre Cardin, a devouring passion (DR)

Ten years went by. I eventually opened a gallery in the Marais and met my husband, Pierre Cornette de Saint-Cyr, and there was great passion between us. But one day, I saw Pierre Cardin at a cocktail party again and we never parted since. I was working by his side almost 20 hours a day. We hardly had any sleep... : Has fashion always been a passion for you?

SL: Not at all! Before I knew him I didn’t care what I was wearing. He totally transformed me. I had honey-coloured hair that went very black and very long. He also decided that I should only wear red. I was this man’s creation. He moulded the vestal robe from my body. He was a star, and myself, his orbit. : What was so extraordinary about him compared to other great designers?

SL: There were two sides to him, that of a designer and a businessman. He invented the cosmosuit — a futuristic, unisex line, intended for the space station residents.

He made this zipped suit in a plastic fabric.

He was a man from the future. He loved progress and was very positive. His dream was opening a house using just his voice, a door — just his own eyes. He loved the idea of cloning and ubiquity. Our time was that of 3022!

40 / Hello Monaco Spring 2023 www.hellomonaco.com

The famous deep red vestal robe specially designed for Sylvana Lorenz (DR)

© Dave van Dorst

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO

The first resin painting which became the inspiration for Dave van Dorst’s Hearts 100 ×100

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO

WITH DAVE VAN DORST

By Helena Litvak

We were delighted with the opportunity to interview the talented artist Dave van Dorst.

Known for his signature hearts and ladybugs, Dave tells us about his fundamental inspiration and how he derives his remarkable sense of creativity. Sharing some insights on his working style, and often charitable acts, with HelloMonaco, we learned about the origins of Dave’s dazzling artworks — which adorn the Riviera and Monaco coast!

Hello Monaco: Dave, could you share some background history about where your family is from?

Dave van Dorst: I am originally Dutch and Belgian. I spent my childhood in the Netherlands and Belgium and came to the Riviera in 1987. Later I returned to Belgium to run the family business in the

42 / Hello Monaco Spring 2023 www.hellomonaco.com

Netherlands and in Belgium. Then I came back to the Riviera in 2012 and back to Monaco in 2015. : Where were you born?

DvD: I was born in Sittard in the Netherlands, but raised in Roosendaal — a city near the Belgium border.

: How old were you when you developed a strong passion for painting?

DvD: I was drawing a lot as a kid, mainly boats. I started painting in school in the Netherlands when I was 8 years old. I made my first oil painting, a park with a wooden bridge … There I found my first love for using paint. Also, my parents were very

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO

© Dave van Dorst

Black expressions with Beautiful thoughts 100 ×100

A few years later in Belgium Boarding school I started to do more art works. I was very inspired by my art teacher who told me to become a paint artist. I disagreed, and said that I wanted to be a businessman.

I stopped due to moving to the Riviera and there were no art classes in the AIS at that time (the actual English International school, nowadays). I started again in 2014, due to a broken heart. I painted 2 hearts, but it was only in 2019 I decided that I only should paint hearts.

© Dave van Dorst

creative, my Mom was designing her own clothes, and even our clothes — for me and my brother. She was sewing everything in her atelier in our home. My father, a car & boat trader, was always very creative.

Mme Benoîte Rousseau de Sevelinges and H.S.H Prince Albert II For the children of Monaco. This painting was a gift for the Hospital of Monaco 60 × 50

in a totally different way, and started to work for VIP people, helping to run their private life and come up with solutions, m aint ain i n g p ro p e r ti e s , o r g a n i z i n g private events, etc. I saw myself as a kind

of private concierge. It made me happy to help people. Also, I am involved in the yacht industry. I am a yacht broker. It has always been a fascinating world for me since I was a child.

One of every four paintings goes to charity. : Why did you move to Monaco when you did?

© Dave van Dorst

DvD: I came back because I have my old school friends in Monaco. I always loved Monaco. I knew that when I was in Monaco when I was 9 years old. Also, I believe I admired Princess Grace and loved their story. : It says that you used to run a successful business, but 2010 changed everything.

In 2014 you got back to painting. Could you share with us what happened?

DvD: That is a depressing period of my life. I lost my main business, a big deal went wrong and I was obliged to sell everything. I came back to change my life

Loving Super Heroes 120 × 120

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 43 www.hellomonaco.com

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO

© Palais princier

© Dave van Dorst

Glued Hearts, Love Never Ends 80 × 80

Love for the Ocean. H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Dave van Dorst

© Dave van Dorst

Love for Monaco 80 × 80

: Where did the inspiration for the heart paintings come from?

DvD: I was inspired by my friend Marta Grigorieva to paint again in 2014. Also I had a broken heart due to a relationship that didn’t work out; I painted two hearts, one was a bleeding heart… Later in 2015 I made a test painting on Carton, with a heart with many strong words, and I called it “with love from Monaco!” In 2019, I started to work with Resin.

An Italian friend said I should have more of those hearts. It became an obsession, and a passion. I had the feeling of spreading love around. And I started to sell many paintings to people around Monaco. From the heart to the heart. : What inspires you to donate some of your work to charity?

DvD: I was always giving back to the world, before with money, nowadays with my paintings. One of every four paintings goes to charity. : What inspires and motivates you in your work? What keeps you the most excited during the creative process?

DvD: Creating is very relaxing, sometimes I paint in the middle of the night. I often write new ideas for new pieces! Every artwork is connected with someone or with a few people like a family. There are no limits to create! I do a lot of commissions for people …

44 / Hello Monaco Spring 2023 www.hellomonaco.com

Ladybugs bring happiness to your house.

Every painting gets one or more.

Marketing yourself is important because it increases the awareness of the artist’s work.

Social media became very important and to have a website with a shop. Also finding good agents — it’s a partnership, but it works.

where they choose the background and they give me their favourite colours, and I create a masterpiece afterwards!

My dream is to have a big atelier where I can create bigger pieces, and work on more pieces at the same time.

: Which artists do you admire and why?

DvD: Always liked Picasso, and Chagall.

Due to my work with VIP families in Monaco I have been in touch with Chagall works

@davio_art

© Dave van Dorst

I am limited till today to a maximum of 200 × 200, and to work on 1 or 2 artworks at the same time.

Golden & Green times, Spread Love Around You

Love for family and for friends who become family 120 × 120

Davioart.com © Dave van Dorst

Love for White Oceans 50 × 50

© Dave van Dorst

© Dave van Dorst

© Dave van Dorst

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO

I always loved Monaco. I knew that when I was in Monaco when I was 9 years old … I admired Princess Grace and loved their story. and started to be interested in his story!

I like a lot of contemporary art, but also I like designers who inspire me with their colour combinations. I consider myself a new hyper decoration artist, marrying my pieces with houses and rooms. : Your signature Ladybugs bring so much happiness to homes and families. Could you tell us more about the magic behind the Ladybugs?

DvD: There were many Ladybugs in our family house, my Mom said not to kill them because they bring happiness to the house.

I made a painting for my kitchen with a garden of flowers with many ladybugs,

to create happiness in my house. This gave me the idea to sign every painting with a ladybug… So the hearts bring love and the ladybugs bring happiness! : The final question is… What is your best advice for beginning artists?

DvD: I still see myself as a beginning artist, I sold my 50th painting last year. I was exposing other artists by organizing the “MY ART GOES BOOM” expo in 2021 and 2022 in Monaco in the L’Entrepôt gallery in Rue Millo.

Being an artist is not easy. Creativity requires courage. You must never give up, create more and more and expose when you can.

Love “Chez Pierre “ Pierre and his sons spread love around with their delicious food in Monaco! 60 × 50

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 45 www.hellomonaco.com

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO

WITH ANNE VITRANT

By Nicole Laffont

Photo DR

In March 2023, the traditional Aïcha des Gazelles rally was held in southern Morocco — th e o n e an d o nl y r all y e xclusively reser ve d for women. It started of f on March 4th, from the Princely Palace square in Monaco. The Provence — Alpes — Côted’Azur team was entirely and enthusiastically supported

by Prince Albert II. Princess Stéphanie of Mo­ naco personally wished success to the two brave women — Anne Vitrant from Vallauris and Isabelle Bargoin from Port-de-Buc.

An association was created to help Anne to organize other sportive challenges: https://www.helloasso.com/associations/dorane-les-exploratrices/collectes/rallye-aicha-des-gazelles

46 / Hello Monaco Spring 2023 www.hellomonaco.com

This year, well before the star t, Anne Vitrant gave an exclusive inter view to HelloMonaco. It was all about taking on the desert and all the challenge that entails, her determination to leave her comfort zone and reasons for always remaining optimistic.

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO

During training in the desert of the Errachidia sector in December 2022 (Photo DR)

© Hello Monaco

She has a vibe of a young girl full of dreams and ready for adventures. With her sporty appearance and pretty nails painted in the colours of nature, Anne Vitrant does not look her age at all. A mother of little Malia who has celebrated her 11th birthday, a liberal nurse in Vallauris, she met us in Saint-Laurent-du-Var, in a place aptly named Evasion, «the Escape»...

It would be an understatement to say that her job and her family are her absolute all.

At the age of 47, however, Anne decided to take on a challenge. That of the Aïcha des Gazelles rally bringing together dynamic, passionate and courageous ladies every year. They have to confront seas of sand, dunes, rocks, mountains and the bad weather of the Moroccan desert with the help of a mere map and a compass. Let’s just say that they have every interest not to lose sight of where North is!

Do you remember that in 2018, just before the pandemic, it was the Prince’s natural daughter, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, who took

Princess Stéphanie and Anne Vitrant in Monaco before the start of the rally in March 2023

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 47 www.hellomonaco.com

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO

© Hello Monaco

Anne with her teammate Isabelle Bargoin during training (DR)

Anne and Isabelle are ready for an adventure!

part in the Rallye des Gazelles with her teammate, Princess Stéphanie’s daughter, Pauline Ducruet? A charming crew that came in third.

Family vacation in Phang Nga Bay in Thailand in January 2023 (DR)

48 / Hello Monaco Spring 2023 www.hellomonaco.com

Hello Monaco: Anne, when and how did you come up with the idea of taking part in this rally?

Princess Stéphanie has come to encourage the brave Gazelles.

Anne Vitrant: I’ve been thinking about it ever since I was little. This rally has been around for 32 years... it’s an event entirely reserved for women, which I find wonderful for this very macho environment. : Why did you choose a buggy, an electric vehicle?

nights are very cold. There are risks of facing a sandstorm or torrential rains. For these nine days we are completely cut off from the rest of the world, with no mobile phones.

We really do step out of our comfort zone, this is quite an upheaval. But I know what to expect.

AV: A buggy is an all-terrain vehicle that goes everywhere and has amazing shock absorbers. I went for electric since I care about the planet. Moreover, when you are on sand, it doesn’t make a sound. It feels like floating. Just magic!

When I want to do something, I go for it.

: Before attempting this race you have had some training... How do you feel about it?

: I imagine that you are a great sportswoman...

AV: Crazy! Those emotions were certainly special. You had the impression of being totally free since the vehicle is open. But it is still a real sporting challenge — improvising, crossing the dunes, rocks, mountains. And you need to be sparing with your kilometres, as much as you can, find shortcuts, cross dry rivers and deal with the landscape. Every five to ten metres we are having to get out of the car and check the surroundings.

AV: Not really. I did handball and swimming.

But I had serious health problems and went through back surgery. I just want to be optimistic and not ask myself more questions than that. When I want to do something, I go for it.

(Photo DR)

© Hello Monaco

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO

Participation in an extreme rally in the desert is a real step out of one’s comfort zone.

: How did you get Prince Alber t ’s support?

AV: It was not really me. The electric Gazelles are already supported by the Sovereign. I’m very proud to start my journey from the Palace... : What does success mean to you?

AV: For me, success is the culmi­nation of what I wanted to achieve. I had to prove to myself that I could undertake a project and see it through. I had to find sponsors, take a navigation and driving course...

Success also means being on top of my life as a mother, as a nurse while freeing up time to live my dreams, taking part in the Aïcha des Gazelles rally among other dreams.

: And is there special training for that?

© Hello Monaco

AV: I had four days of on-site training last December. You just go with a map and a compass. We didn’t have a GPS! And it’s not a time test. You have to make the most of it whilst constantly evaluating the terrain. You have to surf the sand at a constant speed, otherwise you sink. : Are there any other difficulties during the rally?

AV: Let’s just say some things are certainly challenging. You have to leave at 5 a.m., prepare your day, deal with a 180-kilometre vehicle-battery-life and bivouac... During the day temperatures are 20 to 25°, while

Cars of the participants in front of the Princely Palace

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WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO

WITH CLAUDIO SGURA

By Natalia Bezruk

© Marco Bigotti

The story of his life can be the scenario for a thrilling movie. Born in a province in the South of Italy, the talented boy amazed others with his extraordinary voice.

But his family had no money for music lessons . Hard work in a children’s hospital, financial difficulties and the belief of others were the realities.

After a difficult life’s path, Claudio Sgura made his debut on the stage of one of the world’s most prestigious operas La Scala and proved to the world that the power of talent knows no barriers.

Hello Monaco talked to the internationally renowned baritone about strength of character, roles as a villain and per formance in the Monte-Carlo Opera.

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WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO Hello Monaco: Claudio, how did you find your passion for music and how was your musical talent discovered?

© Claudio Sgura

© Claudio Sgura

Claudio Sgura: I started to sing very very early. But it was just a hobby, not something that can become a real job one day. I used to sing in a little band, where I also played the drums. In 1997 I started to sing in church. : How did your parents and people around you feel about it? Were they supportive?

CS: At age 23 I took my first professional classes with Maria Mazzotta. She gave me the singing lessons for free, because she believed in my talent and me and my family were in a complicated financial situation and couldn’t afford it. : You had to work as a nurse for kids in a hospital in Milan. When did you decide to change everything?

CS: An important moment in my personal and professional life was meeting with my wife Floriana. She is a professional singer and she convinced me to leave the job in the hospital which was the economic basis of our life. Emotionally it was a very hard job, every day you have to deal with children in a very bad condition.

My colleagues in the hospital were always saying: one day you will sing in La Scala opera. of two very difficult years I performed at Teatro Lirico di Cagliari in 2005 for 4 shows.

I had at last the pathway to get a real job and to start a new life.

© OMC – Marco Borrelli

Work in the hospital was taking a lot of time. I had to put more attention in singing classes. That decision to leave the real job in the hospital was very tough. At the end

Claudio Sgura with his mother

Claudio Sgura with his brother

: You made your debut at La Scala in Milan, one of the most famous opera houses in the world. What did you feel at that moment?

CS: I had a friend working in La Scala backstage. Thanks to him I met some people from the opera. Since that time La Scala started to be a dream. I debuted there as Sharpless in “Madame Butterfly” in 2006.

Emotionally it was a strong experience. Not only because I am Italian and La Scala is the top of the career for many opera singers, but also because that stage in Milan reminds me of the time when I was working as a nurse.

My colleagues in the hospital were always saying: one day you will sing in La Scala opera. When they attended the show, after … they were saying: you see! : You’ve performed in many of the world’s legendary opera halls: The Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Opéra National de Paris, the Hamburg State Opera. Which of your performances have you remembered as a special one?

Claudio Sgura as Carlo Gérard in “Andrea Chénier” in Opéra de Monte-Carlo in 2023

CS: Every performance for me is special.

If I have to choose, there are two very important shows in my memory. One was in Parma, especially because of the Giuseppe Verdi story. I was scared to sing there also being together with the cellist. At the end Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 51 www.hellomonaco.com

© Claudio Sgura

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO

© Claudio Sgura

Young Claudio Sgura with 2 family friends Claudio Sgura with his wife Floriana Longo

it was a joy and full of great emotions. That day I was given a prize as the best young baritone of the season.

The second one was in the Royal Opera House Covent Garden with “La fanciulla del West”. It was just the beginning of my career.

I was the second cast of baritone Silvano Carroli. The whole month I spent studying with Antonio Pappano and Piero Fagione the Jack Rance role. : Your speciality is opera villains. Could you tell us how you prepare for a role?

CS: In life I am a very positive person, I try to follow this path: being a nice person. But due to my voice and also the fact that I am very tall, I often play bad characters and violence on the stage.

When I debuted with the role of Scarpia in “Tosca”, I spent two months studying every movement, every catch of the eye, every detail … to be able to get into the role. But sometimes roles are very similar to my real character, for example in “Adriana Lecouvreur” …. there I am playing a role of a very romantic man. : You had a performance in the Opéra de Monte-Carlo in February. Do you find this opera stage in Monaco special?

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© Claudio Sgura

Claudio Sgura as teen-ager

WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO : Do you think that everyone can choose to be successful?

Claudio Sgura as Jack Rance in “La fanciulla del West” in La Scala opera in 2016

© Brescia Amisano Teatro alla Scala

CS: You must want the success and you must dedicate yourself in your life to the success. Then you also need someone who believes in you and helps you to follow all necessary steps.

: What does money mean to you?

CS: Success has not changed my relationship with money, to which I continue to give importance. I always think carefully before making big or even simple purchases and I believe that money can change life for the better but also ruin it. One must maintain a certain distance towards money and only in cases of illness does money become truly essential.

CS: The main difficulties came after the covid period. So now the young talented singers are struggling and fighting. Never lose your self-confidence, you have to be passionate to study a lot, to be ready for big sacrifices.

You also need a strong person beside you to support you when it gets tough.

The theatre in Monte-Carlo is like a jewel, the acoustics are perfect and the environment around the theatre as well.

© Marco Bigotti

CS: Singing in Monte-Carlo in the opera “Andrea Chénier” is just beautiful. First of all because the theatre is like a jewel, the acoustics are perfect and the environment around the theatre as well. It’s an amazing city. I love to see this luxurious lifestyle and supercars, but I am being conservative with spending money.

: The story of your life and professional career is fascinating and inspiring. Can you give some advice to young musicians? How not to lose your confidence even in the most difficult times?

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FORMULA ONE

CHARLES LECLERC RACES TO THE TOP!

By Xania Keane

With his lightening-fast reflexes, death-defying steering skills, physical and mental stamina, not to mention his confidence and charisma, Charles Leclerc was born to race. The 25-yearold Monegasque has spent his entire life smashing records and quickly rising to the top of international racing. With the 80th Grand Prix de Monaco coming up at the end of May, everyone in the Principality is rooting for Leclerc to clinch a first-time victory at home. © ACM / Direction de la Communication Michael Alesi

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Charles Leclerc at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2022

Credits: © Eric Mathon / Palais Princier

FORMULA ONE

HSH Prince Albert of Monaco, HSH Princess Charlène of Monaco, Charles Leclerc, Ambassador of Her Foundation, and Jean Todt, road safety Special Envoy for UN Secretary-General, showing the new poster of the awareness campaign #3500LIVES, designed by the FIA: « Soyez attentifs aux piétons » — ‘Please be aware of the Pedestrians’ (Monaco Grand Prix, 2019 edition).

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he young athlete currently has five Formula 1 victories under his belt, three of which were won last season. In 2010 at the tender age of 13, he was the youngest winner of the Monaco Kart Cup KF3. One year later, he was the youngest winner of the CIK-FIA KF3 World Cup.

The year after he entered Formula 1, at the Bahrain Grand Prix, he became the youngest driver to win the FIA Pole Trophy for most pole positions, before winning it again in 2022.

Throughout history, countless champion Grand Prix drivers have made Monaco their home, including Ayrton Senna,

Since 2014, each debutant of the Formula 1 championship chooses a number from 2 to 99, under which he will perform until the end of his career. Charles has chosen number 16.

Gilles Villeneuve, Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton. But few drivers actually hail from Monaco and compete under the Monegasque flag. With its small population, Monaco has only produced four native Formula 1 drivers: Louis Chiron, André Testut, Olivier Beretta and Charles Leclerc. The last Monegasque to win the Grand Prix at home was Louis Chiron, way back in 1931!

FIBBING TO HIS DYING FATHER PUSHES LECLERC TO REALIZE HIS DREAMS…

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© ACM / Direction de la Communication Michael Alesi

eclerc’s father, Hervé, raced in Formula 3 in the 1980s and 1990s and was a huge influence on his son’s passion for motorsport. According to a BBC interview, when Leclerc knew his father was close to the end of his life, he told Hervé an optimistic fib that would soon turn into a reality. He told Hervé that he had been chosen to drive in Formula 1 for the following year, although he had not yet been chosen. That white lie pushed Leclerc to truly realize a dream that was seemingly entwined in his DNA, and he did end up debuting in Formula 1 for Sauber in 2018, one year after his father passed away.

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FORMULA ONE According to Thierr y Manni, Charles Leclerc’s uncle, Hervé truly believed in his son and told his brother, “You’ll see, he’s going to make it.” Only four days after his father died, Leclerc won the feature race at the 2017 Baku Formula 2 round.

LOSING HIS MENTOR, JULES BIANCHI

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hroughout his childhood and early career, Leclerc had a close relationship with French F1 driver Jules Bianchi, who was also Leclerc’s godfather.

During the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, Jules Bianchi tragically lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tractor crane that was removing Adrian Sutil's Sauber (after it had spun out of control in the exact same area, one lap before). Nine months later, Jules Bianchi passed away from his injuries when he was just 25 years old.

In 2018, Charles Leclerc took on the legendary Suzuka circuit, where his mentor lost his life, for the first time in his career. At the time, Leclerc could not hide his grief, saying: “First time for me in Japan. Impossible to not think of what happened here 4 years ago. We miss you Julio, I'll push to make a good weekend for you.”

During the 2022 season, Leclerc wore a special helmet paying tribute to both his father and Jules Bianchi. The helmet was full of photographs and had ‘Papa’ and ‘Jules’ printed on the back.

years after that, it was announced that Leclerc would join the Ferrari team for the 2019 F1 season. Leclerc is set to remain with Ferrari until, at least, the end of the 2024 season.

CHARLES LECLERC DENIED ENTRY TO THE FERRARI FACTORY

SUPPORTED BY PRINCE ALBERT II SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING

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eclerc spent much of his youth in Italy for kart races. Because the kart mechanics he worked with spoke Italian, he made the effort to learn the language.

But even his perfect Italian couldn’t help him get through the Ferrari gates when he was a young boy.

When Leclerc was twelve years old and still dreaming of one day racing in Formula 1 he asked Jules Bianchi, who was a member of Ferrari's Driver Academy at the time, if he could visit the Ferrari Factory with him in Maranello. When the duo made their way to the entrance gates, Leclerc was instantly barred from entering.

That moment inspired something in the young driver, and from then on, he decided that he truly wanted to become a Ferrari driver. Years later, in 2016, Leclerc joined the Ferrari Driver Academy. Two

Charles Leclerc playing for the Barbagiuans team led by HSH Prince Albert II in the third edition of the Fight Aids Cup. Stade Louis-II, January, 2023

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ince before Leclerc became an F1 champion, he has always counted on the friendship and support of Prince Albert II. In 2018, when news struck that Leclerc would be joining Formula 1 his family and friends celebrated with Prince Albert II during a surprise party at Monte-Carlo Bay. That same year, Leclerc and the Prince inaugurated a historic Ferrari exhibition at the Fontvieille automobile museum featuring fifty Ferraris, including the extremely rare 1962 250 GTO, the most expensive car in the world.

Before competing in his first Grand Prix at home in 2018, Leclerc gave a special gift to Prince Albert II in the ceremonial office of the Prince's Palace: the autographed helmet he wore during his first Grand Prix on 25th March in Australia. Later that season, Leclerc was the first Monegasque to compete in Monaco’s Grand Prix in 24 years, since Olivier Beretta in 1994.

After two F1 victories during his 2019 season, Leclerc and his family were received

by Prince Albert II at the Prince's Palace to celebrate. During the celebration, the Prince told Leclerc that hearing the Monegasque anthem while Monaco’s own Leclerc was at the top of the podium was simply extraordinary. When the season was over, Leclerc entrusted Prince Albert II with his winning SF90 single-seater. The vehicle, which Leclerc used to win in both Spa and Monza, can now be seen at the Car Collection of HSH the Prince of Monaco Museum.

LIFTING SPIRITS DURING THE PANDEMIC

I Fight Aids Cup 2023 © Frédéric Nebinger, Eric Mathon, Michael Alesi / Direction de la Communication, Palais Princier

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n 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, Monaco’s F1 race was cancelled, but fans of the legendary event got a consolation prize in the form of a film. Leclerc and Prince Albert II starred in a moraleboosting film by Claude Lelouch. The short film titled Le Grand Rendez-Vous shows Prince Albert II in the passenger’s seat with Leclerc behind the wheel of a Ferrari SF90 Stradale. Leclerc reaches breakneck speeds

FORMULA ONE “THE LAST THING I THINK OF BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP AND THE FIRST THING I THINK OF WHEN I WAKE UP, IS WINNING,” — CHARLES LECLERC

© ACM / Philippe Magoni

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harles Leclerc is the third youngest Formula 1 winner in history.

The 2022 season was his best yet, with three victories in Bahrain, Australia and Austria and five second-place finishes (Saudi Arabia, Miami, Italy, Singapore and Abu Dhabi). With his talent, ambition and fearless passion for racing, the future is unquestionably bright for the young star.

“Thank you all for the love and suppor t…2022 was a good year, but we’ll give it all to make 2023 better,” said Leclerc.

© Mauro Serra

Waiting to start

of 200 km/h along the streets of the Principality. The film is a nod to the 1976 film C'était un Rendez-Vous by the same director.

SCUBA DIVING, GOLF, FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL WITH THE NBA?!

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hen he isn’t donning a driver’s helmet, Leclerc can be seen trying his hand at several other sports, especially when it’s for a good cause. In 2018, when HSH Princess Charlène asked Leclerc to become an Ambassador for the Princess Charlène Foundation, he immediately responded with a resounding ‘yes’. As a scuba diver, he is very sensitive to the foundation’s goals of teaching swimming to children and preventing drowning. During the pandemic, Leclerc helped the Princess distribute 12,500 masks to people across Monaco.

Leclerc has played golf for the Princess of Monaco Cup and football for the World Stars Football Match, which raised funds for underprivileged children. Star Team For The Children was created thirty years ago by HSH Prince Albert II and racing

driver Mauro Serra.

And, as of this year, Leclerc can also say that he played basketball with the NBA…sort of. Leclerc watched the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls match in Paris in January 2023, but before the game, Leclerc and fellow racing car driver Pierre Gasly played a pre-match pick-up game with Joakim Noah and Tony Parker.

“Let’s just say I better stick to driving,” said Leclerc on social media after the game, to which Lewis Hamilton replied, “Let’s play.”

Charles Leclerc and Mauro Serra, one of the founders of the football team Star Team For The Children MC

Monaco’s Grand Prix will be taking place on 28th May. So far, Louis Chiron is the only native of the Principality to have won the Monaco Grand Prix, almost an entire century ago. Is a hometown win in the cards for Charles Leclerc this year? We hope so!

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FORMULA ONE

THE 80TH MONACO GRAND PRIX: An intricate history of the legendary race

By Julia Belyakova

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FORMULA ONE

© ACM / Direction de la Communication Michael Alesi

Today the Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most eagerly awaited races in the Formula-1 calendar. Its challenging circuit winds through the Monte-Carlo streets. Monaco residents are booking their seats in advance to get the best views and, of course, to cheer for the Monegasque Charles Leclerc, the Formula-1 vice-champion last season. The start of the legendary Monaco Grand Prix, however, is associated with many challenges and obstacles that may have compromised the very addition of this unique circuit to the Formula-1 calendar.

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© ACM / Direction de la Communication Michael Alesi

FORMULA ONE

Fans from the Principality supporting Charles Leclerc are everywhere. © ACM / Natacha Peyret

HOW IT ALL STARTED

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he Monaco Grand Prix was founded by the predecessor of the modern day FIA, the French Association of Recognised Automobile Clubs, that opened its headquarters in 1904 in Paris.

In 1925, it was approached by the Monegasques with the purpose of registering the Automobile Club of Monaco. The request was, however, rejected. According to the French Association, it was thought inappropriate to register an entire club in a tiny state that does not even hold a race of its own.

The cup that the winner of the Monaco Grand Prix traditionally receives from the Sovereign Prince himself

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But the avid car enthusiasts, Antony Noghès and his son Alexandre, just wouldn't take "no" for an answer. They came up with a project of running a race directly through the Principality streets, with no need to build any extra tracks.

Having pondered on the pros and cons of making a racetrack in the Principality

for two years, Antony Noghès eventually entrusted his project to the only professionals he knew would give him relevant and objective advice. They were the racer Louis Chiron and the technician Jacques Taffet. Very importantly, he also got the support of Prince of Monaco, Louis II. On top of that, Antony had to persuade the Société des Bains de Mer to back him with their investments. Realizing its potential, SBM manager, René Leon, unwaveringly allocated the funds in question.

THE VERY FIRST GRAND PRIX RACE

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he first race in the Principality took place on 14th April, 1929. 15 cars were competing: 8 Bugatti, 3 Alfa Romeo, 2 Maserati, 1 Licorne and 1 Mercedes SSK. It was famously won by William Grover-Williams at the wheel of his Bugatti

The race was originally part of the European Championship held before the Second World War. The Monaco Grand Prix gradually became as popular as other races across Europe. In 1933, its scale and audience were equivalent to those of France, Belgium and Spain. What's more, that year for the first time the starting position was determined by the practice sessions results. This selection still works to this day.

Over the next few years the Grand Prix races were an absolute must-see. Sadly, this short-lived success was overtaken by the war, with the races suspended from 1939. After the end of World War II, the Grand Prix was re-launched on September 9, 1945 in Paris. However, due to its dire financial situation, Monaco was

© ACM / Julien Perez Alonso

Type 35B. The champion was awarded a prize of 100,000 French francs by Prince Louis II of Monaco in person. William Grover covered the entire distance in 3 hours 56 minutes 11 seconds at an average speed of 80 km/h. And the beautiful tradition of receiving your reward personally from the sovereign has been preserved to this day.

© ACM / Julien Perez Alonso

FORMULA ONE

A moment in the competition during the F1 Monaco Grand Prix on May 29, 2022

© ACM / Julien Perez Alonso

The fourth stage of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit passes through Casino Square.

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© ACM / Direction de la Communication Michael Alesi

FORMULA ONE

not among the participants until 1947.

In 1949 the Monaco Grand Prix was cancelled again due to the passing away of Prince Louis II. The first Formula-1 Monaco Grand Prix was held in May 1950. Unfortunately, fur-

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ther delays and cancellations followed due to various technical problems, and it was not until 1955 that Monaco rejoined the F1 World Championship. In 1956, shortly after her marriage to Prince Rainier, the Grand Prix race was opened by Princess Grace herself.

MORE ATTENTION TO SAFETY

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he Grand Prix kept expanding with more countries increasingly joining the world championship.

FORMULA ONE were willing to increase the number of cars allowed. So, in 1972 it went from 18 to 26. Just two years later, however, this number was brought back to 18.

The Monaco circuit is renowned for its compact size, and consequently, the average speed for the racers has always been slower. The shortest, narrowest and slowest, it is also the most dangerous race in the championship. The MonteCarlo challenging hairpins, where overtaking is impossible, require maximum concentration.

GRAND PRIX 2023

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his year we will be celebrating the 80th Monaco Grand Prix. The race has remained part of the Formula-1 calendar despite some fears and talks that it may be removed. In 2023 the racing championship will count a record 24 races.

The race will thus be held in China for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic. It will then travel to Qatar, Monaco and Las Vegas, followed by Austin and Miami.

Thus this season will see the introduction of new circuits, honouring at the same time the historic ones.

The Monaco Grand Prix will be held from May 25 to 28. By now, it has maintained its city racetrack tradition since 1929, invariably delighting its fans and television audiences around the world. Unsurprisingly, the Principality is well packed on its Grand Prix days. Celebrities and motor sports enthusiasts from all around the globe flock to the circuit.

The 2022 Monaco Grand Prix awards ceremony attended by the princely family. First place winner Red Bull Racing's Mexican driver Sergio Perez is in the centre.

In 1960 barriers were introduced at various points of the track. Prior to the introduction of these safety measures, racers were running the danger of steering off the track and hitting a wall, a pole, or even falling into the water. This may sound incredulous by today's standards,

but safety protocols had yet to be perfected. The cars of the time were not as fast as today, but much less safe.

The innovations above significantly altered the race track appearance. As safety conditions improved, the organisers

But it's not just the Grand Prix racing that makes Monaco famous. Following three days of intense competitions, the Principality hosts the most prestigious parties of the year, attracting Formula-1 racers and their fans.

Planning to spend a Grand Prix weekend in Monaco? Start exploring the various options now: from the most exclusive and expensive to the budget one.

Book your tickets, choose the most advantageous views of the track. Let ’s start looking forward to the legendary race and get ready for more incredible stories and spectacular records as the racers continue to write the history of the unique Monaco Grand Prix circuit here in Monaco!

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 63 www.hellomonaco.com

Alamy.com

FORMULA ONE

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT THE MONACO GRAND PRIX Alain Prost at the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix

 THE VERY FIRST WINNER OF THE MONACO GRAND PRIX WAS ... A SPY William Grover, who drove his Bugatti to victory during the very first Monaco Grand Prix, was a World War II spy for the British intelligence service in France. Sadly, arrested by the Nazis at the end of the war, he was executed in Sachsenhausen concentration camp in 1945.

 AS EASY AS RIDING A BICYCLE Fancy a cycle race around your own living room. It requires utmost concentration, precision, control and skill. That’s how Brazilian racer Nelson Piquet describes his racing experience. By the end of the race, the competitors would have made almost 5,000 gear changes around countless bends!

 JUMPING INTO THE WATER

© HelloMonaco

The Mediterranean Sea is not just a beautiful background for the Monaco Grand Prix. Racers would sometimes find themselves careering overboard. According to the MotorSport magazine of 1965, Paul Hawkins hit the wooden barrier at the port side chicane entrance, flew over bales of straw and the edge of the quay, ending up straight in the sea. His Lotus sank, but the hardy Australian luckily surfaced and swam ashore. The rescue boats finished the job.

Monument to William Grover, winner of the first Monaco Grand Prix in 1929, near Saint Devote chapel

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They do say that lightning never strikes the same place twice.

However, ten years earlier, in 1955, Alberto Askari did the same very thing. Fortunately, the Italian pilot escaped with some nose injuries and a slight concussion.

FORMULA ONE  "THE BIG PANDEMONIUM" Did you know that the legendary Fangio miraculously escaped a dip in the sea on the day of his first win in 1950? The quirky winds from the Mediterranean were to blame. Italian Nino Farina, the winner of the very first World Championship in 1950, at the end of the first lap due to the humidity of the track, made a mistake and collided with the Argentinean Gonzalez, thereby provoking a blockage of more than half of the riders. Fangio carefully drove around without colliding and won the race without any fight. Call it lucky. Either way, having won the Monaco Grand Prix four more times, Fangio has dispelled any doubts as to his virtuoso driving skills.

© ACM / Direction de la Communication Michael Alesi

 THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VICTORIES AND THE SMALLEST WINNING MARGINS A record for number of victories at the Monaco Grand Prix — six — belongs to the Brazilian Ayrton Senna called the "King of Monaco". Senna also had a major opportunity to win in 1984 at the famous rainy Grand Prix when the race was stopped and Alain Prost was declared the winner.

Another of Senna’s records is the smallest margin of victory recorded in 1992. Senna beat Nigel Mansell by just 0.215 seconds and won the Monaco Grand Prix for the fifth time, equalling Graham Hill, who was called "Mr. Monaco". The British pilot earned this nickname for five victories on the streets of Monaco between 1963 and 1969. In 1965, an interesting incident happened to Hill: in order to avoid a collision with Bob Anderson, Graham Hill had to abruptly change the trajectory and drive into a pocket on the track. He jumped out of the car, pushed it back onto the track, jumped back into his driving seat and continued the competition. Even such a serious loss of time did not prevent Graham Hill from finishing the race first.

Alamy.com

The second five-time winner of the Monaco Grand Prix is Michael Schumacher. Alain Prost has got four victories.

Charles Leclerc at the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix

 POLE POSITION Does an advantageous pole position actually guarantee victory?

In a race through the narrow streets as in Monaco its role is major indeed. 12 out of the last 18 races in Monaco were actually won from the pole position. Whichever way it is, you can't really bet everything on it. Overall, out of 79 Monaco Grand Prix, the pole position has been a winning one in just over 50 % of the time.

Do you think it's possible to become a Grand Prix champion if you're not even in the top-10? In 1996 Olivier Panis, the winner of the race, was a mere 14th on the starting grid. Only three cars even managed to cross the finish line after that mechanicallychallenged race. Panis’ ranking is the lowest ever recorded for a Formula-1 winner.

 FROM CHIRON TO LECLERC In 1931, Louis Chiron was the first ever man from the Principality to win the Monaco Grand Prix. Sadly, his victory wasn't welcomed with the chequered flag that year, and he didn't become the symbol of the race until 1933. Let's hope Monegasque Charles Leclerc, one of Formula-1's youngest drivers, will have the joy and privilege to be saluted under the chequered flag for his first home victory.

In 1994, Ayrton Senna could have won the Monaco Grand Prix for the seventh time but died two weeks before.

As for the title of the oldest competitor, it also belongs to Louis Chiron, having raced in the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix at the age of 55 years, 9 months and 10 days.

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© ACM / Julien Perez Alonso

FORMULA ONE

The Fairmont Hairpin, the slowest corner in Formula One

A TRICKY CIRCUIT Even if Monaco is the only one not to meet the FIA minimum distance of 305 kilometres, its Grand Prix has well earned its place amongst the other F1 destinations, invariably capturing the hearts of its numerous fans and car enthusiasts.

A 180-degree hairpin surprising the racer from the straightaways at top speed is truly magical. Pilots have to decelerate from full throttle of 200 km/h to 45–50 km/h in 7.5 seconds. They only have a fraction of a second to make a decision to overtake their rival.

Interestingly, the basic configuration of the circuit has remained unchanged since 1950, while Grand Prix tracks in other countries have undergone major changes over the years. It wasn't until 2015 that Monaco also made, even if minor, changes. The circuit was shortened by a total of 3 metres, namely three corners (#12, #13 and #14) and now is equal to 3.337 km.

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The Tunnel, one of the fastest sections in Formula One

© ACM / Direction de la Communication Michael Alesi

No less difficult for pilots is the passage of the Tunnel — both because of the difference of temperatures of asphalt and of the sudden change in lighting, to which the human eye cannot adapt instantly. The tunnel in Monte-Carlo is the only one in Formula 1 and the fastest part of the lap of the Monaco Grand Prix (up to 260–300 km/h).

Since 1979, the last corner of the Monaco circuit just before the finish line has borne the name Antony Noghès Virage. This is to honour the man who did not back down and pushed for this legendary race to be included in the international championship calendar.

NIGHT LIFE

BEST PLACES TO PARTY IN THE PRINCIPALITY DURING THE 80TH MONACO GRAND PRIX

By Julia Belyakova

Monaco nightlife is particularly famous for its exclusive and glamorous atmosphere. Even more so during the Grand Prix weekend when everything is in full swing. That's when the Principality truly becomes a prime hotspot for entertainment, spectacular shows and performances. At that time of the year, Monaco’s most prestigious venues are going out of their way to host the most sparkling and unforgettable nightlife. During these three days in May, the most intense and exciting races are followed by prestigious parties, attracting a number of the Grand Prix fans, guests and pilots. We would now like to introduce you to Monaco nightlife which has a reality all of its own.

COYA MONTE-CARLO

© COYA Monte-Carlo

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 @coyamontecarlo  +377 9806 2020

© SUNSET Monaco

he legendary COYA chain is world famous not only for its unique menu, but also for its sparkling parties.

London, Mykonos, Dubai, Paris, Monaco.

Come here to plunge into the vibrant Latin American culture and enjoy some unique DJ sets. It is truly imbibed with the Latin American vibe: menu, decor, handmade furniture, amulets, spicy scents, ethnic music — you name it. Conveniently located right on the Mediterranean seaside, the restaurant's terrace offers some of the most stunning Monaco views. Its masterfully crafted menu gives iconic Peruvian dishes a modern twist. Its chef, Victoria Vallenilla, is inspired

by Japanese, Chinese and Spanish culinary traditions. Its bartenders’ mixologists will surprise you with signature cocktails, getting you in the mood for the upcoming party! As to the COYA resident DJs, they are known all over the world. Vibrant electronic music, cunningly woven with ethnic notes, will get you dancing straight away. A dashing drummer makes the rhythm even more irresistible.

Dance the night away, followed by Jimmy'z party next door.

© COYA Monte-Carlo

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NIGHT LIFE

@jimmyzmc

@jimmyzmc

JIMMY’Z MONTE-CARLO

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or over 40 years, Jimmy'z Club has been attracting celebrities from all over the world with its sparkling parties. This legendary place was born thanks to SBM and Régine’s (Regina Zilberberg) collaboration. The “Queen of the Night” first gave a concert in Monaco in 1970. A year later, her love story with the principality was crowned by Jimmy'z club opening. One of the most popular nightclubs in Monaco, it invariably attracts the world’s most famous performers: Martin Solveig, Bob Sinclair, Big Ali to name just a few. During the summer months, its open-air bar becomes a vibrant party hotspot. If you feel like it, this legendary place would even take you on a canal cruise in a small canoe. Watch the happy crowd and the champagne splashing! Thanks to its proximity to the Sporting complex, Jimmy'z Monte-Carlo is a great afterparty venue for the world's most famous social events, such as the Bal de la Rose.

Thursday May 25 to Sunday May 28, Jimmy'z MonteCarlo will be delighting its guests with legendary parties in honour of the Formula-1 Monaco Grand Prix. Get ready to party-away several nights to its hip-hop, dance and house music! Jimmy'z is the place to be for all the unrivaled party and nightlife lovers coming to Monaco for this unique weekend.

 @jimmyzmc  +377 9806 7068

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he bar in SBM’s Hôtel de Paris is primarily known for its live music evenings and unique cocktails. It’s a chic and elegant atmosphere which does stand out from the rest of the Principality's clubs. A certain dress code is required here: ladies in cocktail and evening dresses, men — jackets and shirts.

In spite of its different vibe, Le Bar Américain is no less fun and sparkling. It is truly reminiscent of the Great Gatsby times: live jazz music, elegant bar design and great cocktails — everything you know of the last century's Roaring Twenties. Its live performance program is updated monthly, favouring the same musical genres: soul, jazz, blues, pop and funk.

To celebrate the 80th Monaco Grand Prix, its famous after-parties will be held here on Saturday and Sunday, May 27–28, from 5pm.

DJ Ergo will make it truly vibrant!

 @hoteldeparismc  +377 9806 3838

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@hoteldeparismc

LE BAR AMÉRICAIN

NIGHT LIFE

© HelloMonaco

BUDDHA BAR

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his is a real Mecca for all fans of electronic music spiced up with an ethnic vibe. The Buddha Bar has DJ Papa as its resident. Owned by SBM, it is part of the famous MonteCarlo Casino having taken over the former cabaret premises.

This place will impress you with its spacious interior, literally taking you to faraway Asia. Monegasque chef Eric Guillemot and his team will be serving you exquisite Asian cuisine. Enjoy a hookah and signature Buddha Bar cocktails on its terrace during sultry Sunday nights. After a delicious dinner, get ready for a noisy party. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, better book a spot at the bar in advance!

 @buddhabarmc  +377 9806 1919

TWIGA

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wiga is the meeting place for jetsetters from all over the world. One of the most famous of the Billionaires Club venues, it is run by Italian businessman Flavio Briatore. Its live-show dinners smoothly turn into dancing parties animated by vibrant DJ music. During the Portier area construction, the club was temporarily hosted by the Grimaldi Forum building. This move has not affected the quality of its parties in any way. It is still largely sought after by celebrities: football stars, Formula-1 pilots, successful businessmen and film industry notables.

 @twiga_mc  +377 9999 2550 https://t wigaworld.

com/montecarlo/

SASS CAFÉ

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nother legendary place that has been attracting party lovers to the Principality for 30 years. Founded in 1993 by Salvador Treves, better known as Sassa, the Sass Café has welcomed numerous music, film and sports celebrities, including U2 lead singer Bono, soul singer Seal, basketball king Michael Jordan, actress Eva Longoria and many others.

 @sasscafe  +377 9325 5200

© SUNSET Monaco

Its elegant interiors designed by Lady Tina Green are transformed into a dance floor at night. Vibrant DJ sets will make you dance the night away. Open every night from 8pm.

© Sass Café

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NIGHT LIFE

LILLY’S CLUB MONTE-CARLO

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@lillysclub

illy's Club is a newcomer to the Principality's nightlife scene, having made a name for itself during the last Formula-1 round. It is known for the most sparkling parties of the season. Just check out its impressive line-up: Societe, French Morgana, Jamiejones and Disclosure were running the DJ set during the race. Opened on the first floor of the Fairmont MonteCarlo hotel, the club brings you relaxation in the best nightlife traditions: exclusive tables, expensive champagne, vibrant dancers and a sea of lights. The owners are in no rush to turn it into a mass concept. Its parties are only announced on the club's website and on social networks. This year is no exception, with the most spectacular events being prepared for the Monaco Grand Prix races. Booking has been open since February.  @lillysclub To make a booking: contact@lillysclub.com

AMBER LOUNGE © Amber Lounge

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onya Irvine, famous organizer of the Amber Lounge and Amber Summer, venue of the Formula-1’s most vibrant parties, has transformed the legendary Amber Lounge concept into an exclusive event exported around the world during the race weekends. Her guests are Formula-1 racers, top models, movie stars and royal families. The annual Amber Lounge Fashion Show is a unique event showcasing the Formula-1 pilots presenting the latest menswear trends. Over the years, Bono, The Edge, Heidi Klum, Ronaldo and The Black Eyed Peas were hitting the dance floor in Monaco alongside the racing drivers. Dance the night away, take champagne showers while listening to the trendy DJ sets. This Monaco end-ofrace party is truly regarded as the most glamorous and exclusive event in the world.  @amberloungeltd  +33 7 8884 6701

LA RASCASSE

@larascassemc

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uring the daytime, watch the cars race right next to the hairpin or La Rascasse corner from the La Rascasse bar. Over the legendary Grand Prix weekend, La Rascasse is also one of the busiest places in Monaco by night. Its live music and famous DJs make its atmosphere simply electric.

 @larascassemc  +377 9806 1616

NIGHT LIFE

BLUE GIN BAR

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© Monte-Carlo Bay Hote

l & Resort

he legendary Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort bar offers some sensational parties during the Monaco Formula-1 Grand Prix. Celebrate the success of your favourite racing driver to the rhythm of DJ Nicolas Saad's party and enjoy a most stunning Mediterranean view.

 @blueginmonaco  +377 9806 0360 © Monte-Carlo Bay Hote

l & Resort

LE CRYSTAL BAR

 @hotelhermitagemc  +377 9806 9899

@hotelhermitagemc

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xcellence, elegance and discreet charm — this is what the Crystal Bar is all about. This Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo bar boasts an excellent list of wines, champagnes, spirits and some delicious cocktails served in a chic, relaxing atmosphere. Come here to discuss with your friends the Grand prix results, predict pole position and bet on the Top-3! Over the legendary Monaco Grand Prix weekend, the Crystal Bar is just the place to be. Stop by for a stunning night panorama of the harbour and admire the luxurious yachts moored here.

SUNSET

 @sunsetmonaco Booking: booking@sunsetmonaco.com or link: https://shotgun.live/fr/events/sunsetmonaco-gp-2023

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© SUNSET Monaco

© SUNSE T Monaco

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UNSET party is the world's one and only! This year the legendary party celebrates its 10th anniversary. This truly unique concept has brought together all the right elements: a friendly vibe, an unparalleled creativity and an unforgettable music atmosphere. Succumb to a hurricane of emotions, let beauty and glamour take over, enjoy this breathtaking location, an incredible musical line-up and amazing theatrical shows. Not surprisingly, this unforgettable Monaco Grand Prix party attracts the most exclusive international clientele. Come to the Meridien Beach Plaza during the 80th Monaco Grand Prix from May 26 to 28 May, don't miss out! From noon to midnight, enjoy 3 days of partying no matter how young or old you are. During this special weekend, discover the relaxed and unique atmosphere of the Meriden Beach Plaza hotel private beach.

ART DE VIVRE

CESARE CITTERIO, CTO OF THE SLEEPING COMPANY: «Sleeping is synonymous with happiness»

By Helena Litvak

“We love to sleep, thus to us, sleeping is synonymous with happiness,” Cesare Citterio, CTO of T.S.C. (The Sleeping Company) told us. Sleep is also essential for our good health and well-being. How we feel during the day depends, in part, on how we slept that night. But, don’t close your eyes yet. First read, Hello Monaco and Allure Luxury Group’s exclusive conversation with Cesare Citterio, representing three generations of experts in the sleeping industry, from the heart of elegance and beauty — Lake Como, Italy. to keep constantly investing in R&D and find innovative solutions to guarantee that each person who chooses our products reaches the maximum comfort while sleeping, and we can say this is also our mission.

I think our main commitment is to listen to our customers’ needs, then turn them into made-to-measure products, so that we can give them dreamy nights — spoiler alert… the imminent Orsa Maggiore collection will entirely revolve around this virtue. : How important is sleep for good quality of life?

Cesare: We sleep for almost one third of our life. We spend almost one third of our day in bed and, just like we try to get the most out of what we do during the day, we think noone should settle for an average sleep.

Sleeping well makes you start the day full of energy so that you can face your daily challenges.

The Sleeping Company is an Italian manufacturing operation in the hi-end bedding industry for residential and hospitality.

Hello Monaco: When and how was the T.S.C. (The Sleeping Company) founded?

Cesare Citterio: T.S.C. was founded in the mid-70s by our grandparents. To be honest, the original company was already operating from the ‘60s as a producer of springs for the upholstery industry. Then, like many other realities of that time, both manufacturing and industrial (even way bigger), everything was born from a simple intuition: long ago, there wasn’t a real sleeping culture, so what

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our grandparents did was to start with their actual know-how and transfer it into a new product — yes, firstly to help them sleep — Hence a simple company operating as a third party in the upholstery industry turned into a mattress manufacturer, which is currently led by the third generation of the family. : What is the mission of the company?

Cesare: Well, basically we all like to sleep, very well I might add. So, what we do is

But not only this: good sleep allows us to have higher levels of attention during the day, giving our brain the opportunity to clear out toxins. Our body regenerates and our life is naturally better. : Lake Como is one of the most luxurious destinations in the world. What influence does it have on running the business there?

Cesare: Como Lake is without any doubt one of Italy’s (and world) jewels. It is synonymous with beauty and elegance. We are proud and consider ourselves extremely lucky to live and work in such a context, from which we try to absorb the best influence. First of all, we seek refinement and elegance for our products. A good mat-

ART DE VIVRE

T.S.C. supplies the hospitality industry with a dedicated Contract product line comprising bedding and spa&wellness items.

tress should not be just comfortable, we think it should also be a feast for the eyes, an iconic piece in our bedroom. Orsa Maggiore products are made strictly by hand, in an artisanal way, and this allows us to pay the maximum care and attention to details.

Being a manufacturer means striving for perfection in each product we make. : Who are T.S.C’s customers?

Cesare: T.S.C’s customers usually are looking for quality and comfort…and last but not the least the best product money can buy! We believe that every kind of request should be supported, so there is a product for every customer’s demand. That’s why our product range is so wide and our clientele so varied.

Our production is indeed structured in different brands and collections, for both residential and hospitality, and in different price targets. By offering the entire bedsystem, which comprises mattresses, linen, pillows, bedsteads and further accessories to make the person snug and furnish the bedroom in the best way, our customers — whether they are retailers, design studios, contractor managers, B2B purchasing of­f ices… — can find the right product they are looking for from time to time. And this is good also for hospitality projects, for which we can manage customized turnkey bedding solutions.

The first company building from the mid ‘70s

ried her vision about Italian beauty in the world. At the same time, we were searching for someone who could deeply understand and appreciate the value of our production.

Together we completed exclusive projects, designed according to the needs of each and every client, which could spread the “Made in Italy” trademark and the best rest in the bedrooms of whoever chooses us.

Model Oneiro supports the user with more than 1200 coils/ sqm, natural waddings such as bamboo, white linen, silk and cashmere and pure natural fabric with skin-relief and anti-age properties — shown with Pillow Top Plush.

: What is most unique about T.S.C. that you would like to share with our readers in Monaco?

Cesare: Probably we are the last survivors in the bedding industry who work for passion and not for money.

Official Representative in Principality of Monaco: Irena Kazimirskaya, Allure Luxury Group srl +33 68 086 2069

: Could you please tell us more of how and when T.S.C. became a part of Allure Luxury Group?

Cesare: Our partnership with Allure Luxury Group is relatively young. We first met with Irena, CEO of Allure, back in 2018.

She was looking for a company that mar-

Orsa Maggiore is a brand of T.S.C. srl T.S.C. srl +39 0362 231 754 www.orsamaggiorebedding.com info@thesleepingcompany.it

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On Cloud Nine with

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Model: Katarina Filipovic @kat_filipovic Make up: Uliana Matviiv, @ulianamatviiv, Cool bay Monaco Hair style: Valeria Valermir, @valeri_yeva, Cool bay Monaco Photographer: Olga Sauvaire, @olga_sauvaire Assistant: Olesya Ruban, @ruban_urbanstylist Coordinator: Alena Shtyk, senior sales associate of Chaumet Monaco Producer/art director: Katya Taran @katyataran There is a special Thank you from HelloMonaco magazine to YOUR’S boutique in Monaco, @yoursmonaco Cool bay Monaco, @coolbay.monaco Our sincere gratitude to VILLA NUAGE for hospitality

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Chaumet Jewellery: Comets from the sea earrings in white and pink gold, set with two oval Padparadscha sapphires of 1.76 and 1.54 carats from Sri Lanka and Madagascar, two oval yellow-green sapphires of 0.90 carat each, Padparadscha sapphires and whimsical sapphires, fine pearls and brilliantcut diamonds.

Comets from the searing in white and pink gold, set with an 18.66 carat (74.64 grains) fine pearl, fancy Padparadscha sapphires and round coloured sapphires.

Comets from the sea ring in white and yellow gold, set with an oval Padparadscha sapphire of 3.50 carats from Madagascar, fine pearls, Padparadscha sapphires and fancy colour and brilliant-cut diamonds.

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DMN chemise and pantaloon Savane, boutique YOUR’S Monaco

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Chaumet Jewellery: Ondulation bracelet in yellow gold, set with 24 calibrated yellow sapphires, total weight of 6,86 carats.

Qianlong ring in yellow gold and lacquer, set with brilliant-cut diamonds and one oval-cut green tourmaline of 7.20 carats.

Qianlong ring in rose gold and lacquer, set with brilliant-cut diamonds and one oval-cut pink tourmaline of 7.89 carats.

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DMN suit in lagoon colour, boutique YOUR’S Monaco

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David Koma dress, boutique YOUR’S Monaco 80 / Hello Monaco Spring 2023 www.hellomonaco.com

Chaumet Jewellery: Asymetrical Bee My Love necklace in rose gold, set with 35 brilliant-cut diamonds, total weight of 1,38 carats.

Exquises cocktail ring in rose gold set with one oval-cut rhodolite garnet of 17 carats and brilliant-cut diamonds.

Bee My Love half pavé diamond bracelet in rose gold.

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Chaumet Jewellery: Joséphine Duo Eternel earrings in white gold, set with brilliantcut diamonds, total weight of 2,27 carats.

Joséphine Splendeur Impériale solitaire in platinum, set with a brilliant-cut diamond from 2 carats, a pear-shaped diamond and brilliant-cut diamonds.

Alexandre Vauthier dress, boutique YOUR’S Monaco

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Chaumet Jewellery: Lux ring in white gold, set with one cabochon-cut angel-skin coral of 6.33 carats, baguettecut aquamarines, round orange topazes, brilliant-cut diamonds and turquoise.

Lux bracelet and earrings in white gold, paved with baguette-cut aquamarines, pink topazes, beads of angelskin coral, brilliant-cut and square-cut diamonds.

Balmain dress, boutique YOUR’S Monaco Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 83 www.hellomonaco.com

Chaumet Jewellery: Promenades Impériales transformable necklace in white gold and pink gold, set with a pear-shaped Padparadscha sapphire of 16.31 carats from Ceylon with a ‘sunset’ colour, 1 cabochon-cut Padparadscha sapphire of 9.03 carats from Ceylon, 1 oval-cut diamond D VVS1 of 1.13 carats.

White and pink gold Treasure Hunt earrings, set with two round pink tourmalines of 3.15 and 3.12 carats, two angel skin coral pearls, whimsical tanzanites, Padparadscha and purple sapphires and brilliant-cut diamonds.

Bluemarine dress, boutique YOUR’S Monaco

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Chaumet Jewellery: Laurier head ornament in white gold, set with 404 brilliant-cut diamonds, total weight of 3,35 carats.

Laurier bracelet in white gold, set with 456 brilliant-cut diamonds, total weight of 3,80 carats.

Laurier rings in white gold, set with brilliant-cut diamonds, total weight of 1.14 carats and 2.13 carats.

Elie Saab dress, boutique YOUR’S Monaco Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 85 www.hellomonaco.com

Villa Nuage R O Q UE B RUN E - C AP MAR T IN

LUXURIOUS FRENCH VILLA NUAGE IS AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE HOLIDAY! The spacious villa (800 m2) with 5 bedrooms for up to 13 people, with panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and Monaco, is located less than 10 minutes drive from Monte-Carlo.

This is the ideal place if you are attracted by the legendary Monte-Carlo, the sea and the beaches, but at the same time you are looking for a quiet place by a pool or shady gardens.

Luxurious furniture decorates every room of the villa, hinting at the nuances of art deco. The exquisite combination of fabric and furniture with leather upholstery emphasizes the feeling of luxury.

In addition to 5 spacious bedrooms, you will be greeted by a magnificent reception hall and a spacious dining room for 20 people, a fully equipped gym, massage room, hammam and a room adorned with a fireplace.

Delightful gardens with manicured lawns, shrubs and a wide variety of mature trees create lovely retreats. Ample parking on site, as well as a spacious garage for six cars will allow you to receive guests with comfort.

THE VILLA IS OFFERED WITH THE FOLLOWING SERVICES AS PART OF YOUR RENTAL PACKAGE:  CHEF that will satisfy all your needs

 CHAUFFEUR with Mercedes Viano 5 days a week

 HOUSE HELPER daily cleaning, laundry and ironing services

 GARDENER two times a week

 SECURITY around the clock throughout

To plan your private view of Villa Nuage call: +44 7775 317927 (WhatsApp) team@villanuage.com

MADE IN MONACO

MEET AMURA! FINE CAVIAR FROM MONACO

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MADE IN MONACO

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A STORY OF MEMORABLE CAVIAR

WHAT MAKES AMURA CAVIAR SPECIAL?

he Monaco-based caviar brand, Amura bears the name of one of the world’s l o n g e s t an d m os t b o unti f ul r i ve r s .

Thanks to its passion and unique expertise in caviar, Amura sparked the desire to share memorable experiences with the rest of the world, eventually ingraining it into their vision and mission.

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Amura’s extensive know-how in the caviar industry has led it to work with the most reputable sturgeon farms around the world. Their methods of production and distribution are of the highest standard. From Asia to Europe, the company is involved along each step of the whole process, starting with the sourcing of the finest roe from the most sustainable, ethical, and natural reservoirs — and finishing with direct delivery to some of the greatest restaurants of Monte-Carlo. Amura believes it is crucial to work with trusting partners who respect the art and craft involved surrounding the fish, and the traditional way caviar is made. Hence it commits to great work and having full transparency in its production methods.

Amura wants you to savour this gastronomic and joyful experience by creating refined memories together. Caviar is what you make it: spread it on toast at Sunday brunch, garnish a pasta with it for your tête-à-tête dinner, or enjoy it on its own — the choice is yours. Mimosas and a caviar bump, anyone?

ach tin ensures a collection of the most appetising caviar, with every single roe guaranteed to burst in an amalgamation of buttery and malossol (lightly salted) natural flavours. Rich in nutritional properties such as B12, B6, D and Omega-3 vitamins, the long-lasting effects on the tongue will certainly make you wish for more, highlighting the delicacy and aphrodisiac qualities of the caviar.

CREATING HISTORY TOGETHER

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mura’s team is dedicated to working with you, no matter your desires, from delivering small-numbered tins of caviar for personal enjoyment, to working together for upscale events. Amura’s well-versed team is receptive to offering consultations in any language, and always open to receiving feedback on how they can better improve. Find more about Amura at amura.mc.

To place your order call + 33 (0) 6 61 10 25 87 www.amura.mc Instagram: @amura_caviar 3-5 avenue des Citronniers, Prince de Galles, Monaco

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MONACO’S GOT TALENT

MANILA DI GIOVANNI:

“It’s not just a belief, not just a dream, it’s the reality. The Monaco Metaverse is Launched”

© DWorld

By Helena Litvak and Justin Brisk

Manila di Giovanni

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MONACO’S GOT TALENT Manila di Giovanni, at only 22 years of age, is Monaco’s youngest technopreneur, a vibrant visionary businesswoman creating the world’s first ever Virtual Economy, an enhanced virtual twin ecosystem of the real world. Manila is doing it through her Monegasque company DWorld, which now also has a holding company in Singapore. A valedictorian graduate of the International University of Monaco she discovered the latest technologies in China having already absorbed the best Japan has to offer in animated worlds… not only that but also the best of the Smart City technologies in Singapore. Manila doesn’t just dream, she acts fast and launched DWorld, the Monaco Metaverse platform which is now targeted for other cities and countries.

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anila di Giovanni has collaborated with the Principality’s smart city project, part of Extended Monaco, and was chosen to showcase DWorld at Monaco’s Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020. Not only that, she has collaborated with Monaco Tourism to showcase the Monaco Metaverse in different countries in Asia and in London.

“Monaco Now” regularly features the DWorld Monaco Metaverse, the latest in collaboration with Frederic Genta, the Government’s Interministerial delegate for attractiveness and digital transition.

Manila di Giovanni won the Top Young Italian Entrepreneur Prize by the Association of Italian Entrepreneurs of Monaco, Rising Star award at the Meta Entertainment World, and was nominated in the “Forbes 30 under 30” list. Additionally, the chief of DWorld was runner-up for the top prize at the Young Chamber of Commerce (JCI) awards.

So what makes Manila di Giovanni tick? Is it the Ying and the Yang of Asian perfectionism combined with European creativity plus the determination to innovate in the Principality?

Is it an all-consuming vision, passion and belief that Monaco will be the first country in the world to fully embrace the Metaverse and jump from the e-world to the v-world?

Is it her natural gift to find special people … those gems to transform her vision into reality … virtual reality and the Metaverse?

Is it her belief that she can improve the world for all of us, that we will all have a brighter future communicating with each other in

this new eco-system which will come to us wherever we are?

Not only those fortunate enough to be in the Principality will be able to engage with Monaco but literally everyone in the globe around the clock. Tick tick tick … Is this what makes Manila di Giovanni tick? Let’s find out in HelloMonaco’s interview with Manila.

Hello Monaco: What is the Metaverse? Can you explain it simply? What is unique about the DWorld Metaverse?

Manila di Giovanni: The metaverse is a terminology that was actually first

Monaco will be the first country in the world to fully embrace the Metaverse and jump from the e-world to the v-world.

conceived by the author Neal Stephenson of the sci-fi novel “Snow Crash” back in 1992.

The term itself implies a virtual simulation and an immersive virtual world that anyone can access globally via a headset. It’s a combination of all the latest technologies, not just VR, but also NFT, blockchain and crypto monetization and so on.

What makes DWorld unique is the fact that we don’t focus on fictional landscapes or just NFT sales that end up in people’s digital wallets as collectibles, but no one really makes use of them. It’s rather the fact that we focus on real world cities and work with local entities to create a high fidelity

virtual twin integrating the future projects of the city with the local and international enterprises and other government entities.

All then can participate in the ecosystem where each virtual product or service, that can also be purchased as a NFT, can be used also within the virtual world of the city or can be provided in real life. The result is a real bridge between the real-world city and the virtual one.

Our long term vision is to involve citizens in th e d e cisi o n m ak in g p ro ce ss o f governmental entities to create and shape the future of their respective cities. : So if I have access to a virtually identical ecosystem of Casino Square and One Monte-Carlo, what does that do for SBM? What does that do for brands like Chanel, Cartier and Dior in MonteCarlo?

MdG: We take all the economic sectors, from retail to events to tourism to arts to yachting and put them in one single ecosystem. All the companies, including for example, SBM, have their virtual space in the virtual twin of the Principality and people world over can access the hotels or the restaurants or the casino etc. With monetization they can pay a fee for example to enter the casino. It’s a new revenue stream, and a new channel to sell their products and services. So the goods aren’t sold just in a digital format, but as a “phygital” (phygital=physical plus digital) where also the real world goods will be delivered to people’s homes. So it’s really a revolution of the whole economic ecosystem for any city globally. : What are the implications for celebrities, like Charles Leclerc?

MdG: In the real-world Charles’ fans often cannot really get access to him. In the Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 91 www.hellomonaco.com

© UPaint

MONACO’S GOT TALENT

Alberto Colman, Founder of UPaint, Manila di Giovanni, H.S.H. Prince of Monaco Albert II and Cinzia Colman at the UPaint event on June 20, 2022

virtual world they can because of his avatar (virtual persona) which can arrange racing master classes directly or people can also take direct pictures with him inside the metaverse. It’s a new way of creating a dynamic engagement between celebrities and their friends globally.

: You have the key member of the team here today, Deniza Marcinkevičiūtė?

MdG: Deniza is a special “Gem” thanks to her high EQ (Emotional Quotient). She knows how to be the most supportive team member, knows which people we can trust and with whom we should interact …also

: Is it similar to Instagram?

MdG: No, Instagram still keeps you detached. Even if you’re writing to them, they or often their agent might never reply. But in the virtual world, it creates empathy with these celebrities because it really feels that you are close and can talk to them. : Your role as an entrepreneur fits well with Monaco but sport is another fit isn’t it … you nearly became a professional athlete … is that right?

MdG: True, I focused on becoming the best tennis player regionally and trained for nationals in Italy, and attended the second best tennis academy in the world in Barcelona. The way that I work now, the discipline, determination, and persistence is thanks to my coach and tennis.

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We will all have a brighter future communicating with each other in this new eco-system. in terms of digital marketing and from a PR perspective in order to reach the right target. : Tell us more about your team.

MdG: My team is special. Deniza has always been one of my main supporters, I knew her from university. All of the others it was destiny, they really understood the vision and what I strongly believe in; this combination

of virtual and real world to enhance society is a version of the future they wanted to see too. All of the talents, John Gwinner, our CTO who has been in this industry for over 20 years and in the past was even CTO at the U.S. Marine Corps, Janet Xanthopoulos helping us in strategy and business development internationally and also with respect to the company’s overall development and roadmap definition, head of yachting and aviation at Rosemont, Julia Riedmeier who is helping us as our brand strategy advisor has a doctorate in luxury brand management and has her own consulting firm Code\Luxe, Laurent Marochini, our financial advisor and head of innovation and blockchain development at Société Générale in Luxembourg, Corinne Kiabski helping us in both local business development and PR who had worked with the government of Monaco, Fabio Operti who is helping us in creating partnerships with the luxury brands, and everyone else helping us from abroad to get more governmental entities onboard and in tech development. It is a very international group. Some people I haven’t even met in person yet! We met online. Like John followed our company abroad before it was even registered. And he was from LA! So even with

MONACO’S GOT TALENT the time difference it’s such a commitment, we alternate who stays up late for calls. : Would you say that even your workplace is in many ways virtual. Your current team and potential expanded team can be anywhere on the planet. How do you lead a team that is so International remotely?

MdG: I think that we wouldn’t be leading a Metaverse company if our team wouldn’t be able to work remotely. Many people in typical workplaces are still traditional and need an office with a desk. In contrast, we can work from anywhere and still be very efficient. : Give us the scoop, when does the rubber hit the road, when do I get to play with the Monaco Metaverse?

: What are the nex t steps for the company?

MdG: We have already done a lot. We recently opened and transferred funds into our holding entity in Singapore to manage all of the cities that we are developing in the metaverse, starting with Monaco but other cities are lined up which we can hopefully announce soon. Monaco has been the start for us, but other cities abroad have shown a strong interest in creating a Metaverse for their cities and we want to help their governmental entities to make their cities become digital leaders while enhancing their smart cities’ infrastructures in this domain. At the moment, our main focus is finalizing the backbone of the virtual

economy for the Principality of Monaco with the blockchain network which we have been working on for a while now so that we can implement it abroad as well. : Will the virtual twin use cryptocurrency of any sorts?

MdG: Not from March 10 th, but in the next updates of the platform. It’ll be stable coins like the USDC to keep th e inte r na l p lat f o r m tr ans a c ti o ns s t ab le without to o much vo latilit y (i.e. 1 USDC is $1). : You speak Italian, Spanish, English and French and some Chinese too. Are you the new Global Citizen?

MdG: Ah, I got an internship offer for Deloitte in Hong Kong at the end of 2019 and speaking Chinese with a minimum HSK3 level was a

© DWorld

MdG: People can start registering with their virtual wallets and get a feel for exploring.

They are able to insert themselves into the Monaco Metaverse right now … as of the 10th of March!

Manila di Giovanni, Founder & CEO DWorld, and Deniza Marcinkevičiūtė, Digital Marketing Manager

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 93 www.hellomonaco.com

MONACO’S GOT TALENT requirement. I went to the Chinese school during my semester abroad in Shanghai and they said it takes 18 months and it would be impossible for me to learn it in two months. But I told them that I had to and sat the exam two months later in order to pass the HSK3 certification and scored 95 %. Unfortunately, Covid started and I couldn’t reach Hong Kong, but destiny wanted me to be fully focused on starting DWorld instead. : You are principally committed to free education, visiting Universities to explain the Metaverse to students etc?

MdG: Do you know how much you pay for university nowadays! I gave speeches at the University of Sydney, and in Monaco and Switzerland. There are two factors that make a country prosper and these are: human capital formation and infrastructure. I believe that education should be free so that all people, no matter their means, can realize their potential. : You are a visionary, but you are also an entrepreneur. Do you constantly have to think about money? What is your business model?

MdG: We’re currently raising another round within the Monaco subsidiary and we are raising 1 million euros this time from VCs, family offices, private investors, and from governmental funds. Laurent is already interacting with several VCs and family offices here in Europe and outside.

service being sold through DWorld. The first companies inserting themselves in the Monaco Metaverse that we are developing

As a young female entrepreneur, I feel there is infinite opportunity to innovate in Monaco with the right collaborative and open-minded people. won’t pay their rental fee for the first year to incentivize them to access it. : What role has Monaco played so far in your life? And in the future?

MdG: Monaco wants to lead the world in areas where Prince Albert II has been committing himself… obviously in caring for the environment but also as a futuristic digital leader as a smart city and as a centre for entrepreneurial excellence. As a young

female entrepreneur, I feel there is infinite opportunity to innovate here with the right collaborative and open-minded people.

It’s a door opener for international opportunities. : Final question …. When will you turn your dream into a reality? When will you have arrived?

MdG: It’s not just a belief, not just a dream, it’s the reality. We finalized the prototype of the Monaco Metaverse already in April 2021 with the Smart City department of the Government of the Principality of Monaco before any other country. Now there is the alpha version just released on the 10th of March. No other city in the world has managed to do this.

An idea remains an idea if it stays in our head.

DWorld has taken the idea of the Metaverse from our heads and is sharing this invention with people. We are out to the market already. From here I want to provide real innovation that will be massively adopted globally. I dreamt of virtual worlds as a kid and look it’s happening. Now we just need to dream bigger … There’s really no limit to the dream at this point. Let’s dream together.

Manila di Giovanni

Here locally in Monaco there are many H N W I s a n d U H N W I s b u t n o t m a ny understand startups; they see them as real estate assets for their present value without seeing the long-term valuation. A startup is quite tough to manage because you constantly have expenditures to develop the solution you are providing and to keep expanding and in the first years of the startup’s life, it needs constant investments to sustain the tech development, marketing, legal, and all the other costs before becoming fully profitable.

The main revenue streams of DWorld come from the B2B side. There’s an upfront cost enterprises pay us to develop their virtual space in the Monaco Metaverse and a rental fee for keeping this space within the virtual world with a small participation in the revenue stream from each product or

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© DWorld

If anyone reading this is interested in investing with us, sees the economic growth potential, and believes in the vision, we would love to on-board them.

japanese cuisine with peruvian influence

Restaurant & Bar OPEN 5 DAYS A WEEK

|

6PM TO 11PM

CLOSED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY

reservation: +377 97 70 70 97 or Nobu@Fairmont.com

12 avenue des Spélugues, MC 98000 Monaco

MONACO HERITAGE

MUR-DE-BARREZ:

a happy 150-year history with Monaco

By Yulia Belyakova

Alamy.com

More than a hundred communes in France and Italy share common history with the Monegasque Grimaldi dynasty. You’d be wrong to think these historical connections don’t mean much to Monaco! Far from that. The three countries, Monaco, France and Italy, constantly join their efforts in preserving this important heritage.

Mur-de-Barrez is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.

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© HelloMonaco

© HelloMonaco

MONACO HERITAGE

Monegasque troupe ‘La Palladienne de Monaco’ dancing during the 1st Meeting of “Grimaldi Historical Sites” in June, 2018

FROM AN ASSOCIATION TO A FEDERATION

alamy.com

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ack in 2015, Jean-Claude Guibal, then Deputy Mayor of Menton, took the initiative of creating the Association of the Historic Sites of the Grimaldis of Monaco, embracing a number of territories historically belonging to France and a few, to Italy. The idea was in the air for many years since the Prince was regularly paying visits to the places long associated with his ancestors.

Since 2018, upon the initiative of Prince Albert II, a special Meeting of the Historic Sites of the Grimaldis of Monaco was held in Monaco. Ambassadors from a number of towns and villages associated with the Grimaldis came especially to the Principality to introduce Monegasques to their culture, folklore, gastronomy, arts and crafts. These annual meetings were regularly held on the princely Palace square until the moment Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 97 www.hellomonaco.com

MONACO HERITAGE

In 2015, Prince Albert II paid a second official visit to the Italian town of Dolceacqua. In 2019 his Serene Highness attended the opening of an art exhibition in the Doria family castle there. Two years later, in 2021, the mayor of Dolceacqua joined in the initiative having created the Italian Association of the Grimaldi Historic Sites.

In May 2022, Prince Albert II formally established the Federation of the Historic Sites of the Grimaldis of Monaco, bringing together his Italian and French heritage. On this occasion, His Serene Highness invited some sixty mayors of the French and Italian municipalities to visit the Principality. The two Associations of the Historic Sites of the Grimaldis of Monaco now count some hundred French and Italian members, serving as a link between the two countries, ensuring an interaction of national associations and promoting the awareness about the Grimaldi sites from a cultural and touristic point of view.

Please let us introduce you to one of these historical places. Here you will learn why the Prince of Monaco bears the title Count of Carladès and what has linked the tiny French village in the Occitania region to the Grimaldi dynasty for almost 400 years.

© Gaetan Luci / Palais Princier

this beautiful tradition was interrupted by Covid. Not to worry because the good news is this year in 2023 the 4th Meeting will take place on June 10th and 11th and 7 regions are invited.

From left to right: Vittorio Ingenito, Mayor of Bordighera, Giovanno Toti, President of Liguria Region, H.S.H. Prince of Monaco Albert II, Fulvio Gazzola, Mayor of Dolceacqua, Alberto Intini, Prefect of Imperia, and Patrick de Carolis, Director of Marmottan Monet Museum (Paris) during the opening of the Claude Monet exposition in Dolceacqua in 2019

Since December 11, 2014, the title of Countess de Carladès has been held

by Princess Gabriella of Monaco.

TREATY OF PÉRONNE AFTERMATH

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ike the English King, the Prince of Monaco bears a number of aristocratic titles tracing his country’s unique historical path. Let’s now dwell a little more on the history of his Serene Highness’ third title.

© Geoffroy Moufflet – APM

It all started in 1641 when Monaco demonstrated its allegiance to France over Spain. The Principality then became its French neighbor’s ally, shedding a lot of blood in its support. The war with France weakened Spain, while Monaco fought on the side of France with Italy. In the course of the war and subsequent peace negotiations, the Principality lost some important Italian territories it used to control when linked to the former Spanish ally. The Monegasque sovereign was forced to give up these lands in favour of his French alliance.

Tapestry from Aubusson with the coat of arms of Monaco (XVII century). The same shield, fusilly argent and gules, adorns the coat of arms of Mur-de-Barrez.

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On September 14, 1641, the Treaty of Péronne was signed between King Louis XIII and Prince Honoré II. In 1643, to compensate him for the loss of Italian lands, the French king gave the Monegasque prince the duchy of Valentinois (Drome department today), the marquisate of Baux in the department of Bouches-du-Rhone and the county of Carladès in Aveyron, home to the village of Mur-de-Barrez that deserves a special mention.

MONACO HERITAGE CALM AFTER THE STORM

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ue to its advantageous strategic position, Mur-de-Barrez was considered a tasty morsel for conquerors throughout all its history.

Its defensive walls were destroyed by the British during the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453). Twice in its history, in 1373 and 1418, the town was seized by the English enemy. Later on, as it went back to being a French territory, Mur-de-Barrez became a hotbed for yet another conflict. Between 1574 and 1590, the town served as a Huguenot stronghold in predominantly Catholic France. The French King Henry IV even ordered his troops to destroy its fortress. It was not until after 1620 that Mur-de-Barrez was left out of the Religious wars.

Albert finished up his visit writing memorable words in the City Hall’s Golden Book.

In 1913, the Monaco Tower was recognized as a historical monument.

The Prince’s of Monaco reign proved to be a huge advantage for the townspeople. Based on favourable Monaco taxation, local trade began to flourish. Peace was finally established in a region that had previously struggled for many years. You may well imagine how happy the Mur-de-Barrez residents were under the protection of their new ruler! Each of them eventually received a guarantee of peace and security with the blessing of the King of France himself.

The Mur-de-Barrez and Monaco’s relationship may be easily summed up by: “All’s well that ends well.” Nowadays, a tiny village of barely a thousand inhabitants and a country with the world ’s highest population densit y, remain good friends and cherish their common history.

Aveyron is a scenic region, home to ten of the most beautiful villages in France. It would be a wonderful place to see for the Monegasques proud of their country’s past.

Alamy.com

But something put an end to this successful alliance that lasted 150 years! The French Revolution. In 1789 the Grimaldi’s western territories in Aveyron were confiscated. Thankfully, many years after, the Principality still has an important connection with Mur-de-Barrez. The purchase of some of its lands in 1914 let Monaco maintain a minor, yet an important presence in the area. Its rocky landscape makes it very attractive for rock climbing. It is also home to the famous Monaco Tower.

Interestingly, Prince Albert II’s father, Rainier III, once took part in the Monte-Carlo Rally under the name of Louis Carladès. Since December 11, 2014, the title of Countess de Carladès has been held by Princess Gabriella of Monaco (Crown Prince Jacques being Marquis de Baux).

THE PRINCIPALITY’S HERITAGE

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ven 400 years later Mur- de -Barrez still keeps memories of Monaco’s 150 year reign, impressing its visitors with the monumental Tower of Monaco. Monegasques are proud of it just as locals are. In 1913, the Monaco Tower was recognized as a historical monument and restored as a defensive structure, first erected in the late 14th century.

Another source of pride for Monegasques is the Murde-Barrez coat of arms, reminiscent of the heraldic colours of the Principality. The city hall also holds some unusual artifacts and historical documents, particularly interesting to Monaco history lovers.

On May 14, 2014, as part of their first official royal visit in 300 years, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlène received a very warm welcome in Mur-de-Barrez. The Prince officially opened the Monaco Tower memorial plaque, assisted by the mayor, Alain Cezac. After a horseback ride, like a genuine medieval ruler, Prince

Monaco Tower in Mur-de-Barrez

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JUBILEE

THE HISTORY OF SOCIÉTÉ DES BAINS DE MER, the Oldest Hospitality Management Company in the World

By Yulia Belyakova

Would it be even possible to imagine Monaco without its legendary Casino or Café de Paris? Or without its unique luxury hotels and gastronomic restaurants? Or its nightclubs and boutiques? There were times, however, when nothing of what Monaco is famous for today was there. The transformation happened precisely 160 years ago. In the spring of 1863, the Société des Bains de Mer (the Sea Bathing Society) was created by a princely decree. Its main shareholder was a man who changed the course of the Principality’s life once and for all.

Nowadays, the SBM group owns casinos, luxury hotels, more than three dozen cafes and restaurants, nightclubs, spas, beaches, event venues, golf clubs and boutiques.

But let’s go back in history to remember how it all started for Monaco’s, perhaps, most legendary company.

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JUBILEE

With the reins in his own hands, Prince Charles immediately took emergency measures.

To make the country attractive to wealthy clients, he legalized gambling. The

© de.wikipedia.org

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n 1856, a new prince, Charles III, came to reign over Monaco.

Things were not going well for the Principality. Its population was unhappy with their poverty.

Most of its territories, in particular, the rebellious cities of Roquebrune and

Menton, had long been out of control (in 5 years they would gain their total independence). The country was actually on the verge of bankruptcy.

François Blanc

first gaming hall was thus opened in the Condamine area, at the Bellevue Villa. The business was not that profitable to start with however. The owners had to give up on it the very next year. Another casino opened in the Old Town, right in front of the Princely Palace. But a good location had not helped. No extra income was registered for the treasury, so the venture was still unsuccessful.

© HelloMonaco

PRIOR TO 1863: DESPERATE SURVIVAL ATTEMPTS

After a series of failed attempts, Prince Charles and his mother Caroline Gibert de Lametz realized that it was all about savvy business management. That’s when they had the bright idea of inviting the “Wizard of Homburg”, François Blanc. His entreprenerial spirit had already transformed a heavily indebted German town into a prosperous resort and they were hoping the same for the Principality. As to François Blanc, he was already considering the French Riviera as an all-year-round business venue. So the offer was happily accepted. Following the sovereign decree of April 2, 1863, Blanc received a 50-year concession for operating the casino and managing its gambling activities. He was to pay a total of 1.7 million francs, an annual fee of 50.000 francs and 10 % of his net profit.

Casino Monte-Carlo

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 101 www.hellomonaco.com

From “Principauté de Monaco. Vues anciennes“ book, Editions Giletta

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The Hôtel de Paris and its restaurant, circa 1875

1863–1877: A MIRACULOUS TRANSFORMATION

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rançois Blanc and his wife Marie thus moved to Monaco. Blanc did much more than just manage a casino, he totally changed the fate of the Principality. It was now a whole new world, that of luxury, like never before in Europe. As a venue for his ambitious plan, he chose, one would say, rather a strange place. It was the deserted and arid plateau of Le Spélugues, some distance away. There was nothing but vine-

From “Principauté de Monaco. Vues anciennes“ book, Editions Giletta

New northern facade of the Casino, circa 1875

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yards, olive, carob and fruit trees. In 1863, the Casino was built, and a year later, the Hôtel de Paris. In 1865, an area for playing the game of bowls was opened right in front of the Casino, and three years later, the Café Divan (the future Café de Paris).

François Blanc then used all his connections to build a Monaco railway line. He generously sponsored major European newspaper editors who made sure everybody knew that Monte-Carlo Casino roulette had one zero less, largely increasing the chances to win.

As early as the first year, under the “wizard of Homburg”, the casino profits amounted to 800,000 Swiss francs. Three years later, they were two million.

Monaco rapidly became a popular holiday destination for the European elite. Money was flowing in like a river. In 1869 — only six years later! — Prince Charles III exempted his subjects from income tax. Since that time and to this day, the Principality’s residents are also forbidden from gambling in local casinos.

© HelloMonaco

JUBILEE

Place du Casino nowadays.

1866: THE BIRTH OF MONTE-CARLO

came a reference in the world of gambling, luxury and hospitality. Not surprisingly,

To accomodate an increasingly growing number of tourists, François Blanc expanded the Hôtel de Paris just two years after its opening. In January 1866, its first guests were literally dazzled by the new building designed by Godinot de la Bretonnerie. Gas lighting produced by a Monaco factory was just another one of its attractions. Despite its modest size, the Café Divan was a “place to be” for meetings, entertainment and relaxation.

Everything François Blanc had dreamed of came true. The Principality’s new area be-

From “Principauté de Monaco. Vues anciennes“ book, Editions Giletta

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s if by magic, this area, once dreary, became a centre of bustling social life. Magnificent gardens and villas were spreading around the Casino and Hôtel de Paris that now needed a rebranding. On June 1, 1866, Prince Charles III baptized this new area Monte-Carlo (to honour his own name, as you may have guessed).

Blanc was quickly nicknamed the “Wizard of Monte-Carlo”.

Place du Casino 150 years ago.

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 103 www.hellomonaco.com

Wikipedia.org

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Marie Blanc

© HelloMonaco

designed a remarkable Casino atrium. Its twenty-eight stone columns presently support the gallery lit by magnificent bronze candelabra. And last but not least, still in 1879, thanks to the enthusiasm of a landscape architect Edouard André, luxurious tropical gardens were laid around the Casino Square.

Opéra de Monte-Carlo nowadays.

1877–1881: MARIE BLANC’S ENTREPRENEURIAL TALENT

1879 was the year of Monte-Carlo’s major transformation. On January 25, the MonteCarlo Opera designed by Charles Garnier was officially opened. It was built in record time thanks to Marie Blanc’s financial support. The ceremony was attended by the star of the Comedie Française, Sarah Bern-

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hardt. In the same year, Garnier gave its present look to the Casino building. He added a dome and two bell towers, while Dutroux

Marie Blanc survived her husband by only four years and died at the age of 47. She had accomplished some remarkable business projects. By the time of her passing away in 1881, the Hôtel de Paris and the Monte-Carlo Casino were the place to be for luxury lovers from all around the world.

Construction of the Opéra de MonteCarlo in 1879

From “Principauté de Monaco. Vues anciennes“ book, Editions Giletta

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ith the death of François Blanc in 1877, the SBM leadership passed on to his widow. The daughter of a shoemaker, Marie Blanc, had to work from the age of 14. She was in no way inferior to her legendary husband neither in terms of perspicacity, nor business acumen, nor generosity. Marie thus invested her own money to restore the Hôtel de Paris fine wine cellars. In 1878 she ordered the old Casino buildings to be demolished to make room for new ones. The construction of the Casino large gambling hall was undertaken under the supervision of then fashionable Charles Garnier, eventually famous for the Parisian Grand Opera.

The success of the Monte-Carlo Casino was so overwhelming that it had to be constantly expanded. In 1881, Charles Garnier built its Hall of Americas. Nine years later, Charles Touzet designed two more of the Casino halls.

© Lucette Bellini

JUBILEE

LATE 19TH — EARLY 20TH CENTURY: BALLET, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

At the start of the century the modest Hermitage Hotel built back in the 1890s was transformed into a luxurious residence. Its Belle Epoque restaurant, designed by Gabriel Ferrier, the French Prix de Rome winner, was awarded a gold medal at the 1889 Exposition Universelle world’s fair. It was decorated with magnificent frescoes, reminiscent of Fragonard and Boucher.

a Belgian inventor, Zénobe Gramme. The engineer was challenged to improve his famous dynamoelectric machines in order to generate electricity and make Monte-Carlo the first city ever equipped with electric lighting. An accidental fire sadly forced the Casino management to stop that promising cooperation.

But the most popular technological achievement of the day was the car. This new type of transport was increasingly sollicited thanks

The hotel Hermitage

to 19th century motorboat racing at the forefront of the internal combustion technology. For luxury cars to glide in style, the Principality streets were promptly paved with asphalt. As early as 1911, the first Monte-Carlo Rally was held, won by pioneer aeroplane pilot Henri Rougier.

© HelloMonaco

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n 1882, Café Divan was renamed Café de Paris. In the spring of 1897, a magnificent Moorish-style building was constructed on its site. In the early 20th century, Sergei Diaghilev was engaged by the Monte-Carlo Opera. After the success of the Russian Ballets in Paris in 1907–1910, Diaghilev wanted to manage his own ballet company, and the Principality happily gave him that chance.

After the shows, the Diaghilev troupe were dining at the Café de Paris every night, making it the most glamorous destination in Monte-Carlo.

© HelloMonaco

Monte-Carlo Casino in the era of the Belle Époque painted by Monegasque Emmanuel Bellini

Around the same period, the Hôtel de Paris acquired a new wing, the legendary Rotunda. Initially, it was topped with a dome engraved with the Parisian coat of arms. It was then raised to twice its hight, increasing the hotel capacity as more players were flocking to the Casino.

Back in the day, Monte-Carlo was already famous for its advanced technologies. The Casino basement was made available to

The legendary Rotunda of the Hôtel de Paris

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JUBILEE THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY: A NEW SUMMER DESTINATION

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In February 1928, with the help of SBM, the Monte-Carlo Country Club was opened. The ceremony was honoured by Prince Louis II and a number of crowned heads, adding weight and prestige to the event. In the late 1920s, the Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel, reminiscent of Florida palaces, became another popular summer destination. Its premium

© HelloMonaco

fter World War I, Monte-Carlo was to become a seaside resort with its tourist flow just as important during the summer months. It desperately needed a summer infrastructure, however.

Alamy.com

The Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel

a legendary institution attracting “la crème de la crème”. The Sporting with its restaurant and nightclub was only accessible on a membership basis.

As to the Café de Paris, it was time for it to undergo yet more major reconstructions. The domes built in the early 20th century were dismantled, and its faience was replaced by Art Deco friezes.

Monte-Carlo’s magical success made the population oblivious, even if for a short time, as to the main problems of the day: the 1930s crisis and the threat of war. The Hôtel de Paris seemed a safe haven where one could hide from the impending disaster.

Monte-Carlo Country Club vintage photo (1928)

service and unforgettable costume parties quickly brought the hotel an army of loyal fans. In addition, a new promenade was eventually built in Monaco for its bathers, next to Larvotto beach.

In 1931, Summer Sporting was opened on the promenade hosting the most spectacular shows of the season. A year later, the Winter Sporting sprang out on Casino Square. This Art Deco building, constructed on the site of the Fine Arts Palace, was destined to become

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© Monte-Carlo Tennis Club

By 1934, Monaco had become a popular summer resort.

© HelloMonaco

© Maria Callas Gala Monaco

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Maria Callas and Princess Grace of Monaco attend the closing of the second annual Monte-Carlo Television Festival in 1962

THE SECOND HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY: THE BLESSING OF THE RAINIER III REIGN

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he victory of the Allies in World War II enabled Monte-Carlo to get its clientele back. In the 1950s, the

Principality’s prestigious galas were attended by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and the Duke of Edinburgh, the Hôtel

The Sporting Monte-Carlo

de Paris’ winter residents. Charlie Chaplin came to Monaco to present his “City Lights”. The year 1952 was marked by the arrival of Greek shipowner Aristotle Onassis. His oil company offices took over the former Marie Blanc’s residence.

The Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo thalassotherapy complex

© HelloMonaco

Prince Rainier III who came to rule in 1949 focused on business tourism, favouring international congresses. In 1961 the first Monte-Carlo television festival took place, eventually becoming an annual event. In 1966, as part of the Monte-Carlo centenary, SBM organized a ball attended by the Monegasque princely couple. On March 13, 1968, to honour the Salon of Europe, the Grand Bal Paré 1900 was held, attended by Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace.

On March 15, 1969, the Grand Bal des Têtes was hosted by the Hall of Americas.

In 1971, Jimmy’z nightclub was opened, and in June 1974, the Monte-Carlo Sporting Club. Ten years later, in 1981, after a 26-year hiatus, the lights came on again at the Fine Arts Theatre, presently known as that of Princess Grace. And in April 1995, after a two-year construction, the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo thalassotherapy complex famously opened its doors.

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JUBILEE 21ST CENTURY: NEW PROJECTS AND AN UNEXPECTED PANDEMIC AFTERMATH

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© HelloMonaco

hroughout its history, SBM has always put the interests of its customers forward, striving to offer unforgettable holidays and utmost luxury. Constantly renovating its legendary institutions, the group has also come up with some new projects. In 2005, the Monte- Carlo Bay Hotel & Resor t was opened. The new complex with a total of 4 hectares includes an 11-storey 4 * hotel with amazing sea panoramas, gardens flourishing with Mediterranean and tropical plants created by landscape architect, Jean Mus. The resort also boasts the one and only sandy-bottomed lagoon in Europe, an indoor pool, a spa centre and a helipad.

2009 turned out to be the year of a true renaissance for the Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel, completely redesigned by India Madhavi to become a five-star institution.

2014 will go down in SBM history as the start of the Hôtel de Paris renovation, only

© kevin tchobanian

The Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort

Louis Starck (Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo), Stéphane Valeri (National Council of Monaco), Yannick Alléno (Yannick Alléno à l’Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo), Pierre Dartout (Ministry of State) and Jean-Luc Biamonti (Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer) in 2021

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completed in early 2019. Prince Albert II and Princess Stéphanie eventually attended a grand opening of its two luxurious suites, named after Prince Rainier and Princess Grace. The construction of the new One Monte-Carlo complex on the site of the Winter Sporting was finished in the same year, with its grand opening on February 22.

On June 2, 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, SBM officially opened the newly renovated Casino Square.

2021 was a “gastronomic” year for the Société des Bains de Mer: COYA Monte-Carlo, the Yannick Alléno restaurant at the Hermitage hotel and the Lebanese “Em Sherif” at the Hôtel de Paris were just some of its culinary additions.

© MONTE-CARLO Société des Bains de Mer

JUBILEE

The Prince Rainier III suite in the Hôtel de Paris

© HelloMonaco

Jean-Luc Biamonti also mentioned that a new trend has emerged in the postpandemic period. Its institutions used to generally make profit only six months of the year. The losses during the remaining months, however, can presently be avoided. This is due, in particular, to the staff restructuring which SBM was forced to carry out during the pandemic. The group now increasingly employs seasonal workers, bringing down its permanent staff numbers.

The One Monte-Carlo residential complex just next to the Hôtel de Paris

Over the past two years, the SBM group of companies recorded a profit of 530.5 million euros, 57 % more than in previous years. At the moment, it enjoys a surplus of 820 million euros.

The Princess Grace suite in the Hôtel de Paris © MONTE-CARLO Société des Bains de Mer

During the pandemic, SBM naturally faced serious financial problems. Its management was forced to close its restaurants, and the tourist business was put on hold.

In 2020, between April and June, SBM activity dropped sharply. According to the group’s chief executive Jean-Luc Biamonti, it went down 74 % compared to the preCovid year. Its profits decreased by 50 %, and 66 % of employees received temporary unemployment benefits (CTTR) during the lockdown. However, SBM managed to cope through the sanitary crisis. Moreover, the group’s overall performance is now even better than in pre-pandemic times. In 2021/2022, SBM sales increased to 432.3 million euros, while the financial year 2019/2020 had finished at 408.6 million euros.

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© MCSBM

JUBILEE

2023: LEADERSHIP CHANGES AND THE NEW CAFÉ DE PARIS OPENING

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n the wake of its 160th anniversary, SBM is going through a leadership change. Having devoted 30 years of his life to SBM, Jean-Luc Biamonti has recently left the group’s management. According to the now former CEO, SBM’s most successful projects in recent years have been the construction of the One Monte-Carlo complex, the renovation of the Hôtel de Paris and the legendary Café de Paris upgrade to be completed by autumn 2023.

Stéphane Valeri, the head of the Monaco National Council from 2018 to 2022, is to take over the SBM leadership. Formally appointed by the Board of Directors in January, he will start work in April 2023. Jean-Luc Biamonti believes that his successor has ambitious projects ahead of him, related, in particular, to the new Méridien Hotel and the Summer Sporting.

As to the renovated Café de Paris that has experienced many a transforma-

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tion over the last 155 years, it will be opened in the near future. This grandiose project was entrusted to Alexandre Giraldi of Monaco and AlainCharles Perrot, President of the French Architects Union for National Historic Monuments Restoration. The two architects were challenged with preserving the historic Belle Epoque style and atmosphere, making the most of its unique potential.

A major feature of the renovation is a new floor equipped with a 280 m2 terrace. A partially glazed roof will naturally light the building all the way to the lower floor. The upper floor, presently hosting the Bellevue hall, will be increased to 400 m2 and connected to yet another 1000 m2 terrace. The project also provides an additional space for luxury boutiques on Allee FrançoisBlanc. And last but not least, the new Amazonico restaurant will open in Café de Paris featuring a Latin American decor and a chic meat-dish menu.

© MCSBM

HSH Albert II and Jean-Luc Biamonti together with chefs of SBM restaurants in 2022

HISTORY PAGES

From “Principauté de Monaco. Vues anciennes“ book, Editions Giletta

The Pigeon-Shooting club of Monte-Carlo was located on the coast of the Principality opposite the Monte-Carlo casino (photo circa 1900).

PIGEON-SHOOTING CLUB OF MONTE-CARLO:

Centre of one of the most controversial sports of the XIX century

By Alesya Reznik

https://www.alamy.com/

Walking through the picturesque streets of the Principality, you may have passed through the Terraces of the Casino boasting a breathtaking view of the endless sea, the Hercule Port and the colourful mosaic on the roof of the Auditorium Rainier III, designed by Victor Vasarely in 1979.

However, few people know that before this piece of art, called “Hexa Grace”, appeared on the top of the building, there used to be a club dedicated to one of the most popular sports of the XIX century: pigeon shooting.

From January to April, competitions in the Pigeon-Shooting club of Monte-Carlo were held three times a week.

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ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL BRAINCHILD OF FRANÇOIS BLANC

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oday, we know that this pastime, one of the most controversial sports, was born in England at the end of the XVIII century. Over time, it spread to other European countries, including Monaco. Membership in those kind of clubs was not available to everyone: a potential member was required to have a certain social status and be able to handle weapons.

HISTORY PAGES Since 1872, the Pigeon-Shooting club of Monte-Carlo had been located on the coast of the Principality opposite the Monte-Carlo casino. François Blanc, head of SBM at that time, invested about 300,000 francs into the construction of the club. And for good reason! In this region, Monaco’s shooting club was the only place specializing in pigeon shooting, and therefore was a great success. In addition, it was considered the most beautiful club beating the equivalent Parisian establishment, which at that time was considered one of the best in the world.

shot down 11 pigeons, as well as Counts Venezze and Trauttmansdorff.

Every day, the competition attracted from 80 to 116 participants. The number of pigeons per player depended on the type of competition.

But only one could get the coveted grand prix from the Monte Carlo casino: 20,000 francs. In order to win this fortune, the shooter had to shoot 12 pigeons from 20 and 25 metres.

It is worth noting that the participants had to follow strict rules established by the club. After all, when more than a hundred

people have fun with weapons, there is always room for accidents.

THE DECLINE OF A ONCE POPULAR KIND OF SHOOTING

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t is not difficult to imagine that pigeon shooting was far from pleasing everyone. Given the number of participants and the birds they had to shoot, only those who were really keen on this sport, could enjoy the show.

https://www.alamy.com/

It is not surprising that, over time, real birds were replaced with artificial targets. However, in some countries, the tradition of using live pigeons was still a success. In Monaco, the shooters switched completely to mechanical targets in 1960.

Pigeon-shooting was one of the most popular sports among the European nobility at the beginning of the XX century.

Today, the memory of the Monegasque pigeon shooting club is kept alive thanks to the photographs. Over time, this sport has lost its popularity, and in 1972 the club ceased to exist.

Today, the Principality is one of the countries that actively implement “green technologies”, caring for the environment. Cruelty to animals is unacceptable here, and members of the princely family, Princess Stéphanie and her children, in particular, do not miss any opportunity to help our four-legged friends.

The members of the Monegasque club could use the most modern equipment for training and competing. Unlike hunting with hounds, this kind of sport attracted the best shooters, ready to fight for victory. The crème de la crème of European society flocked to the Principality: aristocrats, businessmen and wealthy foreigners.

REGULARS OF THE PIGEON-SHOOTING CLUB OF MONTE-CARLO

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In January, 1893, regular annual competitions took place in Monaco. And holders of different noble titles were listed as participants. On the very first day, the winners were announced: Baron de Drasche, who

© HelloMonaco

ristocrats from England and America had a love for the Monegasque club.

Many of them came to the Principality every winter to take part in competitions.

In 1979, a building with a mosaic roof named ‘Hexa Grace’ in honour of the Princess of Monaco appeared on the site of the former shooting club.

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DYNASTY

CHARLES III:

Golden Pages in the History of Monaco

By Julia Belyakova

Prince Charles III of Monaco was born on December 8th, 1818 in Paris, as Charles Honoré Grimaldi. He was not the very first Prince of Monaco; however, many things in the Principality began with him. Prince Charles III was the one who built the Monte-Carlo district with its famous casino, and he also signed an agreement for the construction of the first railroad through the Principality. It was under his reign that the first economic reforms in the Principality were introduced. This monarch was also the founder of diplomatic relations between Monaco and other countries, such as the Russian Empire. Charles III thus ensured the future prosperity and wealth of this small state. © Eric Mathon / Palais Princier

The world-famous Place du Casino, the heart of the Monte-Carlo district

CHARLES III TAKES POWER

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n 1856, Florestan I abdicated in favour of his only son and heir Charles III. When he took over the Principality, the situation was not ideal. In prior years, the small country had to cope with global revolutionary unrest, in particular in neighbouring France.

The Prince’s power was undermined, the economy was in decline, and few people were willing to visit Monaco or to even learn anything about it. Back then, there were hardly

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any roads in this mountainous region, never mind a railroad linking it to neighbouring France. In addition, as a result of perpetual territorial disputes with France, the Principality had little control over nearly 80 % of its own territory. The populations of Menton and Roquebrune wished for independence and were rioting.

The rebellious cities were first promised, and then refused the protectorate of Sardinia. However, they did not give up and were still hoping to become independent. The reason why they fought for this so resolutely was due to the poverty that prevailed in the Principality.

© Daniel Mille – Archives du Palais Princier de Monaco

Wikipedia.com

DYNASTY

In 1858, Prince Charles III established the first Monaco Order of St. Charles.

Grand Master’s collier of the Order of St Charles

Portrait of Charles III of Monaco (1818–1889) by François-Auguste Biard

LUCK AND A WISE DECISION Wikipedia.com

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he new Prince buckled down with renewed energy, as he had no intention of losing this battle. He started by implementing economic reforms to somehow patch the holes in the budget. For this purpose, the state introduced a sales tax for crossing the French border into Monaco. But Monaco needed more money than that. Charles closely followed international politics. He knew that in order for this small principality to survive, he needed to keep up with the latest trends.

That is when Napoleon III came to power in France and lifted the ban on gambling establishments that had been spreading all across Europe. The Prince took notice of this change.

In the meantime, tired from the militant activity in Menton and Roquebrune, the Prince finally decided to pass these cities on to France. In 1861, a treaty was signed under which Menton and Roquebrune would become part of the French Republic. The Principality received compensation of 4 million francs. And that was only the beginning.

Subsequently, Napoleon III was overthrown in France and the ban on gambling houses in Europe returned. The Prince of Monaco then realized that this was his chance. He planned to legalize gambling and build his own casino. His mother Caroline Gibert de Lametz helped Charles carry out this difficult task. She

Caroline Gibert de Lametz (1793–1879)

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DYNASTY Alamy.com

Prince Charles III’s great-great-grandson Prince Rainier III and his wife Princess Grace at the Monte-Carlo Centenary Ball in May 1966

managed to gain the support from the wife of a French businessman, François Blanc, a casino owner successful first in Paris and then in Bad Homburg, by persuading her that the Mediterranean climate would suit her perfectly.

the Société des Bains de Mer company was announced, which received the right to host the gaming for the next 50 years.

The head of the company, François Blanc, invested a lot of his own money in the transformation of a rather drab area, which in 1866 was renamed Monte-Carlo, “Charles’ Mountain”, after the reigning prince. By that time, the Hôtel de Paris had already been built here (1864), and a little later (1868) the Café de Paris appeared on the square. The current building of the Casino and the MonteCarlo Opera were built by the architect Charles Garnier in 1878-79, after the death of François Blanc, when his widow Marie took over the reins of the SBM company.

Charles III signed a new agreement with France to build a Nice — Genoa railway, crossing the Principality.

To be honest, it is evident that Blanc himself perfectly understood the benefits of this proposal. Casinos in Bad Homburg were actively visited by tourists only during the warm season, and wealthy clients preferred to spend winters on the Riviera. And since gambling was banned in France and Italy, Monaco became the only place where a gambling business could be developed.

“THE GOLDEN AGE”

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n February 1863, in a rather modest building, located in an unattractive area called Le Spélugues, the first casino was opened. On April 2nd of the same year, the creation of

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This was the start of the “golden age” of the Principality. A large flow of visitors, for the most part the aristocracy, came to the Principality as gambling houses were banned elsewhere. At the same time, the Prince was looking after the infrastructure.

He required a good road network to make access to Monaco easier. Archives say that 5 years afterwards, more than 150,000

DYNASTY

FURTHER MONACO PROSPERITY

© HelloMonaco

tourists from different countries, including America, visited the Principality.

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nce again, the energetic Prince upheld the expectations of his subjects. He signed a new agreement with France to build a Nice — Genoa railway, crossing the Principality. Charles could then afford it thanks to the 10 % of the casino profits paid to him by François Blanc, the first director of the Casino of Monaco and “La Société des Bains de Mer”.

Charles III also approved the flag and coat of arms of Monaco and signed a peace and friendship treaty with Tunisia and a customs treaty with France. During the reign of Charles III, Monaco established its own diocese, and so the Prince thus created religious independence for the state.

The Prince then started to build up a relationship with yet another distant, but powerful country: Russia. In 1858, Charles established the first Monaco Order of St. Charles, while strengthening his friendship with the influential ruling Tsar of Russia,

On February 8th, 1869, to the great joy of his subjects, Prince Charles III abolished personal, land and property tax.

Bust for Charles III, Prince of Monaco, in the Boulingrin Gardens

Alexander, who later became the first royal to receive this award, the highest state award in Monaco.

Charles III also began to mint his own gold coins and issued the first Monaco stamps. Monte-Carlo was growing rapidly.

At last, thanks to the income from the casino, Charles III liberated his subjects from taxation, which attracted additional foreign capital into the country. On February 8th, 1869, to the great joy of his subjects, Prince Charles III abolished personal, land and property tax.

© www.euro-coins.info

PRINCE CHARLES III’S FAMILY

In 2016 a commemorative 2€ piece dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the foundation of Monte-Carlo by Prince Charles III was issued in the Principality.

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rince Charles III married in 1846 at the age of 28 while crown prince. He called his wife Antoinette de Mérode, who was ten years younger than him, an ‘angel’. The Prince invested the solid dowry of his wife in the development of Monte-Carlo. Their only son, the future ‘Prince Scientist’ Albert I, was born in 1848. Antoinette supported her husband in all his endeavours, but, unfortunately, their happy family life was short-lived: Antoinette de Mérode died of cancer at the age of only 35…

With age, due to an old war injury, the Prince began to quickly lose his sight, and by the age of sixty he was completely blind.

Soon his mother Caroline passed away. Charles III died at the age of 70 in the Marchais castle in northern France, which had been bought in 1854 by his wife Antoinette and which their descendants from the Grimaldi family still own.

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© Heesen Yachts

ON B ]ARD

AKIRA, 57M SUPERYACHT, HULL AND SUPERSTRUCTURE JOINED TOGETHER! Heesen is delighted to announce that the hull and superstructure of Project Akira, YN 20457, have been joined together at the facility in Oss. The project remains on schedule and is available for delivery in time to enjoy the 2024 summer season.

Project Akira is the first in the new 57-metre all-aluminium series of fast yachts, with an enclosed volume of approximately 780 GT and a lightweight, ultra-efficient Fast Displacement Hull Form. Heesen is one of the few shipyards in the world with the in-house capability to weld such high-performance structures to the required tolerances.

The shipyard presented the 57-metre series design at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2019, and construction of YN 20457 began in February 2022.

© Heesen Yachts

Another milestone was marked on November 18, 2022, when Akira’s two IMO III-compliant MTU 16V 4000 M65L engines were installed. This propulsion package, in concert with the super-efficient hull design, will give the yacht a maximum speed of 22 knots — quite remarkable for a superyacht displacing approximately 490 tonnes at half load.

Twelve guests are accommodated in six staterooms, with the 63 sqm owner’s apartment located forward on the main deck. There is a VIP suite up on the bridge deck, while the remaining guest cabins are on the lower deck. A glass and stainless-steel elevator serves all three

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ON B ]ARD decks. Heesen Yachts Interiors, Heesen’s fine cabinetry workshop in Winterswijk, will be responsible for handcrafting the refined bespoke furniture for Project Akira.

© Heesen Yachts

YN 20457 Akira represents a unique opportunity to purchase a highly distinctive yacht, built to the most exacting Dutch engineering and quality standards, for delivery in Summer 2024. This yacht, begun as a speculative venture by the shipyard, is offered with a choice of three interior design accents from the Harrison Eidsgaard studio, dubbed Manhattan, Hamptons and Riviera. With their different colour palettes, textures and furnishings, these three alternative styles within one

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First of the new 57-metre Aluminium Series All aluminium FDHF, top speed of 22 knots Shallow draft - ideal for the Bahamas Stunning exterior design by Omega Architects Over 400 sqm of luxury interiors by Harrison Eidsgaard. Three different interior styles Available for delivery in time to enjoy the 2024 Summer Season

© Heesen Yachts

© Heesen Yachts

© Heesen Yachts

© Heesen Yachts

© Heesen Yachts

overall design will inspire Project Akira’s owners to personalise the interior, and give her a unique look that perfectly reflects their taste and lifestyle.

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© jozeph forakis 2023

ON B ]ARD

3D PRINTED YACHT BY JOSEPH FORAKIS After the world premiere of his award-winning designs (exterior and interior) in 2022, international designer Jozeph Forakis presents the visionary PEGASUS envisioned for introduction in 2030.

The futuristic yacht was conceived on a beach in Koufonissi island, Greece. “I was inspired to create a yacht as close to the sea and nature as possible, made of clouds floating above the waterline,” Forakis says, “I wanted to honour nature by blending into it, becoming virtually invisible.” © jozeph forakis 2023

This desire for “invisibility” drove Forakis to develop a true zero emissions yacht that is “invisible both in design and in her environmental impact,” says the designer.

© jozeph forakis 2023

© jozeph forakis 2023

With characteristic in-depth research, Forakis and his team at jozeph forakis … design composed a

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symphony of selected advanced technologies (existing and currently in development) to achieve unprecedented levels of sustainably, range, and structural integrity.

The 88m superyacht’s construction uses robotic 3D printing to create a mesh framework integrating both hull and superstructure. The result is an extraordinarily strong and lightweight structure that can be produced using less energy, material, waste, space, and time compared to conventional construction.

© jozeph forakis 2023

ON B ]ARD

The unique exterior design starts with a low, linear hull with a plumb bow and silvery-metallic finish, which blends chameleon-like with the water’s colours and movements. This foundation at the waterline supports the superstructure with multi-tiered, ephemeral glass wings that reflect the clouds and the sky.

Like a shape-shifting vessel from the future, the elegant, lattice framework of her 3D-printed structure becomes visible thru the reflective glass at certain angles and lighting conditions. The dramatic triangulated structure allows light to penetrate all levels of the interior while framing the remarkable views in all directions.

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Designed to be “virtually invisible” — both visually and environmentally.

In keeping with the nature-friendly theme, the exterior design features a multi-tiered ‘wings’ superstructure with mirrored glass reflecting the sky, clouds, and surrounding environment.

The centrepiece of the interior design is the multilevel “Tree of Life” hydroponic garden providing fresh food and air purification.

The glass of the superstructure incorporates transparent solar panels to power electrolyzers extracting H2 from seawater. Fuel cells convert H2 to electricity stored in Li-on batteries for powering azimuth pods, and all operating and hotel systems.

Zero emissions and infinite range.

© jozeph forakis 2023

© jozeph forakis 2023

The first 3D-printed superyacht (integrated hull and superstructure) is 88m/288ft LOA.

© jozeph forakis 2023

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© Vitruvius Yachts

ON B ]ARD

VITRUVIUS YACHTS FOR THE NATIONAL FLAGSHIP When the British government invited designs for a new National Flagship — a replacement for the former Royal Yacht Britannia — it was an opportunity for Vitruvius Yachts and its collaborative team, called Team FestivAl, to combine their considerable knowledge and experience to create something extraordinary — a new flagship designed for the people but fit for a king.

© Vitruvius Yachts

The design comes from Team FestivAl, a collaboration between London-based, award-winning yacht design studio Vitruvius Yachts, world-renowned architecture practice Zaha Hadid Architects, and aluminium ship and yacht specialists Ocea. Key features include a focus on sustainable power and propulsion, a highly efficient hull design to minimise fuel consumption and maximise opportunities for emerging green technologies to create a zero-carbon vessel, an interior based on recycled and recyclable materials, and a flexible deck and interior design that can switch between exhibition showcase or floating embassy with ease, suitable for everyone from VVIPs to schoolchildren and the disabled.

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ON B ]ARD

The National Flagship design goes further, however, with an energy-agnostic propulsion system based on highly efficient pod drives, which can also enable geostationary position — keeping without damaging sensitive seabeds with an anchor. Power for the pod drives would come from a large battery bank that could be charged via shore power or onboard generators,

initially using renewable diesel/biofuel but allowing for alternative energy sources now and in the future including green hydrogen fuel cells and onboard-harvested solar and wind energy.

Both the exterior and interior designs have been created to portray national identity and showcase the very best of British design and craftsmanship. The sleek exterior profile includes a distinctive central slice through the superstructure that takes the form of a hoop of glass, flooding the interior with light and providing a key design element that, combined with a distinct LED-lit style line in the profile, hints at the ribbon pattern in the Union flag.

© Vitruvius Yachts

“To design a vessel — a flagship — that will become a benchmark in sustainability as well as demonstrating British excellence and heritage for current and future generations, while also being a symbol of inclusion and diversity, was an enormous challenge that kept me awake at night,” says Philippe Briand. “The nature and intensity of the project kept me focused but also filled me with pride, not just in the design process itself but for what the flagship stands for.” The result is a 125-metre vessel that is both highly efficient in the water — with 30 percent less hydrodynamic drag than a conventional steel ship — and also in the air, with a drag coefficient of just 0.28 which is less than cars.

The design would be built in recycled aluminium (the ‘Al’ in ‘Team FestivAl’), which is lighter than steel and therefore reduces the power required for propulsion, which in turn reduces emissions. Over a lifecycle of 30 years, it would emit 30 percent less greenhouse gases than a conventional design.

© Vitruvius Yachts

Spearheaded by Vitrivius Yachts’ Philippe Briand — one of the world’s leading yacht designers and a naval architect for both sail and motor yachts — Team FestivAl’s National Flagship project draws on several cultural and societal cues, from innovation and sustainability to accessibility and inclusion, to represent the very best of British in design, manufacturing, craftsmanship and diversity. Indeed, in developing the design, the essence of Britishness takes centre stage through a Union flag ribbon motif in the side and plan view elevations, while reflecting the multicultural society that defines the UK today.

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PRO SPORT

RUGBY-7s IN MONACO: French Champions 2022!

By Natalia Bezruk

On Saturday November 19th, the Monaco Rugby Sevens triumphed on the synthetic turf of the Paris La Défense Arena. A nice revenge for the previous edition, where the Rouges et Blancs (Reds and Whites) lost in the final. It’s remarkable that the 24–14 victory brought the Monegasques the title of champions exactly on Monaco's National day!

This warranted a special meeting by HelloMonaco with the coach Jérémy Aicardi in Monaco's Rugby Sevens office to learn all about building a winning team and about the projects the league has currently underway.

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© Antoine Saillant-MR7s

PRO SPORT

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PRO SPORT

© Antoine Saillant-MR7s

ed that the local club reduce the standard number of players from 15 to 7, and to limit the match time to 15 minutes. These changes were intended to reduce the organizing costs. Under these new rules, the game did become a favourite in foggy Great Britain. England is still happily hosting its first ever Rugby-7s tournament, the Melrose Sevens.

In the early 1990s the new league expanded beyond British borders, joining the World Series organized by the International Rugby Board. In 2009, Rugby Sevens was classed as an Olympic sport.

Rugby Sevens is a particularly energy-consuming sport. The field's size and its basic rules do not differ much from the original standard game, but only 7 players are allowed on the field at any one time, with 5 more in reserve. In a limited time, the athletes must demonstrate the best of their reaction, strength and endurance, sending the rugby ball into their opponents' endof-field score zone. For this very reason, the game shapes up to be more dynamic and entertaining than a classic Rugby-15 match.

Jérémy Aicardi, the Monaco Rugby Sevens coach

RUGBY-7S IN A COUPLE OF WORDS

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What is the main criterion in the players selection? According to the coach, it is speed, agility and knowledge of the game. Some of the Red and White players compete in the professional leagues. For others, rugby has become a heartfelt hobby. For the rest of the time, athletes do lead a normal life: family, friends and work. To keep his team in shape, Jérémy regularly develops and distributes training courses and gives nutritional advice. Training camp starts around 2

© Valentin Antonini

ust a few years ago Monaco decided to invest in this new sport. To build a dream team to defend the Principality's reputation on the international arena, the rugby association recruited Jérémy Aicardi, a former professional Pro D2, French rugby sevens player and holder of prestigious champion titles.

President of the Monegasque Rugby Sevens Association, Emmanuel Falco, then offered the successful athlete a chance to coach the new Monaco Rugby-7s elite as “Monaco League”. Jérémy Aicardi was thus faced with the challenge of literally putting together a team from scratch. To find good players, he did have to travel around. A tournament in Biarritz brought three new rugby players to the Monegasque team. Jérémy's former rival, a South African, Cecil Afrika, is now also playing under the Principality's flag. The team currently counts rugby players from Spain, Africa, Czechia, Lithuania, Belgium and Argentina. All of them happily accepted the coach's offer, joining the Red and White ranks.

© Antoine Saillant-MR7s

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he game of Rugby-7s was first invented in Scotland in the late 19th century. In 1883, butchers and rugby players, Ned Haig and David Sanderson, suggest-

A CHAMPION TEAM FROM SCRATCH

Due to health problems, Jérémy retired from the professional sport at the age of 33.

Years of intense training and competitions did take a toll on his neck ligaments, causing serious pains in his back. He then decided to take up coaching and moved to Belgium.

The final match in Paris on November 19, 2022

Frédéric Michalak, the General Secretary, and Emmanuel Falco, the President of the Monegasque Rugby Sevens Association on November 19, 2022

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PRO SPORT

© Antoine Saillant-MR7s

The Monaco Rugby Sevens playing the semifinal

© Pressesport / Supersevens

the Barbarians “In Extenso Supersevens” final: 14–40. However, they do have valid success claims in the sporting world. The Principality still came second in this prestigious competition.

© Antoine Saillant-MR7s

weeks before the competitions. Players get together to rehearse for 9 matches. A prior career as a professional athlete does help Jérémy find the right approach. He also happily takes advice from captain Johan

© Antoine Saillant-MR7s

During a summer match of the third “In Extenso Supersevens” season

Johan Demaï-Hamecher, the MR7s team captain

"Section paloise" (Pau), however, was still to come.

The final match in Paris on November 19, 2022

Demaï-Hamecher. All in all, the coach is assisted by 12 specialists, monitoring the players' physical condition and assisting in organization.

WINNING STREAK

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ast season, the Monegasque league was just one step away from the coveted title. The Red and Whites lost to

In 2022, the players performed a series of brilliant victories, once again claiming leadership “In Extenso Supersevens”. The final was set for a pivotal date: November 19th, Monaco National Day. Playing in the La Défense Arena in Paris, the Monaco Rugby Sevens team proved they were worthy of becoming national champions.

The Red and Whites won over “Stade rochelais” (La Rochelle) and “Stade français Paris”. The final decisive match against

But on a special day for the Principality, the Red and Whites team pulled everything together, winning the well-deserved title. Before heading off to the crucial game, the rugby players had been welcomed in the Princely Palace. Prince Albert II of Monaco personally acknowledged their hard work, inspiring Jérémy's team toward a longawaited historic victory.

What plans does this ambitious coach and athlete have in mind? Certainly, spreading the popularity of Rugby Sevens in Monaco and winning new prestigious titles.

Beyond that, the team is working on a sports academy project, planning to collaborate with the Principality's educational institutions.

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TOP SPRING ART EXPOSITIONS

By Nicole Laffont

THE WORLD AS SEEN BY AMY SHERALD AT THE HAUSER & WIRTH IN MONACO

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his is our time portrayed in large-size formats. The world as it is, as it should be, the way we build or foresee it. For the first time ever in Europe, we get captivated by Amy Sherald’s art. One of the most famous American portrait artists, her career was propelled by the portrait of Michelle Obama in 2018. The first lady of the United States wearing a geometric-patterned dress evokes Mondrian’s style. Beautiful and reassuring, she has assumed a non-academic pose. The portrait is not only stunning in itself, but with a certain social and political context behind.

Amy Sherald’s art is special indeed. Her works hanging on immaculate picture rails of the superb Hauser & Wirth gallery in the heart of

Monte-Carlo stand out for their rare purity and power. Some of them were lent by the world’s largest museums, like this image of a boy about to go down on a toboggan. He looks away, confident, sure of himself, ready for the future.

Amy Sherald For love, and for country, 2022 Oil on linen 312.4 × 236.2 cm / 123 × 93 in © Amy Sherald Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth Photo : Joseph Hyde

Amy Sherald Deliverance, 2022 Oil on linen Overall: 275.4 × 631.1 × 6.4 cm/ 108 3/8 × 248 1/2 × 2 1/2 in © Amy Sherald Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth Photo : Alex Delfanne

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Until April 15

The Afro-American community is omnipresent in Amy’s art, opening a vast space for reflection on the theme of “The World We Make”. It is as if we are touching those faces with our glance, so real are they. Her portraits evoke a number of references from the history of art. For example, a photograph that went around the world in 1945 following the victory against the Nazis. This is a famous kiss caught on the spot by photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt in the middle of crowded Times Square in New York. In Amy Sherald’s interpretation, it is attributed to a homosexual couple standing out against a hyperrealistic celestial blue. This is a way to place an iconic image back in time and to proclaim the right to love for all. Each painting calls for us to see it in a different way. The bodies portrayed are not black, but rather painted in soft and luminous shades of gray. The eyes seem empty and yet stare at us with an overwhelming intensity. The world that we build first and foremost requires to be envisaged from a different angle.

Amy Sherald. The World We Make.

Hauser & Wirth Monaco One Monte-Carlo, 1 Casino Square, Monaco

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© Photos : Nicole Laffont

© Photos : Nicole Laffont

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Sylvana Lorenz, the second muse of Pierre Cardin in front of dresses designed for her

Gouache by Phil de Rodrigue for an album on Pierre Cardin

PIERRE CARDIN’S MUSES AT THE GRIMALDI FORUM IN MONACO April 15–16

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© Photos : Nicole Laffont

ierre Cardin used to be inspired by two muses. The actress Jeanne Moreau greatly contributed to the launch of the great couturier’s career in the 1960s while Sylvana Lorenz’s body was the mold for his most astonishing creations. During an auction, the latter acquired a superb collection of unique models specially designed for Jeanne Moreau: a sequined pagoda tunic, a woolen coat lined with mink, a velvet and satin evening dress, a black vinyl raincoat...

© Photos : Nicole Laffont

The models created for Jeanne Moreau

A poster of the film «Eva» with Jeanne Moreau dressed by Cardin

These pieces of clothing are the subject of a very theatrical exposition orchestrated by Bernard Barbero, stage manager at the Nice Opera. It is magically highlighted by Caroline Denis’ watercolours, inspired by Pierre Cardin’s fantastic estate — the Bubble Palace in Theoule-sur-Mer. A series of gouaches by Phil de Rodrigue is a cartoonist’s honouring of the legendary couturier.

First presented at the Depardieu gallery in Nice, renowned for its inventive spirit and avant-garde artists, this original exhibition is a great complement to the Monaco Book Fair on April 15–16. Its centrepiece, “the ves-

tal robe” in deep red, was designed for Sylvana Lorenz, a crowned high priestess of the Cardin cult for three decades. The couturier’s second muse later wrote a biography “Madame Cardin. At the court of the last fashion emperor” recounting how she almost married the man who, according to her, “invented everything there was” in the world of haute couture. A wedding that, to her great regret, never happened.

Grimaldi Forum, 10 Avenue Princess Grace, Espace Diaghilev

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© Photos : Nicole Laffont

© Photos : Nicole Laffont

Japanese artist Makiko Furuichi transformed the hall in the museum with such a colourful result.

A CONTEMPORARY OUTLOOK ON MARC CHAGALL IN THE MUSEUM OF NICE

© Photos : Nicole Laffont

© Photos : Nicole Laffont

Until 30 April

Mimosa Koiké in “Hors champ”, a dance performance in front of a projection of the Song of Songs

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he first museum dedicated to a living artist was founded in Cimiez, Nice, 50 years ago. Marc Chagall was personally present at its opening. Since then, thousands of visitors have flocked from all over the world to discover his Biblical Message, a true ode to life. This year a number of celebrations are planned to mark this special anniversary, a three-segmented exhibition among them. Its first part this spring is inviting young artists to cast a contemporary glance at the iconic works of art.

The colour is interepreted here as if it were living matter. Free, dazzling and cheerful.

This explosion of blue, ochre and vermilion is a bridge between Marc Chagall and Japanese Makiko Furuichi. An entire room at the Museum is dedicated to watercolours and poetic, evanescent and phantasmagorical figures suspended in the air. These frescoes are facing the mosaic of the Chagall-signed prophet Elijah. Makiko grew up in Japan in a temple founded by her grandmother. This spirituality echoes with Chagall’s childhood inspired by Hasidic rituals. Religion, inter-

preted with great freedom, is thus a leitmotiv for both artists.

Another new perspective is that of the writer Stéphane Lambert. He is offering us an original display encouraging an encounter with another, intimate, secret Chagall. This “transfigured world” is taking us on a journey in the legendary artist’s footsteps. Carried away on angels’ wings, he is drifting away from reality to the realm of dreams.

This first part celebrating the Chagall Museum’s 50th anniversary also features two dancer choreographers, Mimosa Koiké and Asier Edeso. Their “crossed steps” in a co-production with the Ballets de Monte-Carlo is a moving interpretation of a universal Biblical message.

The film projected in the museum’s magnificent auditorium is an apotheosis of a happy dialogue between different arts.

Chagall et moi! A contemporary outlook on Marc Chagall Marc Chagall National Museum Avenue Dr Ménard, Nice

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TOM WESSELMANN, AFTER MATISSE, IN NICE Until May 29

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© Estate of Tom Wesselmann / Adagp, Paris, 2023 Photo © Jeffrey Sturges

his year the Matisse Museum in Nice is celebrating its 60th anniversary! This eventful period will be marked by a number of concerts, conferences and meetings. But above all, four major exhibitions will be shedding a new light on the great Master’s legacy resting in peace not far from the museum, on the Cimiez hill.

This spring’s first highlight is around forty works by Tom Wesselmann. One of the most renowned representatives of “Pop Art”, he positions himself as first and foremost a designer, with an obvious admiration for the precursor of Fauvism.

© Estate of Tom Wesselmann / Adagp, Paris, 2023 Photo © Jeffrey Sturges

Orchestrated in four large ensembles, this first anniversary exhibition is a demonstration of how Wesselmann appropriated certain Matissian techniques. Starting with small formats, he ends up with vaster creations, mixing collage, drawing and painting. These four sections — the collages, the Great American Nudes, the

Blue Dance

Steel Drawings and the Sunset Nudes — create a fascinating dialogue between the two artists.

From the first years following Matisse’s passing away, Wesselmann took a close interest in the Master’s works, back then already famous in the United States. He declares in particular: “I learned a lot from Matisse. I remember spending hours studying his reprodu c ti o ns . In o ur imaginary conversations I would invite him to explain why he painted every single element the way he did”.

Later on, in 2003, the ar tist comes up with his own nudes and large odalisques in a masterful “Sunset Nude with Matisse Odalisque”, transposed against a ver y famous, large-scale image of Matisse associ-

Sunset Nude with Matisse odalisque

© Estate of Tom Wesselmann / Adagp, Paris, 2023 Photo © Jeffrey Sturges

“What struck me about Matisse was how his paintings were overtly and surprisingly beautiful and exciting. One cannot look at a Matisse without a feeling of a certain excitement”.

Man Ray at the Dance

ated with a still life and a sunset in the background. A culmination of his vibrant tribute indeed.

Tom Wesselmann. After Matisse Musée Matisse, 164, Avenue des Arènes de Cimiez de Nice

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BRUNO MANTOVANI, THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE PRINTEMPS DES ARTS DE MONTE-CARLO: “A festival is all about a celebration”

By Nicole Laffont

The traditional Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo (Spring Arts Festival) took place in Monaco from March 8 to April 2, 2023.

For almost a whole month, everyone was able to attend truly seductive, exciting and surprising concerts of the festival presided over by the Princess of Hanover.

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osting the presentation of the Printemps des Arts Festival 2023 in the hushed atmosphere of the Princess Grace Theatre was itself a demonstration of the extent to which Bruno Mantovani wants to take us all, music lovers, neophytes or amateurs, by the hand, along new and exciting paths. To illustrate his words, the artistic director had issued a special invitation to the pianist Denis Pascal to perform some extracts programmed for this year.

A real treat indeed.

« ma fin est mon commencement » – opus 2 PRINTEMPSDESARTS.MC

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Et d’eau fraîche © Robert Guinan, Blue girl with red wagon, 1984

© Printemps des Arts

MUSIQUES D’AMÉRIQUE ET D’AILLEURS

According to Bruno Mantovani who took over the reins of the Printemps des Arts Festival in Monaco two years ago, his mission is to attract a large audience. He is giving us the means and desire to partake in the music, offering keys for understanding and listening to new works, reassuring us first, only to completely spellbind us later.

“Nowadays, music is characterized by an immense aesthetic diversity. There is not 'one' but 'many' types, forming a sort of forest where you may well get lost. My idea was building a festival around a certain logic, setting a framework for the audience to find its way around”.

For this purpose, Bruno Mantovani, composer, conductor and musicologist, winner of a number of conservatory first prizes, personally introduced each Printemps des Arts concert and published editorials to guide music lovers through it. He held his “before” preconcert talks and “after” discussions, inviting us to participate with questions and answers.

© Blandine Soulage

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This year's theme may be summed up by just a few words: “My end is my beginning”. It is all about identifying the evolution of a composer's style, comparing Bruno Mantovani his first and his latest. This is a true work of art combining the pleasure of listening and the intelligence of musicology.

The portraits of performers were also drawn in music: the public was able to hear the pianist Michel Dalberto and the Diotima Quartet several times. It’s also well worth highlighting the fact that this edition was held in different venues. “A travelling festival and a festival of diversity indeed!”

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This obviously didactic aspect seduced neophytes and amateurs eager for new sensations. “Music is full of surprises, but we do have to guide our audience... This time, as a regional theme, we have chosen North America. Next year, electronics will be in the spotlight, having played a major role in contemporary music creation for the past 60 years.” Moreover, this festival intends to rely more and more on multidisciplinarity. “The Printemps des Arts is a festival of all arts. Dance, theatre, literature and plastic arts can well feed the music. I do want a festival of diversity”.

There was but one regret: we could not hear Bruno Mantovani's music this time.

“I do keep things separate. I am not here as a composer but as a presenter of other musicians.” As for his creative projects, they are very diverse. We are now looking forward to a new major work, an opera that has been underway for two and a half years and will be premiered in November 2024.

It will surely offer a number of new flavours to music lovers, as Bruno Mantovani is indeed a gastronomic enthusiast. “There is a certain immediacy in gastronomy that touches me a lot. It's a bit like music in the sense that they are both instantaneous, composed according to a menu. From the prelude to the very last musical phrase, the pleasure is there. Just like a table of a great chef. Flavours make our sensory buds tingle the same as the notes caress our ears”, says Bruno Mantovani.

© Alice Blangero

Bruno Mantovani conducting the Radio France Philharmoniс Orchestra at the Chapiteau de Fontvieille

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THE YEAR OF PICASSO

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50th Anniversary of the artist’s Death

By Xania Keane

Ah, Picasso! To some, he was a genius artist and a captivating celebrity. To others, he was a monstrous womanizer and a conniving father. To most, Pablo Picasso was a creator of b oth sp e c tacular ar t and turbulent controversy. He lef t a permanent mark on the art world by skillfully pushing his creations in bold directions, spawning new artistic movements, including Cubism, and influencing culture the world over. History has yet to produce an artist as influential, prolific and scandalous as Picasso.

T his year mar k s th e 50 th anni ver s ar y of Pic asso’s death, which will b e commemorated with for t y retrospective exhibitions in eight countries, co-organized by the governments of France and Spain, including an exhibition at the Palais Princier de Monaco. T he last three decades of Picasso’s life were spent on the French Riviera, a place he was deeply enchanted and inspired by. Picasso created some of his best-known pieces on the Côte d’Azur. He died on 8th April 1973 at the age of 91 in Mougins, just sixty kilometres from Monaco.

posthumous portraits of Casagemas culminating in the allegorical painting La Vie, in 1903. Painted at a time when Picasso was having no financial success, the painting was sold to a French art dealer only a month after it was created.

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One year later, Picasso entered his ‘Rose Period’, characterized by brighter oranges and pinks. These paintings sometimes featured a harlequin in checkered clothing, which became a personal symbol for Picasso.

Amedeo Modigliani, Pablo Picasso and André Salmon in front of the Café de la Rotonde, Paris. Image taken by Jean Cocteau in Montparnasse, Paris in 1916.

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icasso was born in 1881 in southern Spain. According to his mother, Maria Picasso, Picasso’s first word was “piz”, a shortening of lápiz, the Spanish word for ‘pencil’. His father, José Ruiz, was an art professor and painter, specializing in realistic depictions of birds. At age seven, his father began training Picasso in figure drawing and oil painting. When he was just 13 years old, Picasso painted over his father’s unfinished sketch of a pigeon. Observing the precision of his son's technique, José Ruiz felt that his son’s skill had already surpassed his own.

“When I was a child my mother said to me, 'If you become a soldier, you'll be a general.

If you become a monk, you'll be the pope.'

Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.”

PICASSO GETS THE ‘BLUES’ IN PARIS

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icasso travelled to Paris in 1900 and shared a cramped apartment with journalist and poet Max Jacob, who

helped Picasso learn French. Max slept at night while Picasso slept during the day and worked at night. This period in Picasso’s life was one of severe poverty, cold and desperation. Much of his artwork was burned to keep his small apartment warm.

At this time, Picasso’s Blue Period (1901– 1904) began. Sombre paintings, rendered in shades of blue and turquoise, portrayed destitute mothers with children, sex workers and poverty-stricken figures.

PIONEERING CUBISM AND COLLAGE

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ablo Picasso and painter Georges Braque pioneered Cubism, an avantgarde movement that revolutionized European painting and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture. In Cubism, objects are broken up and reassembled in abstracted forms.

Picasso's 1907 painting Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (playfully critiqued as a “hoax” by his rival, Henri Matisse) is considered the first proto-Cubist work.

Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque were also the first artists to use collage to create art.

The two artists coined the term "collage" from the French verb “coller”, a method that revolutionized modern art. Picasso's Still Life

Guernica is still regarded by many as one of the most moving and powerful antiwar paintings in history.

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“EVERY CHILD IS AN ARTIST. THE PROBLEM IS HOW TO REMAIN AN ARTIST ONCE ONE GROWS UP.” — PICASSO

“INSPIRATION EXISTS, BUT IT HAS TO FIND YOU WORKING.” — PICASSO

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icasso’s Blue Period was heavily influenced by the suicide of his friend, painter and poet Carles Casagemas.

Starting in 1901, Picasso painted several

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La Vie (1903) is widely regarded as the pinnacle of Picasso's Blue Period

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When Picasso visited the French Riviera, he immediately felt captivated and inspired by the light and colours of the Côte d’Azur.

Pablo Picasso with his first wife Olga Khokhlova in 1918

with Chair-Caning (1912) is considered to be Modern Art's first collage.

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FALLING IN LOVE WITH A BALLERINA

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icasso designed set decorations and costumes for several Ballets Russes productions. While working on Sergei Diaghilev’s Parade, Picasso met and fell in love with ballerina Olga Khokhlova. To celebrate their engagement, Picasso painted Olga in an Armchair. The couple married in 1918

Picasso became interested in ceramics after moving to the Côte d'Azur.

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and had a son together. When Olga became very ill, Picasso began having an affair with 17-year-old model, Marie-Thérèse Walter.

When Marie-Thérèse became pregnant, Olga was devastated and separated from Picasso. Because Picasso refused to split his property evenly with her, as required by French law, the two stayed legally married until her death from cancer in 1955.

PICASSO HARASSED BY GESTAPO DURING WWII

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icasso didn’t join the armed forces for any country during World War I, the Spanish Civil War, or World War II. He protested war through his art. One of Picasso's most famous works is Guernica, a poignant black and white piece depicting the German bombing of the Spanish town, Guernica. Painted in Paris in 1937, the work features a Minotaur and several human f igures experiencing anguish, terror and death.

The large-scale (3.5 by 7.7 metre) oil painting was immediately exhibited at the 1937 Paris.

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Guernica (1937) is one of Picasso's most famous masterpieces.

International Exposition before touring venues around the world and raising funds for Spanish war relief. Guernica is still regarded by many as one of the most moving and powerful anti-war paintings in history.

During World War II, Picasso remained in Paris while the Germans occupied the city. Because Picasso's style did not fit the

Nazi ideal of art, he did not exhibit during the time and was often harassed by the Gestapo. According to history book ‘Military Anecdotes’, during a search of Picasso’s apartment, a Gestapo officer saw a photograph of Guernica. “This painting, did you do that?", he said. “No," Picasso replied.

"You did it!” After the war, Picasso took a trip to the south of France, an experience that changed his life forever.

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Picasso and Françoise Gilot lived together for about ten years and had two children, Claude and Paloma.

PICASSO MOVES TO THE FRENCH RIVIERA

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hen Picasso visited the French Riviera, he immediately felt captivated and inspired by the light and colours of the Côte d’Azur. In 1946, Picasso spent one year living and working at Chateau Grimaldi in Antibes, where the Picasso Museum is now located. During this time, Picasso worked with a reduced palette of 12 colours, using only the paint he could buy at the local hardware store, the same paint local fishermen used for their boats. At the end of the year, he gave 23 paintings and 44 drawings to the city, including his wellknown work, La Joie de Vivre (a parody of Henri Matisse's celebrated work Bonheur de Vivre).

“THE MEANING OF LIFE IS TO FIND YOUR GIFT. THE PURPOSE OF LIFE IS TO GIVE IT AWAY.” — PICASSO

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icasso and Matisse met in 1905 in Paris and had an infamous and productive rivalry up until Matisse’s death in 1954. “Only one person has the right to criticize me,” Matisse famously said, “it’s Picasso.” After Matisse died, Picasso said, “In the end, there is only Matisse.”

In 1948, Picasso moved to Vallauris, where he discovered ceramics and began to produce over 4,000 creations in the Fournas

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La Joie de Vivre (1946)

Picasso with his second wife Jacqueline Roque (on his right), his son Claude (behind him) and Jean Cocteau (on his left) at a bullfight

workshop. There, he met Jacqueline Roque, who worked at Madoura Ceramics and became his second wife in 1961. The couple were together for the remainder of Picasso's life. During their relationship, Picasso painted over 400 portraits of his wife. One

biographer described Picasso's work during this time as "L'Époque Jacqueline”.

“THE WORLD DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, SO WHY SHOULD I PAINT PICTURES THAT DO?” — PICASSO

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n Vallauris, Picasso also worked on his mammoth mural, La Guerre et la Paix, for the local chapel. Preceded by about three hundred preparatory drawings, the tunnel shape of the space required several wooden panels to be installed on a specially designed structure.

Picasso began the mural by creating War. A horse-drawn hearse, a basket full of human skulls, shadows, flames and a book being trampled on evoke threatening intensity.

Peace portrays a nursing mother reading to her child, musicians, rays of sunlight, fruit, a Pegasus, a dove and calming blue tones that contrast with the other half of the mural.

The famous Lascaux cave paintings, which were discovered that decade and opened the same year Picasso moved to Vallauris, may have inspired La Guerre et la Paix.

“It is not very bright in this chapel,” said Picasso at the time, “and I would like it not to be lit, for visitors to have candles in their hands, for them to walk along the walls like in prehistoric caves, discovering the figures, so the light moves on what I painted.”

In 1959 the Chapel of the Château de Vallauris became the Picasso National Museum of War and Peace and the mural is currently accessible to all.

“I'D LIKE TO LIVE AS A POOR MAN WITH LOTS OF MONEY.” — PICASSO

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icasso was one of history’s first artists to become extremely wealthy during his lifetime. He purchased properties all over the south of France. His time on the French Riviera stirred a new-found energy in his work. In his later years, he became more daring and his works became more colourful and expressive. From 1968 to 1971, he ceaselessly produced paintings and copperplate etchings.

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La Guerre et La Paix (War and Peace), painting on the vault of the chapel in Vallauris

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In his 70s, Picasso had affairs with women of an even greater age disparity, some

PORTRAIT 45 years younger than the artist. Many of his paintings, ink drawings and prints at this time portray an old figure or a Minotaur as the lover of a beautiful, young woman.

These works were, at the time, dismissed by art critics as pornographic fantasies of an elderly man. But after Picasso's death, the link between these works as the very beginnings of Neo-Expressionism was solidified.

Picasso was one of the most prolific artists in histor y, creating an estimated 13,500 paintings. After he died, he left over 45,000 unsold works in his estate, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, drawings, sketchbooks, prints and tapestries.

Today, 15 of Picasso’s pieces are on the ‘List of most expensive paintings’ and have sold for between $75-205 million USD each.

bitious conservation and restoration campaign. The restoration places the Palais de Monaco in art history’s timeline.

“THE END OF THE BEGINNING” AT THE PICASSO MUSEUM IN ANTIBES

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rom 8th April 2023 until 25th June 2023, the “Picasso 1969–1972: The End of the Beginning” exhibition will be taking place at the Picasso Museum, located at the Grimaldi Castle in Antibes. Out of the 23 volumes cataloguing Picasso’s works by Christian Zervos, an entire 13 are devoted to the artist’s last 20 years. This

demonstrates how rich and creative the last two decades of Picasso’s life were, with a pronounced acceleration in production between 1969 and 1972. At the age of ninety, Picasso reaffirmed that painting was, above all, a matter of desire as he painted with frenzy and urgency. In his very last paintings, an exuberance is expressed by bright colours and large formats, testifying to the creative power of the artist in his old age.

He pulled off exhibitions in Avignon and at the Palais des Papes in 1970 and 1973. He revisited his familiar characters, including bullfighters and musketeers, as if the desire to paint was stronger than himself, pulling the artist towards his final adventures.

PICASSO’S CERAMIC EXHIBITION IN VALLAURIS

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Jacqueline in the Studio (1957)

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onaco will be participating in the year-long series of retrospective exhibitions titled “Celebration Picasso 1973–2023” organized by the governments of France and Spain. The series of exhibitions will examine particular periods in Picasso’s life and the legacy he’s left behind.

Portrait of Dora Maar (1937)

This year, as Picasso commemorations take place in Paris, Spain, New York and more, what better place to soak in Picasso’s art than on the French Riviera? 50 years after his death, Picasso’s contribution to culture may be felt around the world, but he left a particularly colourful and controversial mark across the entire Côte d’Azur through his explosive output of paintings, sculptures and mischief.

The Grimaldi Castle in Antibes where the first museum dedicated to Picasso was opened

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MODERNITY AND CLASSICISM AT THE PALAIS PRINCIER DE MONACO

rom 6th May 2023 until 30th October 2023, the “Picasso’s Ceramic Creation” exhibition will be taking place at the Musée Magnelli. The exhibition will feature a set of emblematic works made by Picasso at the Madoura workshop between 1946 and 1971. The City of Vallauris GolfeJuan will also be paying tribute to Picasso and his links to Vallauris with a weekend of festivities on 6th and 7th May 2023.

From 19th September 2023 until 15th October 2024, the Princely Palace will open its doors for “Modernity and Classicism” an exhibition in the salons of the Grand Apartments. The exhibition will feature studies and original works by Picasso, placed in dialogue with the historical decor of the Palace. In 2015, following the discovery of several frescoes dating back to the Renaissance, HSH Prince Albert II launched an am-

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MONACO NEIGHBOURHOOD

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PICASSO IN MOUGINS

By Justin Brisk

Mougins is a genuine jewel nestled in the quiet, in the middle of nature, only ten minutes from Grasse and Cannes. Are you a foodie? Many great chefs have propelled Mougins to the land of the stars. Even today, gourmet aromas pervade the picturesque alleyways dotted with restaurants and art galleries.

And on the 50th anniversary of Picasso’s death, where else to pay homage to him but Mougins where he spent the last 12 years of his life, sadly dying on April 8th, 1973.

It logically follows that Mougins is the place in which he must be buried, wouldn’t you think? Picasso would be the first to chuckle at this enigma. Even in death he managed to capture the surreal. So the surprising answer is no he is not buried in the obvious place.

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MONACO NEIGHBOURHOOD is still the private property of the Picasso family. Picasso, mind you, was a particularly perceptive and unique type of communist.

He was recorded as saying to his friend Jean Cocteau "I have joined a family, and like all families, it's full of shit".

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he historic centre is flush with quaint alleyways embellished with fountains and statues. Artists’ studios blend into a scenery full of gorgeous potted plants and lush gardens. With over 30 art galleries and studios, Mougins is continuing the village’s artistic tradition forged during the 20th century by Picabia, Picasso and many other famous creators.

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Back to beautiful Mougins… You will immediately absorb the beauty and elegance of this Mediterranean hill-top oasis positioned between Cannes and Grasse, rising in a spiral of enchanting cobbled streets around a bell tower.

QUAINT VERDANT ALLEYWAYS AND ART GALLERIES

The picturesque village of Mougins is just 7 kilometres from Cannes.

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he fact that he was a communist at heart did not sit well with the Mayor of Mougins at the time. To add insult to injury, apparently another strike against him with the Mayor, was that he was a billionaire communist. The Mayor and the town never acted fast enough to accommodate his burial. Picasso's family were furious with the Mayor, so they all united and decided to go off and arrange his burial elsewhere. And so his grave instead is in the grounds of the chateau of Vauvenargues just outside Aix-en-Provence. The chateau

Pablo Picasso two weeks before his 85th birthday. October 10, 1966

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MONACO NEIGHBOURHOOD

Museum of Classic Art

When you think of the south of France, it’s not just beaches but enchanting hilltop villages that should be near the top of your list, and Mougin’s old village is one of the most beautiful of them all. Soak up the atmosphere, it’s full of greenery and plants, climbing vines and trees. Colonies of artists and their studios have followed in the footsteps of the great Picasso adding to Mougins particular charm.

the likes of Winston Churchill and owned by the Guinness family before him. Picasso lived there with his last wife, Jacqueline Roque. He always worked prodigiously and at this stage of his life he was working on pieces that were initially mistakenly underIn one of the halls of the MACM

LE LAVOIR — THE WASH HOUSE

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ight at the entrance to the village, there is a Wash house, built in 1894 and used until 1970. Not your cup of tea? It is worth the detour, both for the quality of its conservation and for the temporary art exhibitions that it regularly hosts.

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icasso moved to his ultimate home for the last 12 years of his life in this beautiful medieval village of Mougins. In choosing his Villa there, the billionaire side of him dominated over the communist. It was quite a pad, visited by

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PICASSO’S HOME

rated. That was rectified later and the works were recognized as the advance guard of Neo-Expressionism.

Amongst the famous pieces of work produced during his time in Mougins were:

MONACO NEIGHBOURHOOD The Dance of Youth, 1961; Nu assis dans un fauteuil, 1963; The Chicago Picasso, 1967; and Femme nue au collier, 1968 which was a painting of Jacqueline Roque.

MUSEUM OF CLASSIC ART (MACM)

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f ar t museums are your passion, Mougins has one that has an incredible collection of 600 works that spans five millennia, by Picasso, Chagall, Matisse, Cocteau, Man Ray, and others. The museum has won several international awards.

The founder of this Museum of Classic Art (MACM) is the British businessman Christian Levett. The displays are in categories depending on the influential civilizations: Greek, Roman, Egyptian. The museum designates the top floor for the displays of ancient armory including helmets, shields, weapons, and armour.

its Pan Bagnat, sort of a simple Mediterranean sandwich with tomato, olives and olive oil has blue lobster instead of tuna in it! Mougins is acclaimed as a centre for fine cuisine. Its cuisine legacy is so distinguished that Mougins might even contest its renown as “A centre for fine dining” they would claim the title should be “THE centre for fine dining” and with some justification.

It has developed into the “mecca” for the starred chefs in France.

It all started simply with Célestin Véran a fisherman-cook in the 1950s whose customers got into the habit of going up to Mougins to taste his famous bouillabaisse prepared with his fresh catch of the day.

And they fell in love with the tranquil pace

of life in the village and the inviting coolness of the small shaded and leafy piazzas.

Fast forward to the 70s and one, two and then ultimately 3 stars was the reward for next celebrity chef, Roger Vergé’s restaurant, who made his stirring debut at the Moulin de Mougins. Not stopping there Roger Vergé renewed and lightened French cuisine. He invented “La Cuisine du Soleil” in Mougins, presenting it at his beloved starred Amandier, and made it known throughout the world, contributing to the development of French gastronomy with his cooking school. André Surmain, the charismatic former chef of the Lutèce in New York added his magic and by the 1990s Mougins had 7 stars in the Michelin

Although the majority of objects on display are antiquities, the museum embraces a concept of displaying ancient, neo-classical, modern and contemporary art side by side to show the pervasive and lasting influence of the ancient world. Thus works by Sir Peter Paul Rubens, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Damien Hirst and others are included in the museum alongside their ancient inspirations. The ancient entrance to the town — Porte Sarrazine, sits close by.

Take a look.

MOUGINS PHOTOGRAPHY CENTRE

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There is no permanent exhibition, but there is a rich programme with three major exhibitions each year, as well as various events and activities linked to the themes of the moment.

CUISINE FOR THE STARS

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icasso actually liked his food simple — something ironically that Mougins is not so famous for. Even

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ocated in the heart of the village, in a renovated former presbytery, the Mougins Photography Centre aims to highlight the many trends in contemporary photography. With a regional, national and international vocation, it is dedicated to the still and moving image. On its two floors of some 100 m2 each, it hosts works by emerging and established artists from around the world.

They often call Mougins a town of artists

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MONACO NEIGHBOURHOOD A MYRIAD OF BEAUTIFUL WALKS

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ougins, nicknamed the “garden city”, has almost 50% of green space. It is endowed with a natural setting that has remained untouched and exceptional, right in the heart of the Côte d’Azur. You can find tranquillity and serenity and walk to your hearts delight.

Check out the many fascinating walks from 15 minutes to as many hours as your legs and appetite will carry you all listed with detailed information at Mougins Tourist Site.

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QUINTESSENTIAL MEDITERRANEAN VILLAGE WITH A PICASSO TWIST

Even just strolling the streets of Mougins it’s impossible not to remember Picasso.

Guide and was the most starred village in France attracting many celebrities from the Cannes Film Festival.

FIFTY RESTAURANTS!

restaurants and cooking schools and on their many trips around the world.

Suffice it to say, if you are a foodie Mougins is for you.

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hen you are replete with enjoying the Mediterranean sun, sea and glitz at Cannes and Monaco make sure to take in a Mediterranean hilltop village. Mougins offers its charms with a Picasso twist. You’ll see where he lived and died and how he influenced the many artists that now live and work there. And there is no hilltop village with a comparable legacy of the heights of French cuisine.

Art lovers and gourmets and lovers of the South of France — Mougins awaits.

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ome fifty restaurants offering local dishes, bistronomic and gastronomic cuisine now are the foundation of the gastronomic reputation of Mougins, evidenced by the celebrities that flock there from Cannes. Spoil yourself, for example, at:  La Place de Mougins  L’Amandier de Mougins or  Le Bistrot de Mas The cuisine story doesn’t stop there.

THE INTERNATIONAL GASTRONOMY FESTIVAL

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“La Brigade des Étoiles de Mougins” is made up of some fifty French and foreign starred chefs, ‘Meilleur Ouvrier de France’ chefs with their distinctive blue-whitered collars. They are now ambassadors for Mougins and French gastronomy in their

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© Le Mas Candille

ver the course of a weekend, the old village is transformed into a true open-air theatre to delight your taste-buds with The International Gastronomy Festival, the “Étoiles de Mougins” (The Stars of Mougins). They don’t do things by halves at this Festival.

Le Mas Candille, one of the many excellent restaurants in Mougins

MONACO NEIGHBOURHOOD

NOTRE-DAME-DE-VIE CHAPEL & PICASSO’S VILLA: MAS NOTRE-DAME DE VIE

 From the Guinness family to Picasso In 1961, Picasso, who had discovered Mougins in 1936, purchased the Mas NotreDame de Vie from the Guinness family, to offer it as a wedding gift to his future wife, Jacqueline. This home which you can see located below the chapel was the stage for the final acts of his life. He took his last breath there on 8th April 1973.

the Mougins Museum of Classical Art.

 The Home of Picasso — A Sprawling Mediterranean Farmhouse Called a “Mas” Picasso’s love af fair with Mougins began in the summer of 1936, during which he stayed at the Vaste Horizon

Notre-Dame de Vie, a spectacular farm-house that was a vast Provençal villa of 800m² living space, belonging to the Guinness family.

er house in Vauvenargues near Aix-en-Provence. His wife Jacqueline did still live though in the Mougins villa until her death in 1986.

The villa is noted as having many bedrooms, additional accommodation on three levels, a swimming pool and gardens filled with Mediterranean essences. It offers a magnificent view of the bay of Cannes and the Estérel.

The Notre-Dame-de-Vie Villa-farmhouse was renamed “L’Antre du Minotaure” in 2007 to pay homage to the ar tist ’s favourite ar tistic theme. The name refers to the half-man, half-bull monster from Greek mythology,

The calm and serenity of the place hit him. Both the billionaire and communist sides of him found tranquility and inspiration there.

a particularly symbolic creature for Picasso.

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Adjacent to the Mas NotreDame de Vie, the last residence of the Great Picasso, the Notre-Dame-de-Vie chapel is framed in the middle of an alley of tall Florentine cypresses in a sedate Tuscan-style landscape.

This location had been a magnet for other notables, from musicians Mstislav Rostropovitch and Arthur Rubinstein to Charlie Chaplin, not to mention Jean Cocteau or Winston Churchill. It could be said about the chapel that “the whole world has come to see it”. Join them and view Picasso’s home from that vantage point.

 Notre-Dame-deVie chapel treasures T h e c h a p e l wo u l d h ave b e en built around 1613.

It now houses a museum sp a ce: “ T h e Tr e asu r e o f Notre-Dame de Vie” which outlines the unique history of the chapel. The first and second floors present a collection of photographs of Picasso taken at NotreDame de Vie by his friend and renowned photographer, Lucien Clergue and photographs on loan from

hotel in the village. The village will serve as a romantic nesting place with his first love Dora Maar French photographer, painter, and poet.

Maar was depicted in a number of Picasso's paintings, including his Portrait of Dora Maar and Dora Maar au Chat.

Happy holidays were spent there over two years with his no less celebrated comrades Cocteau, Éluard or Man Ray to name but a few. Much later in 1961, he settled there definitively by buying the Mas

 Picasso wanted to be buried in the garden Following a disconnect with the Mayor of Mougins, Picasso’s family rested his remains instead in front of the main facade of his oth-

Picasso’s house passed into the hands of a Dutch dealer and art lover who is reported as putting millions of euros into major renovations. Resold again the farmhouse is now a residence open to a minority within the framework of private visits. Nevertheless when visiting Mougins an easy place to see it from is from the Notre-Dame-de-Vie chapel which makes a lovely visit.

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KEEPING MONACO HEALTHY

SPICE UP YOUR LIFE!

TURMERIC BENEFITS

T HelloMonaco is pleased to introduce Susan Tomassini, a licensed nutritionist and co-owner of The Clever Kitchen and Foodwise in Monaco. She contributes a column on healthy lifestyle to give our readers important information on eating well, staying healthy and finding balance in our often-hectic lives. Susan spent over 20 years as a model in Milan and after having children, devoted her life to studying health and nutrition. Her website, Foodwise (www.foodwise.life), offers practical nutrition and lifestyle advice.

Through Monaco-based The Clever Kitchen (www.thecleverkitchen.com), Susan offers nutrition workshops with inspirational and realistic ways to stay healthy, featuring healthy recipes based on fresh, seasonal produce and nutrientdense Superfoods.

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It’s a potent anti-inflammatory — and inflammation is a common denominator in heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

It helps the liver break down and eliminate toxins which could otherwise recirculate and tax our immune system.

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TIP: Try this easy, delicious and refreshing turmeric smoothie recipe and star t enjoying the immune -boosting benef its of turmeric now:     

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Susan Tomassini

urmeric is considered the number one spice when it comes to stimulating our immune system. Growing modern research backs this claim, along with at least 5,000 years of traditional medicinal use in Eastern cultures — where doctors are far more accustomed to using herbs and spices for their healing properties. After all, it plays an integral part in India’s Ayurvedic healing and traditional Chinese medicine. Why is turmeric considered cancer-protective?

It’s a potent antioxidant, helping block free radicals from damaging cells.

It enhances the effects of chemotherapy, while protecting healthy cells.

It blocks the dangerous COX-2 enzyme — which plays a role in many cancers.

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Turmeric, Ginger and Cinnamon — we’ve been consuming these wonderful spices for centuries as flavouring agents, colourings, and preservatives. But did you know that they also contain natural plant comp ounds which can play an important role in cancer prevention and treatment? Here are some good reasons to make them part of your everyday life.

1 cup almond milk 1 teaspoon turmeric powder 1 cm piece of fresh ginger 1 banana Ice

Whiz in the blender and enjoy!

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KEEPING MONACO HEALTHY

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GINGER BENEFITS

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    

2 Apples, cored, peeled and chopped 5 Carrots, peeled and chopped 1 inch Ginger piece, peeled and chopped 1/2 Lemon, seeded and skin removed Salt to taste

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TIP: Add fresh ginger next time you make a green smoothie — it totally improves the taste! Or add this classic Carrot Apple Ginger Juice to your routine:

inger has a long his tor y of medicinal use dating back 2,500 years. Traditionally used as a digestive aid to relieve nausea, diarrhea and bloating, ginger’s antiinflammatory properties are also useful in the treatment of cancer, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Numerous studies are confirming that ginger has anti-metastatic properties that inhibit many types of cancer. Here are some more reasons to make ginger a regular part of your day:

Simply process the apples, carrots, lemon and ginger in a juicer. Stir in a pinch of salt. Serve and enjoy!

Not hungry? Add grated fresh ginger to juice or hot water before

CINNAMON BENEFITS

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common ingredient in fragrant baked treats and sometimes added to spice up coffee, but most people are unaware that cinnamon may have cancer protective properties.

In fact, lab experiments demonstrate that cinnamon extract slows the growth of cancer cells and induces cancerous cell death. If these properties extend to humans, then cinnamon may be able to slow the growth and kill cancerous cells.

Cinnamon also protects against type 2 diabetes and heart disease by optimizing the flow for blood in vessels. If taken regularly, regular use can help lower blood sugar, triglycerides and cholesterol levels. There’s more: 

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Cinnamon helps mitigate the effects of high-fat meals by reducing spikes in blood sugar post-meal.

It eases all sorts of lung congestion issues. By helping clear up mucus and encouraging circulation, it has a ben-

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a meal to help stimulate your appetite and activate your digestive juices.

Overindulged the evening before? Ginger tea helps ease hangovers.

Useful for infections like the common cold. Ginger helps clear the ‘microcirculatory channels’ of the body, including your sinuses.

Ginger tea can help get rid of throat and nose congestion. Chilly weather enhances the warming and healing benefits of this tasty tea!

Adding ginger to food improves the absorption and assimilation of essential nutrients in the body.

TIP: This Clever Cinnamon Smoothie is a deliciously different way to enjoy the beneficial effects of cinnamon:         

1 frozen banana 2 tablespoons almond butter 1 tsp. maca powder (optional) 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 Medjool date, pitted ½ teaspoon vanilla powder or vanilla extract 1 cup unsweetened almond milk Pinch of Himalayan salt Ice to taste



 Simply blend all the ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy. Serve with an additional sprinkle of cinnamon on top.

eficial effect on everything from a simple seasonal cough to bronchitis.

It helps combat viruses, not just the common cold. Research shows that cinnamon extract may help fight the HIV virus by preventing the virus from entering cells.

Cinnamon has also been shown to help neurons and improve motor function in those suf fering from Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 147 www.hellomonaco.com

SPORTS IN THE CITY

WORLD CLASS MONACO’S 2023 UNIQUE OFFER — FLEXY LADIES Women’s Pass Dance away with the FLEXY LADIES women’s pass and discover: 



Lady’s dance: Pole Dance, Exotic Pole Dance, Salsa & Bachata (with a specif ied dancing teacher), Lady’s stretch: stretching introducing you to our coaches’ different methods and know-how.

Opt for evening classes held twice a week, with access to two 1-hour classes at a time (Dance + Stretching) for just 50€! Or purchase a monthly subscription with 4 classes available per week at a price of 200€.

How are these group classes different from those already offered? The female body obviously differs from that of a male as to its structure, muscle quality and chemical composition. Our sports loads for men and women are therefore fundamentally different!

Nowadays, stretching has won worldwide popularity among the fair sex. With a number of specialized studios open worldwide, stretching classes are now in high demand. We have therefore brought especially the best stretching coaches on the Riviera for you. The quality of our training and coaching is very different to what any other sports club may offer.

Deep stretching of all muscles, joints and ligaments not only improves your physical form, but also brings flexibility and balance to your mind and body. Only a few months of regular training will let you do the splits you have long dreamed of.

© World Class Monaco

Let us introduce you to a totally new sports club concept! Dear clients, you may now purchase a pass for Stretching and Dancing classes with no need to be subcribed to the gym. The access also includes the spa area (saunas and hammam) and changing rooms with showers and lockers.

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© World Class Monaco

© World Class Monaco

SPORTS IN THE CITY

YANA SHINE

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Salsa/Bachata with Irina Exotic Pole Dance with Yana Pole Dance with Valentina

YANA SHINE — founder of the first Pole Dance studio in Monaco, is now bringing her know-how to World Class Monaco. Participant in a number of international Pole Dance competitions, winner of the Exotic Pole Dance Championship in Switzerland, Yana has over 14 years of dance teaching experience.

VALENTINA VENDITTI — Pole dance and stretching teacher. From very young, Valentina has been studying ballet, modern jazz and modern dance. She discovered the world of pole dance in Milan 12 years ago. She soon became a Pole Dance instructor and opened her own studio in Italy. Valentina is bringing you her 10-year

© World Class Monaco

Even with no dancing or sports training experience, in just three months you

Please let us introduce our dancing teachers:

She will now be teaching stretching and Exotic Pole Dance at World Class Monaco.

This most feminine pole dancing method will help you reveal all your grace, sexuality and sensuality!

will be performing your first stunts on the pole.

© World Class Monaco

Following on from a number of requests from our beloved clients, we are now opening Flexy Dance classes that will definitely get you in shape and bring an amazing boost of energy, femininity and positivity! Our classes will let you master three dances from scratch:

VALENTINA VENDITTI

Hello Monaco Spring 2023 / 149 www.hellomonaco.com

SPORTS IN THE CITY All our teachers are also available for individual lessons in our beautiful dancing hall.

Another advantage of the World Class fitness club is our beauty salon. Highly specialized in face and body care, it brings you a variety of cosmetic procedures after your workout. Combined with physical effort, it truly gives an amazing result.

© World Class Monaco

We are looking forward to seeing you soon! Change for the better with World Class Monaco!

© World Class Monaco

World Class 6, Avenue Marquet 06320 CAP D'AIL France +33 4 92 092 092 https://www.wclass.fr/

IRINA VLADIMIROVA

coaching experience, teaching a dance that combines strength and flexibility, grace and acrobatics at World Class Monaco.

IRINA VLADIMIROVA is a stretching, salsa and bachata coach at World Class Monaco. A choreographer and teacher for both children and adults in ballroom dancing, bachata, salsa, choreography, gymnastics, dance mix, modern dance, stretching, a champion of Russia in ballroom dancing, she is now sharing her 13-year teaching expertise thanks to your Flexy Ladies pass.

Having worked with children and adults worldwide: St. Petersburg, London, Barcelona, Monaco and France, Irina is also a show performer and wedding dance director.

LIISA HÄMÄLÄINEN — Flexy Stretching teacher, author of a unique stretching method, former prima ballerina of the Monte-Carlo Ballets, Pilates instructor and certified yoga teacher.

Having completed her successful career with the world-famous Monte-Carlo Ballets, Liisa started teaching her own students, inspiring them and sharing her expertise and knowledge. Liisa will let you take care of your body and mind, achieve harmony through movement, flexibility and strength. Her classes will teach you to be at absolute ease with your own body.

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LIISA HÄMÄLÄINEN

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WWW.GREENCOFEEMONACO.FR

March 30 – April 1

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n 30th March 2023, this international congress will return to Monaco for its 21st edition.

It attracts more than 12,000 participants to Monaco from over 130 countries. The event is going to welcome around 250 esteemed speakers, and 250 of the industry’s most trusted companies to engage in a top-tier scientific program and bustling exhibition. Under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, as well as under the scientific supervision of the World Society of Interdisciplinary Anti-Aging Medicine (WOSIAM), the conference will feature a highly interactive, stimulating and multidisciplinary program. It will provide the ideal forum to stimulate ideas, educate, share expertise, initiate intense discussions and extend networking opportunities. https://www.euromedicom.com

Superyacht Chef Competition March 30

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ine chefs working on 40+m superyachts have a rendezvous with the Superyacht Chef Competition, presided over by three-Michelin star Chef Yannick Alléno, surrounded by gastronomy experts and supervised by Chef Joël Garault, President of Goûts et Saveurs. With 40 minutes to prepare a mouth-watering dish from a surprise bag of ingredients, and impress the jury, all whilst being live streamed around the world, who will make it through to the final? — that is the intriguing question! Under the aegis of YCM’s La Belle Classe Academy training centre, the competition puts the spotlight on gourmet cuisine at sea, another facet of yachting professions. www.yacht-club-monaco.mc

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Yannick Alléno

https://www.euromedicom.com

Aesthetic & Anti-aging Medicine World Congress

© Anthony Lanneretonne

Monaco is not only a unique international platform and profes­ sional mecca on the French Riviera, it is also a centre of enter tainment and major salons. Whether premier showcases of break through technologies or medical advancements, environmental summits, international sports forums, or a comedy film festival and fashion show, Monaco is the best venue for inf luencing world markets. HelloMonaco's e ditorial team has compile d a lis t of the Principality's key business and leisure events for you this spring and start of the summer. Note that many of them are already available to buy tickets or register to attend.

https://www.euromedicom.com

TOP EVENTS

TOP EVENTS

© REALIS

Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters April 8–16

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his year the 116th edition of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters will be held from Saturday 8 April to Sunday 16 April, at the MonteCarlo Country Club. When you have Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal lining up to play your tournament you know you have something extraordinarily special. The Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters is one of the oldest tournaments in the world of tennis. Previously known as the “MonteCarlo Tennis Championship”, the famous competition on clay originated in 1897. It is now part of the Masters 1000, a category of events organised by the ATP that includes nine tournaments staged annually in Europe, North America and Asia. After presenting a brief retrospective of the 2022 edition which was marked by the second consecutive victory of Stefanos Tsitsipás in singles and by the pair Rajeev Ram/Joe Salisbury (USA/England), in doubles, David Massey announced that the kick-off for this 116th edition should be given by Stefanos himself. www.montecarlotennismasters.com

The Five Padel Cup April 17–19

April 15–16

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th Monaco International Book Fair is held on April 15 and 16, 2023 in the Grimaldi Forum, Espace Diaghilev.

The Monaco Book Fair, organised by the nonprofit association “Les Rencontres Littéraires Fabian Boisson”, aims to promote every aspect of literature, human and artistic, by bringing together respected writers of great imagination and inviting visitors to interact with them for a mutually rewarding experience. www.salondulivredemonaco.com

© Tennis Club Eze

Monaco International Book Fair

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onte-Carlo will host the first edition of the Five Padel Cup, from 17 to 19 April 2023: an exclusive and inclusive tournament-event dedicated to padel, using the courts and facilities of the Eze tennis/padel club. A unique event that will offer challenges and special moments in the wake of padelmania, the booming phenomenon in Italy, Monaco and internationally. Three days will put Padel at the heart of attention. The Five Padel Cup will be a prestigious event that will bring together some great people, stars from the sporting world.

One of the objectives of the event will also be to assure charitable actions, for the benefit of a Monegasque association. The Barbagiuans of Monaco will also be present to take part in the competition. The group created by Prince Albert II and now chaired by Louis Ducruet will field one or more teams, composed notably of emblematic figures from local and international football.

"It's an exceptional event because it involves VIP's from the world of business and sport, but not only. Through 5 tournaments, we celebrate the universality of this sport by bringing together players wheelchairs, managers, a men's tournament, a women's tournament as well as a tournament for sports vips. All of this while ensuring charitable actions," said Roberta Ceccarelli, CEO of BSG srl.

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TOP EVENTS

Monte-Carlo Comedy Film Festival

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©MCFF S.Chiappalone

April 24–29

Chairman of the Jury Paul Haggis received the prestigious Movie Legend Award of the 19th Monte-Carlo Comedy Film Festival in 2022.

Datacloud Global Congress

he 20th edition of the MonteCarlo Film Festival of Comedy, the prestigious kermesse dedicated to comedy, conceived and directed by Ezio Greggio, will be held at the Grimaldi Forum from April 24 to 29. The festival’s aim is the promotion and the diffusion of the various comedy genres presented through the screening of movie previews, meetings with comedy experts, master classes, seminars and more. The festival’s movie projections will be divided in two main sections: official selection with the projection of all movies in the competition, and gala Screenings; the section will present a limited number of films out of competition selected from the best comedy productions of the year. www.montecarlofilmfestival.net

https://en.happyfewracing.com/rallye-pere-fille-2023

April 25–27

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ver the past 15 years this event has evolved as a recognised beacon of high quality content offering thought leadership across the entire IT infrastructure ecosystem. Datacloud has performed a critical role as an international networking and deal making opportunity for key players across the sector. Datacloud Global Congress is the premier leadership summit for critical IT infrastructure. With a powerful 3-day agenda including the Enterprise Cloud Forum and two days of deep content, the annual event attracts investors, financiers, business leaders and their enterprise customers. The stunning backdrop of Monte-Carlo is ideal to do deals that will influence outcomes for the next 12 months and beyond. The prestigious awards ceremony will be held on Day Two of the event, which celebrates outstanding achievements of those across the data centre, cloud and edge sectors throughout the last year.

www.events.broad-group.com

www.events.broad-group.com

Rallye Père-Fille™ April 28–30

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ince 2017, the Rallye Père-Fille™ has brought together fathers and daughters who love beautiful things. The next edition of the Rallye Père-Fille™ will be organised from Monte-Carlo from 28 to 30 April 2023. In 2023, the rally is changing. Unlike previous editions, from now on Rallye Père-Fille is limited to 50 crews. They will be divided according to a very simple rule: 25 classic cars, 25 modern cars and all models must be different in order to contribute to a nice variety. The regularity will allow the generation of two distinct classifications as well as an overall compilation. https://en.happyfewracing.com/rallye-pere-fille-2023

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TOP EVENTS

www.themews.world

MEWS May 3–5

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onaco is set to host the most prestigious B2B event of the year for the international Metaverse & Web3 community as the second MEWS takes place from May 3 to 5. The MEWS Summit 2023 will take place in a brand new venue, One Monte-Carlo. Due to the success of the inaugural edition and delegate demand, there will be an additional day exclusively dedicated to a range of additional topics such as investments for start-ups, monetization, law & regulation, but also education. Imagining and building the future worlds in Space, one of

the Metaverse Partners, will introduce an Avatar Conference, recreated in Monaco’s most beautiful Art Deco Location, the Salle Belle Epoque, at the Hotel Hermitage. The 2023 edition will include product launches, and sneak previews of new technology from Italy, the US, Switzerland and New Zealand, such as: a documentary on Web3, two new technology products & feature launches, a phygital NFT collaboration with Camille Louise Jewellery, a live phygital NFT creation. www.themews.world

6th Monaco E-Prix May 6

https://acm.mc/edition/6e-monaco-eprix/

© HelloMonaco

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t has become a tradition that Formula E alternates with the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco and takes place on the territory of the Principality every two years. The Monaco E-Prix 2023 will take place over a full day. Free practice sessions, qualifying, races, on-track demonstrations: a dense and varied programme. Since 2021, the electric cars have been driving on the full circuit, thus underlining the technological progress made by the discipline since its creation less than 10 years ago. For this new season, a new car will make its appearance. Lighter and faster than its predecessor, the third generation (Gen3) of Formula E cars will be able to reach a top speed of 320 km/h and will cause a sensation on the streets of the Principality.

https://pixabay.com/

Monaco International Dog Show May 6–7

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onaco International Dog Show will take place on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 May 2023, in the Principality. The International Monaco Dog Show is pleased to welcome judges from different countries who will make their verdict designating the best subject of the exhibition. The Dog Show will be held under the aegis of the Société Canine de Monaco — Monaco Kennel Club (member of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, FCI) chaired by Mélanie-Antoi-

nette de Massy (former vice-president). Not by chance, Monaco International Dog Show is grounded in the history of the Principality, being founded in 1927 by H.S.H. Princess Charlotte who chaired the expo until 1950 when she handed over the presidency to her daughter, Princess Antoinette, and then to Baroness Elizabeth-Ann de Massy who held the post from 2011 until her death in 2020. https://www.monacokennelclub.com/

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TOP EVENTS

EVER Monaco May 11–12

https://www.ever-monaco.com/

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VER Monaco is helping to build a better environment for future generations.

The 18th edition of EVER Monaco will take place on 11 and 12 May 2023 at the Espace Fontvieille, with the support of the Société Monégasque de l'Electricité et du Gaz (SMEG), Volvo Trucks and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. The event features scientific lectures, roundtable discussions and international meetings on ecological vehicles and renewable energy. Since his accession,

His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco has spurred the Principality into a sustainable development policy, in particular in relation to ‘clean’ mobility. The goal of this event is to increase awareness about the development of renewable energy and improved energy efficiency. The scientific lectures will bring together researchers, academics and industrialists to discuss these various topics. https://www.ever-monaco.com/

Maria Callas Monaco Gala & Awards 2023 3rd Edition 100th Anniversary May 12

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he president of Maria Callas Monaco Gala & Awards and famous artist, Mrs Ioanna Efthimiou, has the great honour to announce the 100th anniversary festive event of the 3rd edition of Maria Callas Monaco Gala & Awards, which is going to be held on May 12, 2023 at the spectacular Salle Garnier of the Monte-Carlo Opera and the emblematic Salle Empire of Hôtel de Paris in Monte-Carlo. The Gala is organized under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. The concept of this unique event is based on the legendary Maria Callas Gala that was held in 1960, in Monte-Carlo, accompanied by the enchanting voice of the unforgettable and greatest Opera Diva of all time Maria Callas, who was singing in front of the enthralled guests, as well as in front of her beloved friends, H.S.H. Prince Rainier & H.S.H. Princess Grace of Monaco. The Maria Callas Monaco Gala & Awards 2023, is the most significant of all until today as it’s the 100th Anniversary of the birth of the great Opera Diva Maria Callas, and consists of an Opera & Music concert of International and famous music artists, and an Award ceremony for exceptional personalities who excelled for their personal work & efforts through different areas such as, opera, music, social contribution and encouragement of needy groups, sports and sciences. The gala will be accompanied by a gourmet dinner and cocktail. For Tickets & VIP Tickets please contact: mariacallasmonacogala@gmail.com

https://www.mariacallasmonacogala.org/

Cannes Film Festival May 16–27

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he 76th Cannes Film Festival will take place from May 16 to 27 2023. Spring on the Côte d’Azur is the time when the French Riviera begins to wake up after the winter season. In May, the rich and famous flood Monaco and the Côte d’Azur for two reasons: the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix. Ruben Östlund, Swedish director, a two-time winner of the Palme d’Or, will be President of the jury of this edition. The Cannes Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around the world. Founded in 1946, the invitation-only festival is held annually (usually in May) at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. © FDC

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https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/

TOP EVENTS

Monte-Carlo Fashion Week © Daniele Guidetti

May 17–21

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he 11th Monte-Carlo Fashion Week is one of the most glamorous spring events of the Principality. One of the main goals of the MCFW is to focus on sustainable and ethical fashion and help to raise awareness of the importance of protecting our planet and the life in it, following the guidelines of H.S.H. the Prince Albert II of Monaco. https://www.chambremonegasquemode.com/mcfw

Rallye Père-Fils™ May 19–21

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or a long weekend, fathers and sons who appreciate the finer things in life get together to appreciate the chance that life offers us. The next edition of the Padre-Figlio™ will be organised from Monte-Carlo from 19 to 21 May 2023. The Rallye Père-Fils™ (Father-Son Rally), that had been going on for 9 years under the sign of Happy Few Racing™, is a family-based race for private cars, of any age and type. The challenge usually involves skilled drivers and amateurs coming from a large part of the world. The Monaco’s edition Rallye Père-Fils™ hit the spot leaving with all participants a durable mark of glamour and natural beauty. https://en.happyfewracing.com/padre-figlio-2023

https://en.happyfewracing.com/padre-figlio-2023

Meeting International de Natation – Mare Nostrum

Andrii Govorov from Ukraine, who holds the world 50 m butterfly record, during the Mare Nostrum, Monaco in 2022

May 20–21

© Maike Wellmann

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he Monaco Swimming Federation is also a founding member of the Mare Nostrum Swim Tour and welcomes swimmers and fans alike on 20–21 May, for the final leg of the 2023 edition! This circuit is unique in the world of swimming, as confirmed today by the presence of a galaxy of international-level swimmers, and is an outstanding technical opportunity for coaches, with three very high-level meetings held over eight days. All the countries of the world come to take part in the Mare Nostrum swimming event. http://www.marenostrumswimming.com/

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Ready for IT May 23–25

https://www.ready-for-it.com

https://www.ready-for-it.com/

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he unmissable event for IT decision-makers! Experience 3 days of business and discussion around digital transformation. The promise of Ready For IT is to bring together, in a friendly environment and around quality content, all the major players in IT, but also start-ups that know how to go beyond the limits of innovation. Articulated around three areas of focus: Cloud, Cybersecurity and Data, the event aims to become a real place of convergence between technological and innovation departments, based on four major pillars: live demonstrations and feedback, one-to-one meetings between suppliers and decision-makers, a forum for presenting innovations, conferences and expert round tables on major trends in the sector.

Digital transformation, cloud, data, IA, IoT, blockchain, cybersecurity … all the major technological trends will be present on Ready For IT from May 23 to 25, 2022.

© ACM / Direction de la Communication Michael Alesi

80th Monaco Grand Prix May 25–28

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or the 80th time the streets of the Principality will rustle not only from the roar of the motors of the cars, but also from the cries of enthusiastic fans. Since its creation back in 1929, drivers and teams alike have always relished the challenge of competing around such a narrow circuit through the undulating streets of the glamorous Principality, with countless changes of elevation, tight corners and the famous tunnel. For the third time, the young Monegasque pilot, Charles Leclerc, will perform on the Monaco circuit on behalf of the Ferrari team. We are sure that the spectacle will be just incredible! https://acm.mc/edition/80e-formula-1-grand-prix-de-monaco/

Charles Leclerc (Scuderia Ferrari) at the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix

May 26–28

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UNSET parties are unique in their realisation and are capable of dazzling many with glitz and glamour. This year an incredible event awaits you during the 80th Monaco Grand Prix from 26–28 May at the Meridien Beach Plaza. For three consecutive days, from midday to midnight, people of all ages will come together in a relaxed, unique atmosphere on the Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel's private beach to celebrate the weekend together.

SUNSET has created its own genre and approach unlike any other party. Don't miss out on a unique and unforgettable experience! www.sunsetmonaco.com/

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© SUNSET Monaco

SUNSET

TOP EVENTS

© Top Marques Monaco Gaetan Luci /Palais Princier, Manuel Vitali/ Direction de la Communication

Top Marques Monaco June 7–11 ever before. It will be richer than the previous one with a greater number of Supercars and a hall dedicated to exceptional sports vintage cars. The QUARKUS P2 was the car of dreams in November when it took its first turns on the legendary Paul Ricard circuit. The P2 from new French manufacturer Quarkus is unlike any other sports car in the world. With a carbon/kevlar chassis weighing 550kg and 300hp reaching 12,000rpm, it is designed for gentleman drivers to race. This wonder will be presented at the Top Marques show, at the Grimaldi Forum.

Photo : Valentin Breton @sly.axx

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op Marques Monaco is the world’s greatest supercar show on earth. Cutting-edge technology, top performance, sophisticated styling, and even a concern for the environment make Top Marques Monaco a truly remarkable window onto the supercar industry and the world of luxury. It is predominantly a supercar show but it also showcases other luxury items such as elegant watches, state-of-the-art super boats and bespoke jewellery. The 18th edition of Top Marques will take place from June 7th to 11th, 2023, with an even greater line-up of supercars, hypercars and transport innovations than

https://www.topmarquesmonaco.com

Monte-Carlo Television Festival June 16–20

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riginally created by Prince Rainier III of Monaco, and now under the Honorary Presidency of Prince Albert II of Monaco, The Monte-Carlo Television Festival has, for more than half a century, presented the very best of television from around the world. For 62 years, the Principality of Monaco has been hosting its own international television Festival. The Festival has also been at the forefront in showcasing the highly talented professionals associated with many of the most successful programs in the history of the medium. Offering a blend of global premieres, anniversary tributes, behind-the-scenes panels and signing sessions, the Festival creates a compelling must-attend experience for audiences, press and studios alike and platforms. As well as a key launch pad for new content, the Festival is the perfect place to do business — offering a unique schedule of events that provide a relaxed and convivial atmosphere for professionals from every part of this global industry to come together and build on their success with like-minded individuals. The Golden Nymph Awards are among the most prestigious prizes in international television, rewarding the best TV programs and actors. Over the course of the Festival, an international jury of leading actors and industry professionals attend screenings of all the programs in the competition. The Festival offers free entry and is open to the public.

Fête de la Mer June 24

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very year St Peter, the patron saint of fishermen, is celebrated in a day-long festival organised by the YCM in partnership with other Monegasque institutions, including Monaco City Hall, Société Nautique de Monaco (rowing club), Association des Pontons de Monaco (pleasure boats), Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Oceanographic Museum, Club d’Exploration sousmarine de Monaco (scuba diving), and the Association Monégasque de la Protection de la Nature (Environment Protection Association). Port Hercule will once again celebrate the Fête de la Mer during which a large parade will be organised at sea. Sailing, motor, rowing, all units are welcome to participate in this event. https://yacht-club-monaco. mc/evenements/fete-de-lamer/

https://www.tvfestival.com/en

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