Deo Juvante

Location

Found on the cusp of the Mediterranean Sea, Monaco is tucked into the Maritimes Alps, only minutes from Nice International Airport and the French and Italian Rivieras. It is approximately 0.76 square miles, not much bigger than New York’s Central Park.

Population & Culture

32,020 (6,089 Monegasque citizens)
19% Monegasque
32% French
20% Italian
6% British

Most of the population are foreign residents. French nationals make up a majority of the population (since Monaco is surrounded by France), while many others come from Italy, just east of Monaco. Many other residents are wealthy business people who live there part of the year. The application for residency in Monaco is strict.

French is the official language, but Italian and English are also widely understood and spoken.

Government

Monaco is a monarchy headed by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II.

The Minister of State is the Prince’s representative. He manages all executive services, oversees the police, and presides over the Government Council.

Ministerial departments pertaining to a specific administrative duty report directly to the Minister of State or one of five Government Counselors in these departments:

Department of Finance and Economy
Department of Health and Social Affairs
Department of Facilities, Urban Planning and Environment
Department for External Relations
General Secretariat of the Ministry of State

Tourist Areas

Monte-Carlo, created in 1866, named in honor of Prince Charles III, hosts an internationally famous Casino, luxury hotels and leisure facilities, some created recently: Larvotto beach, the Monte Carlo Sporting Club, the Boulingrins Gardens.

Monaco-Ville on the Rock, the old fortified town, with the Prince’s Palace, the ramparts, the gardens, the Cathedral and the Oceanographic Museum.

The Condamine is the second oldest area in Monaco. The name comes from the Middle Ages and means the cultivable land at the foot of a village or castle.

Fontvieille is the newest area of the Principality of Monaco and was created from land reclaimed from the sea. This man-made waterfront area features a harbor, stadium and sports complex, heliport, and a pollution-free industrial zone, as well as some shopping areas and the new Columbus Monaco hotel.