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MONACO / MONTE CARLO OVERVIEW
Glorious sunshine, gleaming white yachts, and Lacoste,
a lot t-shirts on suntanned bodies, this small Mediterranean principality
closes its streets and opens her heart to you... Monaco is really just
one big town, but likes to think of itself as four separate areas. Monaco
Ville is the old town, built on the rock. It offers excellent
views of the harbour and its usual armada of luxury yachts below. Monte
Carlo is the glitzy array of casinos and gaming rooms, the most
famous of which is the Grand Casino; La Condamine is
the port itself; and Fontvieille is an area south-west
of the port, most famous for its Princess Grace Rose Garden with more
than 150 varieties of rose, Zoological Terraces and the Museum of Stamps
and Coins.
Although it's more a pre-breakfast stroll than a country,
Monaco packs a lot of living into a little land. Most of the people who
live here come from somewhere else, drawn by the sun, glamorous lifestyle
and - most importantly - tax-free income. This is the playground of Europe's
elite, a country where lady luck might clean you out at the casino one
day and put you on the Grimaldi's guest list the next.
Monaco's exceptional location, between mountain and sea;
its gardens; its medieval houses, palaces and vaulted passageways, best
experienced on foot; a ‘magic circle’ of 5 convention centres
in Monte Carlo City, fitted out with state-of-the-art technical equipment;
its athletic and cultural events... make it the ideal destination for
a romantic vacation or an unforgettable conference.
La Condamine is the best place to look for hotels (unless
you fancy the top-dollar luxury of Monte Carlo), and this is also a good
area for restaurants. The old town also has some pleasant eateries, with
the added advantage of atmospheric alleys and sea views. |
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