Over the weekend, drivers and fans of the Fiat 500 turned out in their droves for the third edition of the Monaco International Meeting of Fiat 500s.
The iconic Fiat 500 has been a staple of the automobile world since its release in 1957. Then called the Cinquecento, it was launched as an economical and reliable car for cash-strapped Italian consumers in the post-war era.
The company stopped producing the Cinquecento in 1975, but demand for small yet stylish cars re-emerged in the early 2000s, leading the car maker to bring back the old favourite in a shiny new form, calling it simply the Fiat 500.
GATHERING OF A TRIBE
The Monaco International Meeting of Fiat 500s is a celebration of the long history of these tiny cars and of what a symbol they have become. Hundreds of enthusiasts from all over gathered on 16th July in Monaco’s Port Hercule to ooh and ahh over 500s as well as to share in their passion for the model.
Owners were joined by collectors and car lovers of all types in a spirit of playful fun that united different cultures, nationalities and backgrounds under one banner.
The event included activities ranging from an exhibition of cars to live shows, games, conferences and a talk by Fiat Lancia and Abarth Heritage’s CEO, Roberto Giolito.
“We are delighted with the great success of the third Monaco International Meeting of Fiat 500,” said the event’s director, Massimo Peleson. “This event is not only a tribute to the much-loved car, but also a celebration of unity, art and shared passion. A big thank you to all the participants, the sponsors, but above all to all the fantastic volunteers whose selflessness and heart made this extraordinary day possible.”
PRIZES AWARDED
The meet-up ended with a prize-giving ceremony handed out by the Principality’s Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Christophe Robino.
The award for the oldest model went to Francesco Musumeci with his 500 A Topolino from 1947, a pre-cursor to the Cinquecento, and was handed out by Jade Aureglia, Vice-President of the National Council of the Principality of Monaco.
Conversely, the youngest owner and driver prize went to Laurie Lovine, and was given by Giulio Alaimo, Italy’s ambassador to the Principality.
Finally, the car with the most miles on the clock went to Franco Guzzetta, with the prize given by Massimo Peleson, the president of the Club Fiat 500 Monte-Carlo.
Click on the images below to see more of the event:
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The threat of forest fires and the elevated temperatures of the Charon heatwave have led officials in the Var and Alpes-Maritimes to ban access to large swathes of the region’s forests.
Of the nine principal forests and massifs in the Var, only three have remained outside of a blanket red zone: Saint Baume, Plateau de Canjuers and the Haut Var. In the remaining six zones, locals and visitors to the area are strictly prohibited from accessing the hinterland. The reason is the looming fear of forest fires given the extreme heat, afternoon winds and intensely dry soils in the department.
All works that could potentially lead to a fire, even down to creating a tiny spark, are also off the table for the time being. In the three forementioned areas, which find themselves in an orange warning zone, “access is not recommended and work that could cause a fire is prohibited, except for agricultural, forestry or general interest work from 5am to 1pm with a fire extinguishing device”.
The exceptions to the bans on access are the Calanque Port d’Alon, the Cascade de Sillans and the Base Nature de La Môle, which will remain open to the public.
Over in the Alpes-Maritimes, the Esterel-Tanneron hills have been classed as a serious fire risk and have also been placed in a red zone. The rest of the Alpes-Maritimes remains green and fully accessible to those looking to get out for a walk beneath the shade of some trees.
The daily access maps and information for the Var can be found here. For the Alpes-Maritimes equivalent, please click here.
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Princess Charlene was brimming with pride as she took part in a special charity evening dedicated to Nelson Mandela and his legacy, alongside her husband Prince Albert.
On Tuesday 18th July, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene attended a dinner that had been organised for the benefit of the Mandela Foundation, in collaboration with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Anant and Vanashree Singh Foundation.
Also present were Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, daughter of Nelson Mandela and Ambassador of South Africa to South Korea, and Anant Singh, the producer of the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
The evening was in celebration of Nelson Mandela and his legacy on his 105th birthday. Earlier, a screening of the 2013 film was held at the Princess Grace Theatre, to which the public were invited to attend for free.
Princess Charlene was born in Rhodesia(present-day Zimbabwe), but grew up in South Africa and it was this country that she represented as a swimmer in the Olympic Games.
Nelson Mandela, a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, was born on 18th July 1918 in Mvezo, Cape Province, and died on 5th December 2013.
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As part of efforts to bring Monaco up to scratch with Moneyval’s high international standards, civil companies based in the Principality are being reminded of the need to register their “beneficial owners” or face consequences down the line.
After the January 2023 Moneyval report requesting Monaco make more effort to prevent and investigate any cases of money laundering and the financing of terrorism within its borders, the Principality acted swiftly, setting up a dedicated task force and greenlighting new legislation.
As part of this new conformity drive, the government also launched a national action plan that includes an information campaign aimed at civil companies – or sociétés civiles (SC), the type of company typically used for civil, agricultural, freelance and intellectual professions – to explain the need to declare their “beneficial owners”.
WHAT IS A BENEFICIAL OWNER
The term beneficial owner relates to the person or people who directly or indirectly hold at least 25% of a company’s capital or voting rights, have control over a company by another means or are the person or people who legally represent the company, such as a managing director or manager.
HOW TO DECLARE
The request to register these individuals must be made directly to the Department of Economic Development, which is open on weekdays from 9.30am to 5pm.
The forms can be found on the government portal under the “Declaring a Beneficial Owner” section. The process is free of charge.
The authorities are reaching out to companies with reminders to prompt quick action. If they fail to comply, communications with the Court of First Instance will be initiated.
For companies already in the special register of civil companies, but without up-to-date information on beneficial owners, the Department of Economic Development is asking for those updates to be made as soon as possible.
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From a family-run vineyard producing award-winning biodynamic wines to ultra-luxe domaines in the Var, here are five of the best vineyards to visit within an hour or two’s drive from Monaco.
Côtes de Provence, a term recognised and loved by wine drinkers the world over, conjures up images of quaint bastides surrounded by lavender, olive groves and, of course, vines. The region, which extends over an area of than 200 square kilometres, is undoubtably one of the world’s most beautiful and most productive.
Did you know that an estimated 116 million bottles of wine – an impressive 47% of them organic – are produced here every year, and around 92% of these are the signature rosé of the region?
Many of the vineyards have onsite shops and tasting rooms, but some take the vineyard experience a step further. Here are a few of our favourites…
Fine dining and luxury
Château de Berne is a stunning 18th century property set amidst 515 hectares of wild and landscaped gardens. The history of wine-making at this picturesque address goes back way further, though, and traces of vine cultivation that have been found here date back to 200BC. The name Berne was established during the 18th century.
The tree-lined drive on the way up to Château de Berne. Photo via Château de Berne / Facebook
In 2021, the estate’s 370 acres of vines gained official organic certification, making it part of the growing community of wine makers in the region to move in this direction.
Château de Berne stands out, however, for its incredible setting and top-notch facilities. The château itself can cater for 20 guests, but there are also villas with private swimming pools on the estate for those looking for even more privacy. There’s a Cinq Mondes and Vinésime Spa, numerous fitness classes, a place for cooking masterclasses and 100 kilometres of hiking trails.
The domaine even has a Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Jardin de Berne led by Chef Louis Rameau, as well as several other fantastic eateries. If you’re going with a group, be sure to try L’Olivier de Berne beneath the olive trees.
The food is always excellent at L’Olivier de Berne. Photo via Château de Berne / Facebook
A place for couples
Ultimate Provence, or UP for short, is a thoroughly modern endeavour that styles itself as an eco-aware wine estate “set amid magnificent wild, mineral scenery”. Its 114 acres of vines are found in the heart of France’s largest nature reserve in La Garde-Freinet and can be visited by appointment. If you’re here to enjoy the luxurious amenities of UP, then the 15-minute tasting of the estate’s wines will give you enough insight into which bottles you’d like to take home.
Ultimate Provence is a destination that understands modern hospitality. Photo via UP / Facebook
There are lots of different accommodation options available and while we’ve picked UP as our choice for a romantic weekend away, the domaine is very family-friendly and even runs a kids club at its flagship restaurant for parents who want to enjoy their meal in peace.
Regarding fun and relaxation, the onsite Vinésime and Voya Spa is open seven days a week and there’s a beach club down on the coast near Saint Tropez that bears UP’s name.
Relax by the pool with a glass of rosé or enjoy a tipple down on Ultimate Provence’s private beach near Saint Tropez. Photo via UP / Facebook
Where to take family
If you’re looking for a place to entertain the young and the old, then Château Saint Roux in Le Cannet-des-Maures should be right at the top of your list. It’s a very active vineyard, with 99 acres that produce five different wines. Although its bottles aren’t yet certified organic, Château Saint Roux is embracing all the principles of organic farming and is well on its way to converting.
Château Saint Roux is our top pick for a family visit to a vineyard. Photo via Château Saint Roux / Facebook
There are several different types of accommodation here, from apartments and lofts to a bastide and a gîte, as well as an excellent eponymous restaurant, La Table Saint Roux led by Chef Chef Guillaume Rigaudias, that uses seasonal ingredients grown on the estate.
Its real family appeal comes from the vast range of activities on offer. Children will absolutely love the farm with its goats, rabbits, hens and even the resident miniature donkey, Idaho. There’s a stylish tasting cellar, a dairy making the most delicious fresh produce, wine discovery sessions, and even a breadmaking class.
Biodynamic and natural wines
You would be hard pressed to find a vineyard more dedicated to organic wine production than Fondugues-Pradugues. This family-owned, single-estate domaine near Ramatuelle takes an encompassingly holistic approach to its vines, without a single drop of pesticides, herbicides or allergens being used in its methods to simply “let nature do its thing”.
To make the most of the Fondugues-Pradugues experience, we highly recommend trying out Le Chai, which offers a range of tastings and gourmet meals. You can even have a picnic amongst the vines with a selection of the estate’s 2020 vintages.
The unique style of Fondugues-Pradugues’ biodynamic and organic wines. Photo via Fondugues-Pradugues / Facebook
Closest to Monaco
The final stop of our list of top vineyards to try out this summer is more of a collection of vineyards than one single address. The Bellet region on the outskirts of Nice is one of the oldest “appellation contrôlée” in France – its history of vine cultivation dates back to an incredible 600BC – and is unique in its proximity to such an urban area. Bellet covers an area of around 650 hectares, but only 50 hectares of vines are in operation today.
Although many of the vineyards here are open to the public, the best way to experience Bellet is with a tour and there’s no one better than Julia Glibova of the VinoLove Club, who runs walking tours and wine tastings.
Another way of getting to know more about the Bellet appellation is to take the Vignobles de Bellet navette bus service from the Magnan stop in Nice. The bus departs the city between 10am and 4.40pm, and stops off right outside each of the vineyards affiliated with the scheme.
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American football legend Tom Brady is the latest high-profile athlete to become a team owner in the UIM E1 World Championship.
Celebrated as one of the world’s most successful sports stars, Tom Brady now has his sights set on winning the inaugural UIM E1 World Championship – the all-new electric raceboat competition that will have a stage in Monaco in 2024.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, Brady has been known throughout his career for his excellence on the field of play, holding the record for the most ever Super Bowl MVP’s (with five), winning seven Super Bowls across three decades and being named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year twice in 2005 and 2021.
He’s also behind a number of successful entrepreneurial projects in tech, fashion and film.
“UIM E1 World Championship combines several things l love – speed, intensity, being on the water, intense competition, and innovative leaders,” said Tom Brady. “I’m excited to join Rafael Nadal, Didier Drogba, and Sergio Perez, all great athletes with the same desire to compete at the highest level and work together to help make the boating industry more sustainable, create incredible events, and especially to win… My message to our competition: be prepared for second place because we are aiming for the top.”
From left to right: Alejandro Agag (Co-Founder and Chairman of UIM E1 World Championship), Sophi Horne (RaceBird Designer and Founder of SeaBird Technologies), Tom Brady and Rodi Basso (Co-Founder & CEO of UIM E1 World Championship). Credit: UIM E1 World Championship
Racing towards a sustainable future
Through his new role as team owner in the UIM E1 World Championship, Brady is looking to inspire future generations towards innovation and action for a sustainable future.
“It is an incredible privilege to welcome a sporting legend to the UIM E1 World Championship,” said Rodi Basso, Co-Founder and CEO of UIM E1 World Championship. “But for Tom Brady, it’s not just about his sporting legacy and success, he wants to leave a positive impact and inspire the next generation, which resonates so much with our DNA at the UIM E1 World Championship.
“Tom is also super enthusiastic about the design, technology, and performance behind our RaceBirds. But as important as racing is our commitment to sustainability and social impact, and Tom is very passionate about the planned Acceleration Festivals at our races, which will showcase start-ups and developments in the clean tech industries everywhere we go. Tom is so aligned with our principles and vision for sport and impact.”
The eagerly anticipated first season of the UIM E1 World Championship is scheduled to get underway in early 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In the coming months, championship organizers will continue to accelerate preparations for the inaugural season, with races set to take place in Venice, Monaco, and Rotterdam, with more venues due to be announced soon.
