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Month: January 2026

Monaco celebrates Sainte Dévote: what to expect at this year’s festivities

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
16/01/2026

Monaco will celebrate one of its oldest traditions next week as the Principality pays tribute to Saint Dévote, patron saint of Monaco and Corsica.

The annual festivities on 26th and 27th January draw thousands each year, combining religious ceremonies, processions with an awe striking public ritual: the burning of a symbolic boat on the harbour.

Monday’s procession and boat burning

The day begins at 10:30am with a traditional mass celebrated in Monegasque at the Saint Dévote church.

Then, the evening kicks off at around 6pm with a procession carrying the saint’s relics from the Grand Prix chicane, winding its way towards the church. Solemn vespers will then follow at 7pm, with Monaco’s highest authorities in attendance. A member of the Municipal Council will formally present the relics to the clergy, commemorating their arrival by the sea centuries ago.

The day’s highlight will then arrive shortly after with the ceremonial boat burning at half past seven on Quai Albert 1er, presided over by the Princely family. This dramatic ritual recalls the legend of thieves who attempted to steal the saint’s relics. Local fishermen had intercepted them and burned their boats. According to tradition, nails recovered from the burnt boat are set to bring good fortune. A drone spectacle will follow the burning, providing yet another awe-striking sequence to the public gathered at the Port.

Getting there and what to expect

Public access open from 5:30pm at two main viewing areas: Place Sainte-Dévote for the procession and vespers, and the northern section of Quai Albert Ier for the boat burning and drone show. Security checkpoints with bag inspections will be in place at both sites, and large screens will broadcast the ceremonies.

Those arriving by train should note than the Saint-Dévote valley and stairs will close at 5.30pm, so the Sainte-Dévote gallery via rue Grimaldi becomes the main access route. Road closures and public transport disruptions are expected between 6.15pm and 7.45pm on Boulevard Albert Ier, avenue JF Kennedy and avenue d’Ostende, so arriving early is advisable.

Tuesday’s Pontifical Mass and concert

Tuesday’s celebrations begin at 10am with Pontifical Mass at Monaco Cathedral, presided over by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. The mass is followed by a solemn procession through Monaco-Ville, with stops for blessings of the Palace, the city and the sea.

The day concludes at 6:30pm with a spiritual concert in the cathedral, featuring the Choir of Sartène accompanied by the Choir of the Papal Chapel of Assisi and the Rainier III Academy.

French Catholic broadcaster KTO will transmit Monday’s evening events live from 6:30pm.

A martyr who became Monaco’s patron

Dévote was a young Christian killed in Corsica during the fourth century when Roman Emperor Diocletian ordered the persecution of Christians. Believers placed her remains in a vessel headed for North Africa, but the craft was redirected by a dove and landed instead on Monaco’s coast on 27th January.

The young martyr became Monaco’s official patron saint under Prince Honoré II in the 17th century. Her relics have been invoked by Monegasques through centuries of joys and sorrows, making her what locals call the protective soul of Monegasque identity. The first book ever written in Monegasque by poet Louis Notari was titled “A Legenda de Santa Devota,” testament to her deep roots in local culture.

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Main photo credit: Stéphane Danna

 

Tea time has never been so sweet: Hôtel Métropole’s chocolate indulgence

by: Cassandra Tanti
16/01/2026

Forget delicate finger sandwiches and dainty scones. Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo’s winter offering is all about chocolate. Executive Chef Christophe Cussac, Pastry Chef Patrick Mesiano and Head Bartender Mickaël Bellec have created an afternoon experience that puts the world’s finest cocoa front and centre.

Available through the end of March, ‘Chocolate Time’ transforms the hotel into what can only be described as a true chocolate bar — where the finest cocoa grands crus are revealed in a symphony of textures, aromas and emotions.

This isn’t afternoon tea with a chocolate éclair on the side. This is chocolate as the main event, the star attraction, the reason you clear your calendar on a Tuesday afternoon.

The extensive selection includes the wonderfully textural chocolate, peanut and caramel bar (right), smashed at the table

The art of sharing

At the heart of the menu sits the Chocolate Fondue at €52, designed for sharing between at least two people (although four is more realistic). Rich, velvety chocolate bubbles gently over a flame, accompanied by fresh fruit for dipping. It’s the kind of experience that slows time, encouraging conversation and laughter as you compete for the perfect strawberry.

But the fondue is just the beginning. The Chocolate, Caramel and Peanut Bar (€26) is pure indulgence — layers of sweet and salty that somehow manage to be both sophisticated and utterly comforting. It’s the kind of thing you think about days later.

The sharing menu continues with a Cookie and Vanilla Ice Cream (€26) and the intriguing Brioché Crème Brûlée with Chocolate Chips (€26) — because why choose between breakfast pastry and dessert when you can have both?

Pastry perfection

The hotel’s chocolate atelier produces a range of individual pastries at €19 each that showcase Patrick Mesiano’s artistry. The Guanaja Chocolate Finger features premium Valrhona chocolate in an elegant, elongated form. The Crispy Milk Chocolate Tart balances texture with creamy sweetness, while the Dark Chocolate Mousse offers pure, unadulterated cocoa intensity.

For those seeking something special, La Signature awaits at €24: the Soufflé Chocolate Tart with homemade praliné. This show-stopping creation requires 10 minutes to prepare — a small price to pay for something so ethereal it practically floats off the plate.

Gourmet afternoon treats

The Gourmet Delights section (€19) caters to those seeking comfort in cocoa form. The Cacao Marble Cake offers nostalgic swirls of vanilla and chocolate, while the Caraïbe Chocolate Flan delivers silky custard with deep chocolate notes. The Cappuccino Brioche brings coffee and chocolate together in pillowy, buttery layers.

Chocolate cocktails (left) and the classic hot chocolate (right) at Hôtel Metropole

Where cocktails meet cocoa

This is where Mickaël Bellec’s creativity truly shines. The Noir Intense cocktail (€31) is spectacular — Macallan Harmony V whisky infused with Phoenix Honey Orchid tea honey, tonka bean and Angostura bitters. It’s sophisticated, complex, and pairs beautifully with the richer chocolate offerings. One sip and you understand why this has become the signature drink of the experience.

The Cascade Chocolatée (€31) combines vanilla-infused gin with Amaretto, Kahlúa and chocolate for those who prefer their cocoa with a botanical twist. The Choco Milk Punch (€31) features rum infused with star anise and cinnamon, orange, lemon juice, gingerbread syrup and chocolate — warm, spiced, and utterly luxurious.

For non-drinkers, the Choco-Délice mocktail (€25) offers apple juice, spiced cocoa caramel and ginger ale — proof that you don’t need alcohol for sophistication.

The Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Tea Time

At €74, this package elevates chocolate indulgence to an occasion. Choose between a glass of Ruinart Blanc de Blancs champagne or Macallan Harmony V (or the Noir Intense cocktail), add your choice of tea and any pastry from the menu, and you’ve created the perfect afternoon escape.

It’s the kind of experience that transforms an ordinary Tuesday into something memorable.

Hot chocolate, perfected

The traditional hot chocolate (€19) arrives with vanilla whipped cream, made in-house and bearing no resemblance to anything that comes from a packet. The cinnamon version adds warming spice that feels like a hug in a cup.

For the adventurous, the Infusion with cocoa bean and cocoa bean shells (€18) offers an earthy, surprising drink that lets you taste chocolate in its purest form. The “Chez Mamie” tea (€18) blends green and black teas with cocoa, cinnamon, almond and orange for something both comforting and exotic.

Pure indulgence at its finest

What makes Chocolate Time at the Métropole special is the complete commitment to the experience. This isn’t a few chocolate items added to an existing menu — it’s an entire concept built around the idea that chocolate, at its finest, deserves to be the center of attention.

Chocolate Time runs through the end of March at Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo.

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Photos courtesy of Hôtel Metropole

Nice Airport hits record 15.2 million passengers while slashing carbon emissions by 90%

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/01/2026

Nice Côte d’Azur Airport ended 2025 with record passenger numbers whilst completing a major terminal extension and achieving the highest environmental certification available to airports worldwide.

According to figures released this week, the airport handled 15.23 million commercial passengers in 2025, an increase of 3.2% compared to 2024, whilst simultaneously completing the largest phase of its Terminal 2 expansion and becoming the first French airport in its category to obtain Level 5 Airport Carbon Accreditation.

The passenger growth resulted in a smaller 1.9% increase in commercial aircraft movements, which totalled 163,052, confirming the impact of filling higher-capacity aircraft with more passengers — a key environmental efficiency measure.

International growth drives performance

The performance reflects the attractiveness of a region whose economic and international reputation continues to drive airport traffic despite being geographically isolated from the rest of France.

International traffic increased by 4.7% year-on-year, whilst domestic traffic declined slightly by 0.3%. Regular long-haul passenger traffic grew by 5.8% in 2025, thanks particularly to the opening of a new route to Washington in summer and another to Dakar in winter 2024/2025.

Business aviation across Nice Côte d’Azur, Cannes Mandelieu and Golfe de Saint-Tropez airports saw a 4% increase in aircraft movements, reflecting the region’s continued appeal to private jet travellers.

Terminal extension nears completion

Nice Côte d’Azur Airport managed to handle record passenger traffic whilst completing a major project—the extension of Terminal 2. In spring 2025, the first phase was delivered, featuring a new enlarged passport control area for departures, an enlarged and refurbished non-Schengen departure lounge, a new shop, two new restaurants and a renovated VIP lounge.

By the 2026 peak season, the pier and its six new departure and arrival lounges will be operational, along with the new check-in hall and its baggage handling system for both arrivals and departures.

To give passengers a new perspective on the airport, a monumental work by Nice artist César Malfi has been created on a hangar adjacent to the extension. Depicting Psyche flying away in the arms of Love, it welcomes travellers and invites them to enjoy a moment of peace and serenity.

Environmental leadership

As part of its environmental policy, Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur has continued its decarbonisation efforts in line with commitments made in 2020. Nice Airport has become the first French airport in its category to obtain Level 5 Airport Carbon Accreditation—the highest and most demanding level.

Five years ahead of its commitment to achieve net zero emissions, the airport has joined the exclusive club of just 4% of airports worldwide committed to this programme that have achieved its highest level of requirements.

The accreditation confirms the airport has not only reduced emissions under its control by at least 90% but has also drawn up and implemented a roadmap for decarbonising its entire value chain, including emissions from aircraft in half-cruise.

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Photo credit: Cassandra Tanti

 

Women’s heart health in the spotlight this January

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
15/01/2026

Monaco’s leading heart specialists are highlighting a critical healthcare inequality that continues to cost women’s lives: the gender gap in cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment.

The Monaco Women Network has organised a panel discussion on January 22nd bringing together four doctors from the Centre Cardio-Thoracique de Monaco to talk about an unfortunate reality – heart disease is the leading cause of death among women worldwide, yet female patients are routinely misdiagnosed or receive inadequate care.

The problem derives from decades of medical research focused primarily on men. As a result, doctors have been trained to recognise male symptoms and treatment protocols are designed around male physiology. For women, this can prove fatal.

The panel will explore why female heart attack symptoms often differ from those seen in men, making them harder to spot. Experts will also discuss how hormonal changes throughout women’s lives affect cardiovascular risk.

Conditions that often affect women, such as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, commonly known as “broken heart syndrome”, will also be examined.

The discussion will be led by Dr Catherine Binet, anaesthesiologist and intensive care specialist, cardiologists Dr Hélène Ceruti and Dr Ariane Truffier and interventional cardiologist Dr Camille Wehrlin.

The event will take place on Thursday January 22nd at 6pm on the 10th floor of the Centre Cardio-Thoracique de Monaco, 11 bis Avenue d’Ostende. The discussion will be conducted in French with live English subtitles, followed by a networking cocktail reception

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Main photo credit: Monaco Women Forum

Traffic disruptions in place for Sainte Dévote celebrations on 26th January

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/01/2026

Monaco will implement significant traffic disruptions and pedestrian management measures on Monday 26th January for the annual Sainte Dévote celebrations, with authorities establishing two secured zones and specific routing requirements.

Various circulation restrictions have been put in place to manage crowd flow and ensure public safety during the evening’s festivities.

Two secured pedestrian zones

From 5:30pm, two secured zones will be established with controlled access:

The first zone encompasses the Parvis of Sainte-Dévote Church, while the second covers Quai Albert Ier at the level of the swimming pool. Both areas will restrict general traffic and pedestrian movement outside designated entry points.

Critical routing requirement

The most important traffic measure concerns movement between the two zones. Members of the public attending ceremonies at Sainte-Dévote Church who wish to move to Quai Albert Ier for later events must use only the underground corridor located at the bottom of Rue Grimaldi, to the left of the church.

For security reasons, this corridor will be reserved primarily for those who attended the ceremony at the church parvis. This means surface-level pedestrian routes between the two zones will be restricted or closed entirely.

Attempting to navigate between zones via alternative surface routes may result in denied access or significant delays.

Accessibility accommodations

Two designated zones for persons with reduced mobility will be established on the church parvis and on Quai Albert Ier. These areas may have separate access arrangements from general pedestrian zones.

Timeline of restrictions

Disruptions will begin from 5:30pm when secured zones open, with the evening’s programme running from 6:30pm through approximately 8:30pm when the final drone show concludes.

Residents and visitors planning to travel through the affected areas should expect significant pedestrian congestion and road closures during these hours. Alternative routes should be considered for those not attending the celebrations.

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Photo credit: Stéphane Danna, Monaco Communications Department

AS Monaco Rugby achieve four-win streak with youth teams following suit

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
15/01/2026

AS Monaco Rugby have managed a strong return from the winter break, with both their senior and youth teams maintaining an impressive winning streak. 

The club’s first team extended their unbeaten record with a commanding 33-7 victory over UMS Rugby Montélimar at home, while the Espoirs (reserves) added to the weekend’s success with a 48-29 win.

Youth team show promise

The youth setup has been equally impressive, with both the U16 and U19 sides securing victories against RC Le Beausset. Particularly important was the U19’s win as it keeps them top of their championship table, rewarding their collective work.

The club’s École de Rugby (youth academy) has also resumed activities, with youngsters returning to training filled with enthusiasm. The sessions focused on preparing for upcoming weekend fixtures while reinforcing rugby’s core values amongst the youngest players.

The youth academy, photo credit: AS Monaco Rugby

In an attempt to grow participation AS Monaco Rugby has also launched ‘En 2026, j’essaie le rugby – In 2026, I’m trying rugby’, offering free trial sessions throughout January for children born between 2012 and 2022. Special surprises are planned for those born in 2015.

What’s next

The senior team now faces its next challenge away at Saint-Marcellin on January 18th as it looks to extend its winning run to five matches.

The club will also host a partners’ evening on February 12th in collaboration with Les Carabiniers du Prince, featuring rugby legends including Jean-Pierre Rives, Philippe Spanghero, Raphaël Poulain and Rodrigo Capo Ortega

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Main photo credit: AS Monaco Rugby