Monaco’s Prince’s Palace will reopen to the public on 30th March, offering visitors nearly seven months to explore the State Apartments and their recently restored Renaissance frescoes.
The official residence of the Grimaldi family will welcome tourists through to 15th October, the Palace recently announced.
The extended opening period allows visitors to plan their trips to the principality during the prime tourist season and view the results of a decade-long restoration project that uncovered hidden artworks dating back five centuries.
600 square metres of Renaissance art
The State Apartments feature exceptional Italian Renaissance frescoes covering a total surface area of 600 square metres, some of which had been concealed from view for nearly 500 years.
The restoration campaigns, conducted under the patronage of Prince Albert II, began in earnest in 2015 following chance discoveries that led to major finds in the Gallery of Hercules and throughout the State Apartments.
The Palace has described the process as “a series written day by day, whose outcome surpasses simple fiction to achieve a marvellous reality.”
The project has not only revealed the artworks but also advanced restoration methodology, with techniques developed to ensure sustainable conservation that respects both the original works and available resources.
Mythological heroes restored
The newly visible frescoes depict three heroes from classical antiquity: Hercules, Ulysses, and Europa, whose exploits and adventures now shine across the Palace walls.
Palace officials say the discoveries resonate with Monaco’s own history and its centuries-old ties to the Mediterranean world and the classical myths that have shaped Western culture.
The frescoes’ revelation marks a significant moment in art history given the scale of the discoveries and the innovative restoration approaches employed.
See also: Prince’s Palace reopens to reveal new hidden frescos under restoration
Eight centuries of history
Perched atop the Rock since the 13th century, the Prince’s Palace remains one of Monaco’s most emblematic sites.
Visitors enter through the Honour Courtyard, paved with pebbles from Liguria, before proceeding to galleries adorned with 16th-century frescoes.
The State Apartments, with their refined décor and period furnishings, demonstrate eight centuries of architectural evolution and the dynastic continuity of the Grimaldi family.
The Palace serves as both the Prince’s official residence and a working seat of government, with public access limited to the warmer months when the princely family’s schedule permits tourism.
Tickets and visiting information will be available through the Palace’s official channels closer to the opening date.
Hidden Grimaldi dynasty frescoes to be revealed to international scholars
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Main photo credit: Cassandra Tanti