Hello everyone, today I will share with you one of my favourite posts: some pictures with my sister. We both don't live in our hometown Feltre, so catching up has become more and more difficult lately. After having done many experiences in my life, I realized that who really knows me for what I am is only my family. My sister and I are totally different, so much different, that I like to bother her saying that if she wasn't my sister I could have never ever hung out with her. We always make different decisions, we always react in different ways, but in any case we are really there one for the other, no matter what. Being so different, but having raised in the same family permit us to speak even without talking, to laugh for things that only we understand and to like the same style of things (for example I love travelling with her, cause we learnt to travel by our parents and we do it in the same way). I am sure that if you have a brother/sister you know what I mean.

LOOK 2 SHOP MY SIS LOOK

Here we came back with the last post of the French Riviera's guide, today we are tackling the Principality of Monaco, that is a microstate to all effects.
The name Monaco comes from the Greek term μόνοικος (alone\single + house). The myth says that Hercules passed by and turned away all the previous gods. As a result, they built him a temple that was the only one in the area (single house).
The history of the Principality starts in the 1297, when Francesco Grimaldi dressed as a Franciscan monk hid a sword in the cassock, and when they let him in, he conquered the rock of Monaco (Rocher). That's why there is a statue of a monk at the entrance of the old town. Few years after the Genoese took him down, but in 1419 the Grimaldi family purchased Monaco back from the Crown of Aragon, since then, they are the rulers of the Principality.
I absolutely suggest to visit the Rocher, cause despite all the new giant buildings in the new Monaco, this is the only place that remained a medioeval village. It is a hill surrounded by walls, where inside you will find:
- the Prince's Palace: from 1191, it was first a Genoese fortress, that's why it is not so beautiful from the ouside, but it worth to enter it. At 11.55 there is the changing of the guard.
- the Saint Nicholas Cathedral: romanesque-bizantine church, where all the royal weddings take place, and you can find also the tombs of all the Grimaldi family.
- the Oceanographique Museum: from 1910, baroque revival architecture. This is another visit that I suggest you to do.
P.s. if it is a hot day my advice is to walk along the shaded gardens between the Cathedral and the Oceanographique museum.





Beside the Rocher, another super important quarter of Monaco is Montecarlo, principal residential and resort area of the State. The economic development of the Principality came in the 19th century with the opening of the Montecarlo's Casino. The success at the beginning grew slowly, cause it wasn't easily accessible from most of Europe. From the 1868 with the construction of the railway, that connected it directly with Paris, and with the mild climate, the landscape and the gambling facilities, Montecarlo became a paradise for rich people. Because of no income taxes by the state and low business taxes, Monaco became a banking centre and a tax heaven.
From this area I suggest to have a walk inside the Casino. The first thing that you see is of course the blindfolded goddess of the fortune. If you don't play, you can drink something at the Casino bar, that is enchanting as well.
Outside the Casino in 2014 they built five temporary commercial buildings for luxury brands: Montecarlo Pavilions. They seem like giant eggs. They are planning to demolish them in 2018, so if you have the chance, go to see them.
Oltre alla Rocher, un altro importante quartiere di Monaco è Montecarlo, principale area residenziale e turistica dello Stato. Lo sviluppo economico del Principato arrivò nel XIX secolo con l'apertura del Casinò di Montecarlo. Il successo all'inizio è cresciuto lentamente, perché non era facilmente accessibile dalla maggior parte dell'Europa. Dal 1868 con la costruzione della ferrovia, che collegò la riviera direttamente con Parigi, e con il clima mite, il paesaggio e le strutture per il gioco d'azzardo, Montecarlo divenne un paradiso per ricchi. A causa della mancanza di tasse sul reddito da parte dello stato e delle tasse aziendali basse, Monaco è diventato un centro bancario e un paradiso fiscale.
Per questa zona consiglio di fare una passeggiata all'interno del Casinò. La prima cosa che incontrerete è, naturalmente, la dea bendata della fortuna. Se non giocate, potete bere qualcosa all'incantevole bar del Casinò.
Fuori dal Casinò nel 2014 hanno costruito cinque edifici commerciali temporanei per marchi di lusso: i padiglioni Montecarlo. Sembrano uova giganti. Stanno progettando di demolirli nel 2018, quindi se ne avete la possibilità, andate a vederli.






The richness of Monaco is not only visible by the banks or the hotels, in this one day trip I have seen so many luxurious and strange cars.
La ricchezza di Monaco non è unicamente visibile dalle banche o dagli hotel, in questa piccola escursione ho visto un sacco di macchine lussuose e strane.

The Monaco Grand Prix is another important activity that takes place in the Principality. Since 1929 a Formula One motor race is held in the narrow streets of Monaco. There are not so many opportunities of overtaking, but the many elevation changes, tight corners, and a tunnel make it one of the most requested tracks. If you walk in the area of the port, you can see the start point.
Il Gran Premio di Monaco è un'altra importante attività che si svolge nel Principato. Dal 1929 la gara automobilistica di Formula 1 si svolge nelle stradine di Monaco. Non ci sono molte opportunità di sorpasso, ma i numerosi cambi di quota, le curve strette e un tunnel ne fanno una delle piste più richieste. Se camminate nell'area del porto, ne potete vedere il punto di partenza.