The city of Nice is located on the French Riviera in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Blessed by a sunny, temperate climate, Nice attracts visitors from around the world. Among its many attractions are its beautiful beaches, lovely seaside promenade, interesting museums, and famous city landmarks.
Nice is just a delight, with its flower market, gorgeous coastline, sipping drinks mere feet from the Mediterranean, great shopping and delightful pastries. A dignified queen of the Cote d'Azur, Nice certainly has plenty to offer the tourist. This area of France is filled with wonderful hilltop perched villages, upscale resort cities, an independent principality and neighboring Alps villages.
As a backgrounder, Nice is the 5th most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse. Located on the southeast coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea, it is the second largest French city on the Mediterranean coast.
Down the ages, the town changed hands many times. Its strategic location and port significantly contributed to its maritime strength. For years it was an Italian dominion, and then became part of France in 1860. Culturally and architecturally enriched over time, Nice today has become a truly cosmopolitan tourist destination. The spectacular natural beauty of the area and its mild Mediterranean climate came to the attention of the English upper classes in the second half of the 18th century, when an increasing number of aristocratic families took to spending their winter there. The city’s main seaside promenade, the Promenade des Anglais (‘the Walkway of the English’) owes its name to the earliest visitors to the resort. For decades now, the picturesque Nicean surroundings have attracted not only those in search of relaxation, but also those seeking inspiration. The climate and landscape are still what attracts most visitors today.
Upon arrival in Nice, we picked up our local guide and had a panoramic tour of the city.
Tete au Carre square head Library in Nice
This sculpture called Tete au Carre (Thinking inside the box) was created by sculptor and artist, Sacha Sosno. Home to three floors of the administration building of the Central Library of Nice, it stands 26 metres high. It has to be the oddest looking library administration building ever. Really, where else have you seen an 80-foot-tall square head?
We then had a walking tour of the city, with me taking snapshots along the way.
After lunch in one of the restaus, we headed to Monaco while enjoying a beautiful weather with 25-degree (C) temps. Yes! Can’t wait to explore this city-state, the playground of the rich and the famous. But first, our bus driver had to pay a fee before we could enter the principality. So we took the opportunity to take snapshots of the gorgeous and ‘mah-velous’ paradise on earth. Aren’t the views stunning?
As an overview, the Principality of Monaco is a sovereign city-state on the Côte d'Azur (French Riviera). It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about 16 km (9.9 mi) from Italy. With a population of 35,986, Monaco is the second smallest country (by size) in the world, after the Vatican City. I should stress that Monte Carlo is not the capital of Monaco but a government district. The country is divided into four areas: Monaco-Ville (the old city), the Condamine (port quarter), Monte Carlo (business and recreation), and Fontvieille (recreation and light industry). With no natural resources to exploit other than its location and climate, the principality has become a resort for tourists and a tax haven for businesses. Monaco boasts the world's highest GDP nominal per capita at $151,630 and is the most densely populated country in the world. It also has the world's highest life expectancy at almost 90 years, and the lowest unemployment rate.
The world's second smallest monarchy, Monaco is a principality governed under a form of constitutional monarchy, with Prince Albert II as head of state. The House of Grimaldi has ruled Monaco since 1297, and the state's sovereignty was officially recognized by the Franco-Monegasque Treaty of 1861. Despite Monaco being independent and pursuing its own foreign policy course, its national defence is the responsibility of France and, therefore, has no navy or air force. However, on both a per-capita and per-area basis, Monaco has the largest police force (515 police officers for 35,000 people) and police presence in the world. Its police include a specialist unit which operates patrol and surveillance boats. There is also a small military consisting of a bodyguard unit for the Prince and his palace.
A note of caution: Monaco is a very safe, crime-free location, but it has a strong police presence (read police state!). Every public space is blanketed with cameras and therefore any kind of disorder may produce an immediate reaction and the attendance of many officers.
One of Monaco's main sources of income is tourism. Each year, many are attracted to its casino and pleasant climate. Monaco's own citizens are not allowed to gamble in the casino. The state retains monopolies in numerous sectors, including tobacco, postal service, and the telephone network. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.
Monaco is not a member of the European Union. However, it is very closely linked via a customs union with France, and as such, its currency is the same as that of France, the euro. The official language of Monaco is French. English is used by American and British residents, but the traditional national language is Monégasque, now spoken by only a minority of residents.
Monaco levies no income tax on individuals. The absence of a personal income tax in the principality has attracted to it a considerable number of wealthy "tax refugee" residents from European countries who derive the majority of their income from activity outside Monaco; celebrities such as Formula One drivers attract most of the attention, but the vast majority of them are less well-known business people. This applies to all residents of Monaco of any nationality except French citizens whose residency started after 1957. These French citizens still must pay French income tax.
Anyhow, with our local guide leading the way, we did a walking tour of Monaco. Cars are singularly useless for getting around Monaco, as you'll spend more time trying to park than if you walked. We walked through Monaco-Ville, also known as “le rocher” or “the rock.” Perched on the famous Rock, Monaco-Ville juts into the sea on Monaco's western flank and offers excellent views of the harbour and its usual armada of luxury yachts below. The city's architectural history, reflected in its medieval houses, palaces and vaulted passageways, is best experienced on foot - either alone or through one of the many organized tours available (which tend to make the city quite crowded during the summer months). Monaco-Ville is still a medieval village at heart and an astonishingly picturesque site. It is made up almost entirely of pedestrian streets and passageways and most previous century houses still remain.
Our first stop was the Monaco Cathedral, a Romanesque-Byzantine church dedicated to Saint Nicolas, and houses the remains of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace.
Exterior of the Cathedral
Interior of the Cathedral
Tomb of Princess Grace
Tomb of Prince Rainier
We then walked towards the Palace. There was a beehive of activity at that time in preparation for Prince Albert’s upcoming wedding. So we just spent our time taking snapshots of the area. The photos below would prove how stunning Monaco is.
After enjoying my not-to-be-missed tiramisu gelato, we browsed through their shops. Shopping in Monaco is usually quite exclusive and is certainly not a place for a budget traveler. There are plenty of places to melt the credit card alongside Europe's high rollers, but most tourists (me included) simply enjoy wandering through the area and window shopping without buying anything.
After our walking tour, our bus passed through the starting point where they hold the ever-famous Grand Prix. As you know, since 1955, the Monaco Grand Prix has been held annually in the streets of Monaco. It is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world. The erection of the Circuit de Monaco takes six weeks to complete, and the removal after the race takes another three weeks. The circuit has many elevation changes and tight corners, along with a tunnel. This, together with being incredibly narrow and tight, makes it perhaps the most demanding Formula One track in the world.
On a personal note, there have been so many moments on this trip when I feel like someone should come along and pinch me. I have to pause and take it all in because it almost seems surreal, like I am in a dream... Am I really in Monaco looking at these stunning views that are literally to die for?
So far, that has been the best sightseeing part of this trip. I left my heart in Monaco! For me, Monaco evoked a magical dream world. We've got a glimpse of so many great places, so many beautiful people and been able to do many amazing things it seems like it can't get any better.
It reminded me of how life truly is the ying and the yang. Sometimes it's hard and challenging and sometimes it's so completely incredible that you can't quite take it all in. It’s almost like looking out into the ocean and realizing that you are almost as insignificant as a measly grain of sand.
My oohs and aahs didn’t end in Monaco. My excitement was mounting as I’ll be traveling, once again, to my fave, Italy. Again, another country. Another language. And to think that I was just in this beautiful country last year. But I didn’t realize I would be back again soon. That soon! After all, I threw my coin in the Trevi Fountain which is supposed to guarantee a return trip! See? Throwing coins at the Trevi Fountain does indeed work!
Italy, where everyone needs to visit, is the birthplace of the Roman Empire and fountainhead of the Renaissance. While there are millions of reasons to visit Italy, to list them all would take weeks. But for those interested in historical architecture, the ruins that dot the countryside are a marvel to behold. Palaces, castles, villas and gardens spread throughout the finest cities in Italy, while famous and towering cathedrals, as well as glittering Renaissance structures, dot the skylines of Florence and Siena, Rome and Naples.
For art lovers, trips to Italy are a must. There are many artistic wonders to behold in nearly every Italian city, from the northern Venetian museums all the way down to the coast of Sicily. Italy vacations can also include the sophistication and pageantry of the theater. While operas are the main draw, there are many other musical options, not to mention the chance to watch famed plays that have stood the test of time in some of the most ornate and celebrated buildings in the world.
For those more interested in culinary delights, Italy is the home of pizza and pasta, of gelato and Chianti - the importance Italian chefs place on mealtime cannot be stressed enough. Lasagna, tortellini, pesto sauce and olive oil are all trademarks of local cuisine, and the wines - primarily in the central regions of Tuscany and Umbria - are without compare.
Whether you stay in the bustling center of a major city or in a small medieval hamlet residing on a hillside, there is a wealth of sights and sounds to behold in this foreign land. And despite all the natural and artistic wonders available on display in this country, one of the main reasons to visit Italy is the people themselves. Warm and welcoming, they will ensure that this will not be your only trip to their homeland. It is not difficult to see why Italy is so popular, as it has it all: sun, beautiful landscapes, good food and wine.
Enroute to Arenzano in Italy, we passed through Liguria, a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa, self-appointed capital of the Italian Riviera. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns along the coast, and good food. The spectacular journey along the Ligurian coast goes through tunnel after tunnel, always bursting forth from darkness into warm sunlight, the aquamarine sea glimmering at your side. It was the most scenic drive on this trip. The views were – for lack of a better description - simply stunning!
As a backgrounder, Arenzano is a coastal town in the province of Genoa. This ancient fishing village has gradually turned into a seaside resort and has been a fashionable tourist attraction over a century.
Anyhow, upon arrival in Arenzano which was quite late, we just had mass in one of the chapels of the Infant Jesus Church ~
… after which we checked in into our hotel, Poggio Hotel, for the night.
To Be Continued....
Monaca -- famous for its museums and beautiful beaches....am envious... wish I could see the place one day.. guia
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Monaco is an amazing place. If you believe in your heart that it will happen, before you know it, you're there!
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