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Month: February 2024

Monaco Grand Prix: New floating grandstand introduced for high-end spectators

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/02/2024

Monaco is stepping up its game for the 2024 Grand Prix, giving high-paying spectators a new floating grandstand with incredible views of the world-famous circuit.

Monaco Ports has just revealed the details of its new floating grandstand, called the Monaco Ports Lounge, which will be located in a prime position on Port Hercule with direct view on the slow-down just after the exit of the tunnel and the Chicane.

The grandstand is exclusively reserved for the guests of yachts using the Cala del Forte port in Ventimiglia and Port Hercule during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, offering another layer of luxury service during the world’s most prestigious F1 racing event.

The new addition has been welcomed by events companies.

“Monaco is such an iconic event, not only for Formula 1, but also for the city itself. Any opportunities to diversify and increase viewing opportunities at different price points, and to accommodate different interests, will be great for the event, for guests and for Monaco,” says Julie Hunter, Owner and Operations Director of Ultimate Driving Tours, a company which has been chartering yachts in Port Hercule for the Monaco Grand Prix since 2013.

The new Monaco Ports Lounge will be located in a prime position on Port Hercule. Image source: Ports de Monaco communication

The new Monaco Ports Lounge is a step-up from the normal grand stands. It will have a surface area of 600 m2, spread over three levels, and a capacity of 400 people. VIP guests will be able to enjoy drinks and snacks, as well as services like toilets and Wi-Fi.

Lunch is also possible at the Société Nautique restaurant located 200 metres away alongside the Yacht Club de Monaco.

But these prime seats don’t come cheap. Three-day packages are priced at €4,800 for customers berthed at Cala del Forte, and €5,400 for those in Monaco.

The new floating grandstand is the latest move by Monaco to increase revenue intake from the Grand Prix. Last year, it increased the price paid per guest attending the event on a yacht berthed in Port Hercule. This year, the new stand alone could generate over €2 million.

Ticket requests for the Monaco Ports Lounge can be made at grandprix@ports-monaco.com.

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Main image source: Ports de Monaco communication

Printemps des Arts 2024: what to expect from the opening days of the festival

by: Niki Borisova
28/02/2024

With just two weeks to go until Monaco’s 2024 Printemps des Arts festival begins, Monaco Life delves into the rich and eclectic programming organised for the first few days of this month-long event.

Under the title of ‘Ma fin est mon commencement’, the upcoming edition of Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo is set to embrace the thought-provoking theme of the cycles of life under the guidance of Artistic Director Bruno Mantovani from 13th March to 7th April.

As always, the programme, which can be found here, will continue the festival’s tradition of blending the classical with the contemporary while placing a strong emphasis on making the arts more accessible to young audiences by offering free admission to all concerts for individuals under 25 years of age.

The festival begins with a concert on Wednesday 13th March at the Église de Saint-Charles by the Ensemble Gilles Binchois. The group will perform Johannes Ockeghem’s Requiem, the earliest recorded mass for the dead, ahead of a recital by Nice-born Sandro Compagnon, who will be taking on a range of modern saxophone pieces by Luciano Berio and Mantovani.

Continuing the exploration of beginnings and endings, one of the highlights of the following day will see the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo on stage at the Auditorium Rainier III. Under Fabien Gabel, the orchestra will juxtapose Richard Strauss’ early symphonic work Aus Italien with the later introspective Four Last Lieder.

On Friday 15th March, at One Monte-Carlo, the festival will spotlight the diverse spectrum of classical music with a performance by the trio of Sayaka Shoji, Henri Demarquette and Jean-Frédéric Neuburger. They will journey through Beethoven’s work, from his initial compositions to the iconic Archduke Trio, to illustrate the progression of Beethoven’s genius.

For tickets and reservations, click here.

 

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Photo credit: OPMC

Check out McLaren’s new hybrid convertible the Artura Spider

by: Niki Borisova
28/02/2024

Slated for delivery in Monaco mid-2024, McLaren Automotive has unveiled the new Artura Spider, combining an open-air driving experience with its high-performance hybrid.

The Artura, celebrated for its V6 hybrid technology, has already made waves in the automotive world by blending high performance with eco-friendly design. It was voted the best hybrid car by the Association Médias Auto et Moto française in 2023 and featured at Top Marques Monaco last year, setting the stage for McLaren’s next big reveal.

The new Artura Spider marks McLaren’s entry into the hybrid convertible market. It keeps the core qualities of the original Artura but includes significant improvements like a stronger engine with 700PS (690bhp). Even with these upgrades, the Spider variant remains fast and agile, now offering the option to drive with the roof down.

McLaren’s Artura Spider. Photo source: McLaren

“More power, more dynamic performance”

“We have upgraded the powertrain and the chassis systems to deliver more power, more dynamic performance, and even higher levels of connection with the driver – without any compromise in everyday driving,” says Michael Leiters, CEO of McLaren Automotive. “And now alongside the new Artura coupe, we have the Artura Spider, a new convertible that has all of these improvements and brings another dimension of open-air McLaren supercar exhilaration to our range.”

A standout feature of the Artura Spider is its classification as the lightest convertible supercar in its category, a factor that contributes to its performance metrics. It boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 480PS/tonne and can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 3.0 seconds. Meanwhile, the convertible top folds down in 11 seconds and works during speeds of up to 50km/h.

Monaco Life has learned that the Artura Spider is currently available for order in Monaco and is slated for delivery starting mid-2024. McLaren also aims to feature the vehicle at the upcoming Top Marques 2024, scheduled from 5th to 9th June, although final confirmation is pending.

Read also:

Next-generation hybrid supercar McLaren Artura voted best in France

 

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Photo credit: https://cars.mclaren.press/

Ski resorts across the Southern Alps issue avalanche warnings

by: Elsa Carpenter
28/02/2024

Following consecutive days of heavy snowfall in the mountains, weather forecaster Météo France, along with regional authorities in the Alpes du Sud, has issued high-level avalanche warnings for numerous ski resorts in the south of France.  

According to the weather service, numerous spontaneous avalanches described as medium to large in size are to be expected in the coming days due to the instability of the snowpack. 

Given the particularly heavy snowfall in the Mercantour range, which has been coupled with a strong northeasterly wind, Météo France has warned that road access to popular destinations such as Isola 2000 may also be threatened by avalanches.  

Avalanche bombing and blasting is taking place on a daily basis in many of the region’s resorts in a bid to limit the threat to those out on the snow, but warnings remain high, often at a 4/5 level. 

See more: Explained: The rules about snow tyres and chains in France

Those out on the slopes are encouraged to follow all signage and avoid travelling off-piste.  

“Drifts forming in fresh wind-blow snow [are] easily triggered by a single skier, even far from ridges,” warns Météo France’s mountain report. “They are sometimes tricky [to detect] because they have a powdery appearance.” 

The daily updated Météo France’s mountain report can be found here.

Read related: 

From Monaco to the mountains: a guide to the best ski resorts these school holidays

 

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Photo by Monaco Life

Roberto Prosseda to bring Italo Calvino’s American Lessons to life through music

by: Niki Borisova
27/02/2024

This coming Friday, the worlds of literature and music will collide at the Théâtre des Variétés as pianist Roberto Prosseda creatively reinterprets Italo Calvino’s ‘American Lessons’.

At 8pm on Friday 1st March, the Dante Alighieri Association – Monaco Committee will host a performance by the internationally acclaimed pianist Roberto Prosseda at Monaco’s Théâtre des Variétés. Supported by Princess Caroline of Monaco and the Principality’s Italian Embassy, the event will merge literature and music with a programme inspired by Italo Calvino’s ‘American Lessons’.

In ‘The Lightness of Things’, Prosseda will reinterpret the themes of lightness, quickness, exactitude, visibility, multiplicity and consistency, transforming Calvino’s ideas into music and showcasing his literary concepts in a fully unique way.

Prosseda is known for his engagements with leading orchestras across the globe, such as the London Philharmonic, New Japan Philharmonic and the Berliner Symphoniker. His artistic journey has also seen the pianist collaborate and co-author a series of television documentaries on composers including Mendelssohn, Chopin and Liszt.

Entry to the upcoming event is free for members of the Dante Alighieri Association while ticket prices have been set at €10 euros for non-members under the age of 25 and €20 euros for adult non-members. Reservations are required by 29th February and can be made via email on info.dantemc@gmail.com or by calling +377 97 70 89 47.

 

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Photo source: Unsplash

Watch AS Monaco play Paris Saint-Germain for just €45

by: Elsa Carpenter
27/02/2024

As night falls on Friday 1st March, AS Monaco will play Paris Saint-Germain, the leaders of France’s top-tier Ligue 1, at home in the Stade Louis II. It is set to be a major meeting, perhaps the biggest for the Rouges et Blancs in the second half of the season, and turnout is expected to be high. 

AS Monaco currently sit third in the Ligue 1 rankings. The side has won just two out of their last five games, having lost out to Toulouse and drawn a further two matches.

Paris Saint-Germain, however, have a cleaner sheet, with three wins and two draws in their last five games. The celebrity status side sit well ahead of second-placed Stade Brestois 29: Paris Saint-Germain have 54 points to Brest’s 43 and Monaco’s 41.  

A handful of seats for the big game are still on sale, with some costing as little as €45 for subscription holders and even €10 for children.  

Tickets can be purchased via the online ticket office, which can be found here, or through the AS Monaco app. Only four seats can be reserved at a time and the names on the tickets must match the ID presented at the stadium on game day.

If you are yet to buy a season ticket or subscription to watch the local Principality side at home, there is currently an offer on for the second half of the season and the 2024/25 season that costs just €269.  

Travel information

For those travelling into the Principality for the game, it is recommended that you arrive well ahead of kick-off. Doors at the Stade Louis II will open at 7pm ahead of the 9pm start.  

Those who use the Munego carsharing app are guaranteed a carparking space while Parkings.mc will help other drivers locate an available space. The YOURSMONACO app also identifies carparks in the Principality that have free spaces.  

For fans travelling home by train, the last train back to Nice leaves at 11.20pm and the last train to Menton departs Monaco at 11.14pm. Further information about the SNCF rail services can be found here. 

 

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Photo credit: AS Monaco