Portal:Monaco
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Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is a semi-enclave bordered by France to the north, east and west. The principality is home to 38,682 residents, of whom 9,486 are Monégasque nationals; it is recognised as one of the wealthiest and most expensive places in the world. The official language is French; Monégasque, English and Italian are spoken and understood by many residents.
With an area of 2.08 km2 (0.80 sq mi), Monaco is the second-smallest sovereign state in the world, after Vatican City. Its population of 38,367 in 2023 makes it the most densely-populated sovereign state, trailing only Macau. Monaco has the world's shortest coastline: 3.83 km (2.38 mi). The principality is about 15 km (9.3 mi) from the border with Italy and consists of nine administrative wards, the largest of which is Monte Carlo.
The principality is governed under a form of constitutional monarchy, with Prince Albert II as head of state, who wields political power despite his constitutional status. The prime minister, who is the head of government, can be either a Monégasque or French citizen; the monarch consults with the Government of France before an appointment. Key members of the judiciary are detached French magistrates. The House of Grimaldi has ruled Monaco, with brief interruptions, since 1297. The state's sovereignty was officially recognised by the Franco-Monégasque Treaty of 1861, with Monaco becoming a full United Nations voting member in 1993. Despite Monaco's independence and separate foreign policy, its defence is the responsibility of France, besides maintenance of two small military units. (Full article...)
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The Casino Gardens and Terraces are public gardens that surround the Monte Carlo Casino in the Monte Carlo district of Monaco. The gardens contain lawns and fountains and a "Little Africa" garden. At the bottom of the terraces is Victor Vasarely's artwork Hexa Grace, made of multi coloured tiles. The gardens were founded in the late 19th century and formed the largest public space in Monaco in the 1950s. The gardens are frequently used to display large public artworks. The gardens were designed by the architect Edouard André. The original designs for the garden incorporated waterfalls stretching down a slope to terminate in a pond amidst sunken gardens. The trees washingtonia robusta and brachychiton populneus are prominent in the gardens.
A 1959 report on the gardens noted a long avenue of palm trees, in addition to flower beds, bottle trees, and cacti thriving in the frost free subtropic environment. (Full article...)Selected pictures
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Monaco participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the song "La Coco-Dance" written by J. Woodfeel and Iren Bo. The song was performed by Séverine Ferrer, who was internally selected by the Monégasque broadcaster Télé Monte-Carlo (TMC) to represent Monaco in the 2006 contest in Athens, Greece. The selection of Séverine Ferrer and "La Coco-Dance" as the Monégasque entry was announced on 2 March 2006, while the song was presented on 14 March 2006 during the SR Sverige radio programme Diggil-ej.
Monaco competed in the semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 18 May 2006. Performing during the show in position 10, "La Coco-Dance" was not announced among the top 10 entries of the semi-final and therefore did not qualify to compete in the final. It was later revealed that Monaco placed twenty-first out of the 23 participating countries in the semi-final with 14 points. As of 2024, this was Monaco's last entry in the contest, before the country withdrew the following year. The absence has continued in every edition since. (Full article...)
Selected religion article
The history of the Jews in Monaco goes back at least a century, most notably to the time of the Holocaust. Monaco had a very small Jewish presence before World War II, numbering approximately 300 people. During the war, the principality's government issued false identity papers to its Jewish residents to protect them from Nazi deportation. Prince Louis II refused to dismiss Jewish civil servants and protected Édouard de Rothschild from deportation. However, Monaco's police arrested and turned over 42 Central European Jewish refugees to the Nazis. Sixty Jews were arrested 27–28 August 1942, and ninety in total, according to The Algemeiner.
In 1948, the Association Cultuelle Israelite de Monaco was founded as the official organization of Monaco's Jewish community, and it provides the community with a synagogue, Hebrew school and kosher food store. Today's Jewish community in Monaco consists primarily of retirees from France and the United Kingdom, and there is also a small population of North African and Turkish Jews. (Full article...)
Selected sports article
The 1982 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monaco on 23 May 1982. It was the sixth race of the 1982 Formula One World Championship. This was the first race following the death of Gilles Villeneuve at the Belgian Grand Prix two weeks previously. Consequently, Ferrari entered only one car, for Didier Pironi.
René Arnoux took pole position in his Renault and led until he spun off at the Swimming Pool on lap 15. Team-mate Alain Prost took over the lead and held it until the closing stages, when rain started to fall. On lap 74, three from the end, Prost pushed too hard and crashed into the Armco barriers coming out of the Chicane du Port (also known as the Dog Leg), handing the lead to Riccardo Patrese in the Brabham. Then, on lap 75, Patrese spun on oil at the Loews hairpin and stalled. (Full article...)
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Founded in 1986, the International University of Monaco (IUM) (French: Université internationale de Monaco) is located in the Principality of Monaco. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in business specialized in finance, marketing, sport business management and international management, taught in English. Bachelor program at this university consists of 3 academic years. Masters program consists of 1 academic year. Prior to 2002, it was known as the University of Southern Europe. (Full article...)
Selected transportation article
Monacair is a Monegasque helicopter company based at Monaco Heliport, Monaco. The airline provides various services, including regular helicopter transfers between Nice Côte d'Azur Airport and Monaco, private flights and luxury experiences, helicopter tours, as well as helicopter maintenance, management, and handling services.
By appointment of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, the company has also provides transport for the Princely Family of Monaco, the Government of Monaco, and several Heads of State visiting the Principality. (Full article...)
Selected biography
Laetitia Aida Mikail (born mid-1980s) is a Monégasque lawyer and Director at the Junior Chamber of Economics of Monaco where she is responsible for business network events. As a result of her success, in the autumn of 2017, she was appointed to serve for the next three years on Monaco's Conseil Strategique pour l’Attractivité (Strategic Council for Attractiveness) which is involved in planning the country's future economic development. (Full article...)
Did you know...
- ... that Ron Monaco, described as the "longest of long shots", became a starter in the NFL having been just a backup in college?
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