Monaco City ( ; ) is the southcentral ward in the Principality of Monaco. Located on a

headland A headland, also known as a head, is a coastal landform, a point of land usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends into a body of water. It is a type of promontory. A headland of considerable size often is called a cape.Whittow, Jo ...

that extends into the

Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern Eur ...

, it is nicknamed The Rock (; ). The name "Monaco City" is misleading: it is not itself a city, but a historical and statistical district. It holds most of the country's political and judicial institutions: the Prince's Palace, the town hall, the government, the National Council (parliament of Monaco), the

Municipal Council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, borough cou ...

, the courts and a prison (hanging on The Rock).

Geography

Monaco City is one of the four traditional quarters () of Monaco; the others are La Condamine,

Monte Carlo Monte Carlo ( ; ; or colloquially ; , ; ) is an official administrative area of Monaco, specifically the Ward (country subdivision), ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is located. Informally, the name also refers to ...

, and Fontvieille. It is located at and has an estimated population of 975. It has 19.64 hectares of surface and is located between the districts of Fontvieille and La Condamine.

History

Monaco Ville was originally called in Greek Monoikos, after the temple of ''Hercules Monoikos'', located in a Phocaean colony of the 6th century BCE. During its history, Monoikos changed hands numerous times. It became ''Monaco'' in the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

. Some of the city walls and original structures still remain. It was here that the Phocaeans of Massalia (now Marseille) founded the colony of Monoïkos in the 6th century BC. Monoikos was associated with Hercules, who was worshipped as Hercules Monoecus. According to the works of Hercules, but also according to Diodorus of Sicily and Strabo, the Greeks and the Ligurians reported that Hercules had passed through the region. On 10 June 1215, a detachment of Ghibellines led by Fulco del Cassello began the construction of a fortress on the rock of Monaco in order to make it a strategic military position and a means of controlling the area. They also established dwellings at the base of the Rock to support the garrisons. To attract the inhabitants of Genoa and the surrounding towns, they offered land and exempted newcomers from taxes. On January 8, 1297, François Grimaldi, descendant of Otto Canella, consul of Genoa in 1133, took over the fortress. Although he had a small army, he disguised himself as a Franciscan friar to enter, before opening the gates to his soldiers. This episode gave rise to his nickname, Malizia ("malice"). This is why today the arms of Monaco bear two Franciscans armed with a sword.

Landmarks

Despite being located in the middle of the City of Monaco, the world's most densely populated urban center, Monaco City remains a medieval village at heart, made up almost entirely of quiet pedestrian streets and marked by virtual silence after sundown. Though innumerable people visit Monaco City and the palace square, only local vehicles are allowed up to the Rock, and gasoline-powered motorcycles are prohibited after 10 p.m. * Prince's Palace of Monaco. The colorful changing of the guard occurs every day outside the ''Palais'' at 11:55 a.m. * Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate (), a Romanesque-Byzantine Catholic church that contains the remains of many members of Monaco's ruling family. *The Oceanographic Museum, established by Albert I, Prince of Monaco in 1910. *Chapel of Mercy, built in 1639, one of the oldest buildings in the principality. It is famous for being the starting point of a torchlit religious procession by local residents that takes place on the eve of Good Friday each year. * St Martin Gardens, a small park of rocky paths that cling to the rock. * Museum of the Chapel of Visitation, a 17th-century Roman Catholic chapel and art museum. * Fort Antoine Theatre, an amphitheater at the bottom of the rock.

Notable residents

* Beatrice Borromeo, Italian journalist and socialite * Andrea Casiraghi, Monégasque royal * Charlotte Casiraghi, Monégasque royal * Pierre Casiraghi, Monégasque royal * Stefano Casiraghi, Italian socialite * Tatiana Casiraghi, Colombian-American socialite * Ghislaine Dommanget, French actress, Princess of Monaco * Daniel Ducruet, Carabinier in the '' Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince'' * Louis Ducruet, Monégasque royal * Gad Elmaleh, Moroccan actor *

Philippe Gilbert Philippe Gilbert (born 5 July 1982) is a Belgian former professional road bicycle racer, who is best known for winning the 2012 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race, World Road Race Championships in 2012, and for being one of two rid ...

, Belgian cyclist * Camille Gottlieb, Monégasque royal * Albert Grimaldi, Prince of Monaco * Caroline Grimaldi, Princess of Hanover, Princess of Monaco * Gabriella Grimaldi, Princess of Monaco * Jacques Grimaldi, Prince of Monaco * Rainier Grimaldi, Prince of Monaco * Stéphanie Grimaldi, Princess of Monaco * Alexandra Hanover, Princess of Hanover * Grace Kelly, American actress, Princess of Monaco * Charlene Wittstock, South African swimmer, Princess of Monaco * Charles Leclerc, Monégasque Formula 1 driver

Gallery

Monaco-Ville-ruelle.jpg, A street in Monaco City Monaco from the bottom of the exotic garden.jpg, The Rock of Monaco from Monaco's exotic garden Panorama schloss monaco.jpg, The Prince's Palace of Monaco File:Vista de Mónaco, 2016-06-23, DD 15.jpg, View of Monaco City from the east

References

External links

* {{Authority control * Quarters of Monaco