Prince Albert II has opened a key congress in Palermo Italy that has brought together over 400 scientists, political leaders, and civil society representatives from 23 member states.

Monaco’s head of state continued his visit to Palermo on Monday 14th October, where he presided over the opening ceremony of the 43rd International Commission for the Scientific Exploration of the Mediterranean Sea (CIESM) Congress. The event took place in the recently restored Scuderia Reale at the Palazzo dei Normanni.

Addressing the audience, Prince Albert acknowledged the historical significance of the gathering, noting Sicily’s deep connection to the Mediterranean. “We have come to the largest, most exotic island in the Mediterranean…a place where 25 centuries of history cast a long shadow,” he said, and expressed his gratitude to the local and regional authorities for making the congress possible. 

The congress, which runs until 18th October, will address urgent environmental and scientific issues, including the impact of climate change on the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. During his speech, Prince Albert highlighted CIESM’s role in fostering cross-border collaboration, saying, “CIESM is a unique, powerful alliance of researchers without borders.” He also underscored the importance of diversity in scientific inquiry, saying, “Diversity as a mosaic of ideas… it produces sparks of inventiveness and creativity.”

Following the opening, Prince Albert toured an exhibition dedicated to red coral research, which featured groundbreaking work by the Monaco Scientific Centre (CSM). The CSM recently achieved significant progress in reproducing these endangered corals in a laboratory setting. Prince Albert took the opportunity to congratulate the Sicilian authorities for their support of this initiative.

Later in the morning, the princely delegation visited several historical sites, including the UNESCO-listed Palatine Chapel. The day concluded with a meeting between Prince Albert II and local Sicilian officials, where topics of collaboration between Sicily and Monaco were discussed, and visits to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio.

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

Main photo credit: Axel Bastello/Palais Princier