Described as “a major first for Monaco”, an event inspired by the grand Venetian balls will take place over several days in February.
The theme of “Venice in Monte-Carlo” will be “love”, and the event will inaugurate the season of prestigious carnivals throughout the world, visitmonaco says.
On Friday February 3, the opening party will take place at the Monaco Yacht Club, with artists and acrobats in period costumes.
On the following evening, a lavish and sophisticated Grand Venetian Ball, held under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert, will take place at the Salle d’Etoiles, following a gastronomic dinner. The three-day event will draw to a close on Sunday, February 5, and a parade of fifty or so artists in period Venetian costumes will take place in the Place du Casino and at the Café de Paris, where hot chocolate will be offered to children.
HSH Princess Stephanie. Photo: Facebook Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo
An international jury under the presidency of HSH Princess Stephanie has awarded the Gold, Silver and Bronze Clown awards for the 41st edition of the Monte-Carlo Circus Festival.
The Golden Clown Award was won by the Trushin Troupe and Sky Angels, while the Silver Clown award went to Xianjiang Acrobatic Troupe, Chilly & Fly, Marek Jama, Erwin Frankello, and the Brothers Zapashny.
Winners of the Bronze Clown Award were: The Gerlings, Sons Company, the Troupe Holmikers, Mario Berousek, Alexandre Batuev, and the Troupe Skokov.
The Festival is the biggest circus event in the world, created by Prince Rainier III in 1974. It continues until January 29 in the famous marquee at Espace Fontvieille.
Gilles Tonelli, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Photo: Twitter Monaco Government
The traditional ceremony of New Year good wishes to the representatives of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Monaco took place on Tuesday, January 17, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Paris.
Mr Gilles Tonelli, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and HE Mr Claude Cottalorda, Ambassador of Monaco in France, welcomed nearly 90 ambassadors accredited to the Principality of Monaco, the majority of whom are based in France.
In the international context causing continuing concern, the minister read a message from HSH the Sovereign Prince, which stated “our confidence in the future by joining the actions of the Principality to the efforts of the international community to work for a world of peace and cooperation. ”
The message also confirmed to the Ambassadors the continuation of the commitments made by the Principality in the environmental and humanitarian fields, as well as the continuation of discussions with the European Union.
To date, Monaco maintains diplomatic relations with 133 states and 110 Ambassadors are accredited in Monaco, 99 of them from Paris.
At the invitation of Xavier Rugeroni, General Manager of the Fairmont Monte Carlo, the annual Association of the Hotel Industry of Monaco (AIHM) held its annual Gala on Friday, January 13. The theme of the dinner was “All around chocolate.”
As usual, the greatest chefs of the Principality distinguished themselves at this annual gathering. Marcel Ravin, the Michelin-starred chef at Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort who was recently honoured with the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honour, and Philippe Johannes, displayed great inventiveness by revisiting foie gras and “wolf’s back” with a touch of cocoa, giving a new balance to these traditional French dishes.
The masterpiece, however, was the creation of the evening’s guest, the famous Martinique chef Jean-Charles Brédas, whose complexity of flavours of cucumber beans and cocoa beans greatly impressed the audience, all part of the Monegasque hotel industry.
In the presence of HE Mr Henri Fissore, three prizes were awarded at the end of the evening, the prize of honour to Mr Stéphane Valéri, Minister of Health and Social Affairs, the Award of Merit to Mrs Bruna Maule Cassio of Les Anges Gardiens Association of Monaco, and the Excellence Award to Mr Guillaume Rose, Director of Tourism and Congresses.
At the conclusion of the evening, AIHM Vice-President, Francis Poidevin, emphasised that “excellence rewards a long professional career of heart and mind”.
The AIHM represents the hotel industry in the organisations and socio-economic bodies of the Principality, and has defended the interests of the profession and its members for the past 72 years.
A 26-year-old woman has been brought before the Monaco Criminal Court charged with causing damage to a Bentley to the value of €6,237. The car in question belonged to a financier with whom she had spent the evening drinking in the company of two other friends, the court was told.
When the party of four decided to visit Sass Cafe at the end of the evening, the car owner allowed his gaze to wander in the direction of two blonde customers, much to the chagrin of his female companion. Then, after the party left the bar, the man asked for a contribution to the drinks bill. Infuriated by what she perceived to be a double insult, the defendant seriously damaged the paintwork of the victim’s car by dragging a key along its body.
The defendant accepted that she caused the damage and was fined €500, suspended. However, she was ordered by the court to pay the cost of repairing the Bentley’s paintwork.
The annual travel ranking by Passportindex.org puts Germany at the top of the international ranking, measured in terms of how many countries allow travellers to visit without the need for a prearranged visa.
Behind German passports, which allow a total of 158 countries to be visited without a visa on departure, are Swedish and Singaporean passports. The other top ten are Denmark, Finland, France, Spain, Norway, and in tenth place, the UK.
Out of a total of 199 countries, Afghanistan has the least popular passport, followed by other trouble spots: Pakistan, Iraq and Syria. The USA is in 11th place and Monaco ranks 41, allowing no advance visa travel to 143 countries, behind a slew of eastern and central European nations.
Described as “a major first for Monaco”, an event inspired by the grand Venetian balls will take place over several days in February.
