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It
is easy to dismiss Monte Carlo as just a tax haven and an overpriced millionaire's
posing ground, but there is far more to this compelling city than its wealthy
reputation suggests. For a start it enjoys a spectacular setting as part of
Monaco, a tiny principality smaller than London's Hyde Park that clings
spectacularly to the rocky shores of the Mediterranean.
At
the city's spiritual heart is Monaco-Ville where the Place du Palais houses the
grand palace that the legendary Grimaldi family still hold so dear. Their
turbulent history, awash with glamour, tragedy and drama, colours Monte Carlo
and only helps add to its mystique. Below the palace the skyline is more
Manhattan than Mediterranean as Europe's movers and shakers scramble to snatch
a precious piece of real estate and ridiculously expensive yachts cram the
marinas.
The
good news is that a taste of Monte Carlo living is not just reserved for those
with seven digits in their euro accounts as there are public parks, elevators
and jogging tracks that can be enjoyed for free and alongside some of Europe's
most expensive hotels and restaurants there are some cheaper, almost good
value, options. The Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Monte Carlo Rally may be the
city's two most famous events, glitzy extravaganzas that seem to sum up the
spirit of flash and showy Monte Carlo, but beneath the glitz there is real
substance supporting the style with a lively cultural scene and layers of
history well worth exploring.
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