Monte Carlo - Monaco
Monaco is bordered on the south by the Mediterranean Sea and surrounded on the north, east, and
west by France. The second smallest country in the world. It fill with high rise buildings, hotels, and
casino on the island. The city has Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.
Today, the harbor of Monaco is dotted with yachts owned by some of the richest people in the
world. In the past, however, the harbor had more serious uses. About 2,500 years ago the harbor,
along with the high promontory that borders it, formed a natural fortress that attracted settlers.
Because of its strategic value, the harbor of Monaco was a prize sought after by many Mediterranean
powers, including the Romans, the Genoese, the Spanish, and the French. The fortifications of
Monaco dominating the port today.
The Grimaldi Palace, with its solid square aspect is a fine symbol of the tenacity which has
distinguished the Grimaldi family for centuries. The palace dates from the 16th and 17th centuries but
still preserves its mediaeval towers, built in 1215.
The Cafe de Paris Casino
Ruled for centuries by the Grimaldi family, the tiny kingdom struck its rich in 1861 when it opened its
first casinos. These soon attracted wealthy European aristocrats, and revenues were so plentiful that
citizens of Monaco no longer had to pay taxes. Today, gambling is only 10% of the country's
revenue. Majority of the country's incomes are from other business.