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‘75 years of Porsche sports cars’ in Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
20/02/2023

The Prince’s car museum is hosting a unique exhibition of vehicles from renowned German sports car manufacturer Porsche, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

The Cercle des Amis de la Collection de Voitures de S.A.S. le Prince de Monaco is organising the unique exhibition from 20th February to 20th March 2023.

Founded in 1931 under the name “Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche G.m.b.H., Konstruktionen und Beratung für Motoren und Fahrzeuge”, the Stuttgart-based engineering office has become a cradle of automotive technology and has shaped international series and racing car construction for decades with its numerous innovations.

In 1948, Ferry Porsche realised his dream of a sports car: with his team, he built the Porsche 356 ‘No. 1’ Roadster. It marked the birth of this legendary brand and laid the foundation for an exemplary success story, for the Porsche legend.

The model that followed the 356, the Porsche 911, established the company as one of the world’s leading sports car manufacturers. The Porsche 911, now in its eighth generation, has been constantly refined, with more than one million of this iconic car produced to date.

Porsche’s spirit of innovation is closely linked to motor sport. As early as 1951, the young brand achieved its first-class victory at Le Mans with the 356 SL. To this day, Porsche holds the record of 110 class and 19 overall victories in the Sarthe.

At this exceptional exhibition, the public will be able to discover 12 of Porsche’s most legendary racing and sports cars in the new location of the Car Collection, which was inaugurated just a few months ago on Port Hercule. Some of the cars are on loan from the Porsche Heritage and Museum in Stuttgart. Among them, three famous types of the 911 and a 908 ‘long tail’ will be accompanied by the 917 and 962 C models that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as the beautiful 911 GT1 in the colours of Champion Racing, which won the US championship in 1998.

Another 908 ‘short tail’ model from 1969 belonging to the Prince’s collection will also be on display. This competition car was driven by Hans Herrmann and Kurt Ahrens in the 1968 Austrian Grand Prix.

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Photo: The victorious Porsche 917 K at the 1970 24 Hours Of Le Mans with Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood, source 24 Hours of Le Mans. Note: this article was originally published on 1st February. 

Prince’s Palace glows orange for Flavien Foundation

by: Elsa Carpenter
18/02/2023
flavien foundation

In homage to the Flavien Foundation and the thousands of children who battle paediatric cancers each year, the Prince’s Palace in Monaco was lit up in orange on the International Childhood Cancer Day of 15th February. 

The Flavien Foundation – or Fondation Flavien – was founded in 2014 by Denis Maccario in memory of his young son, who sadly lost his fight to this terrible disease. The foundation is the Principality’s first association dedicated to raising funds for new treatments and research programmes in the realm of childhood cancers and rare diseases.   

It recently put out a call for donations with the Monaco Scientific Centre, which could be set to revolutionise the treatment of central nervous system tumours in children. The funds the collaboration raise over the next few months will help pay for a clinical study into the use of axitinib in these young and vulnerable patients, as reported by Monaco Life.  

Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children. More than 400,000 children under the age of 20 worldwide suffer from cancer each year; 2,500 in France and Monaco.  

To make a donation, please click here. For further information about the two establishments, click here for the Flavien Foundation and here for the Monaco Scientific Centre.  

READ MORE:

CSM set to revolutionise treatment of childhood cancer

  

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Photo credit: Michael Alesi for the Palais Princier de Monaco

Casino de Monte-Carlo awarded Best Casino Operator, Best Casino Restaurant

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/02/2023

Monaco’s landmark Casino de Monte-Carlo has taken out two top awards at the prestigious ICE London 2023: Best Casino Operator and Best Casino Restaurant. 

The Casino de Monte-Carlo came out ahead of some of the biggest gaming operators in the world at ICE London in early February, winning Best Casino Operator at the International Gaming Awards, and Best Casino Restaurant for Le Train Bleu at the European Casino Awards.

The Casino de Monte-Carlo also had its Responsible Gaming certification from the European Casino Association (ECA) renewed, affirming its benchmark status in the sector.

“I am very proud of the prizes received that are a sign of recognition from our peers,” said Pascal Camia, Director of Operations at Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer. “They reward genuine team work over several years to make our casinos places of entertainment for our fun players and occasional visitors and ultra-private rooms for our VIP clients who are looking for the unrivalled expertise of all the games staff.”

Photo source: Monte-Carlo SBM

Unrivalled experiences

The Best Casino Operator prize highlights the ability of the Casino de Monte-Carlo to create constantly renewed tailor-made experiences, which include the Great Art of the Game for “high rollers”, the greatest players on the planet, with prestigious spaces like ultra-private rooms, high prize tournaments, and exclusive experiences at major sporting events, as well as experiences for “Fun Players” in the Salle Europe: experiences enhanced by the My Monte-Carlo loyalty programme, designed to create a unique customer experience in Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Resort.

Meanwhile, the prize for Best Casino Restaurant by the European Casino Association honours the tradition of gourmet excellence at the legendary Train Bleu, now run by Richard Rubbini. Apart from its travel-inspired décor and French bistro menu, special attention is paid to what the players want, for a tailor-made offering.

“I would like to congratulate the teams at Casino de Monte-Carlo for these two awards that once again promote the excellence of our expertise and enhance the international reputation of our destination,” said Stéphane Valeri, new Vice-President of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer. “In the same way, the renewal of the Responsible Gaming certification means that our Casinos are even better positioned, upholding the values that are part of our DNA within the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Resort.”

 

SEE ALSO:

Welcome to the jungle: First look at the Café de Paris’ new rooftop restaurant, the Amazónico

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Photos source: Monte-Carlo SBM 

Save the date: Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo dances through to summer

by: Elsa Carpenter
17/02/2023
les ballets de monte-carlo

From appearances by Prima Ballerina Olga Smirnova to a series of international tours and the L’Été Danse! festival featuring the best of Monaco’s cultural institutions, the coming months offer a stellar programme by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo.  

First up is a trip to Bari, Italy and the Teatro Petruzzelli from 9th to 12th March for four nights of Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Lac. This story takes its heart from Swan Lake, but interwinds the myths and legends of Greece, Scandinavia and Russia to retell this classic from the ballet world. Later in the spring, from 17th to 21st May, the dancers will head to Venice for another series of Lac at Teatro La Fenice.  

It is the turn of Toulon to host Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo at the very end of the month, 31st March, for a performance of Romeo & Juliette at the Opéra de Toulon. 

The troupe returns home and to the Grimaldi Forum from 26th to 30th April, where Prima Ballerina Olga Smirnova takes the title role of La Belle alongside the dancers of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo.  

“Through his aesthetic and ferocious interpretation of Perrault’s tale, Jean-Christophe Maillot has imagined a ballet directly channelling our childhood fears and sexual awakening,” says the company. “The choreographer in particular makes us aware of the second – often overlooked – part of Perrault’s tale: after her marriage to the prince, La Belle, who has become Queen, and her children are threatened by her stepmother, the Ogress Carabosse.” 

Just over the border in Nice and the Théâtre La Cuisine from 25th to 27th May, the troupe will perform Noces & Opus 40, a favourite of the Principality.  

The Académie Princesse Grace launch the L’Été Danse! season on 23rd and 24th June with its popular gala at the Salle Garnier in Monaco. 

“This show, offering several choreographic styles, is the culmination of a year of work for the students and the teaching team,” explains Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo. “Various choreographers will be invited to imagine a piece based on “Studies” written by various composers, a focus theme for the Academy this year.” 

This festival season continues from 28th June to 1st July at the Grimaldi Forum with Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo offering a Stravinsky programme featuring two world premieres: Jeroen Verbruggen, a regular guest choreographer for the company, will revisit Pulcinella in his “provocative and explosive style”; and Goyo Montero returns with a “Firebird” experience.  

The highlight of the season will be the F(ê)aites de la Danse! on 8th and 9th July, when the Place du Casino is transformed into a gigantic open-air dance floor. Expect hundreds of artists, from “virtuoso musicians” to dancers of all artistic style, to fill the Golden Triangle and draw spectators in… To dance themselves!  

And finally, from 18th to 21st July, Cendrillon is to be performed in the Salle Garnier almost 25 years on from the birth of this spellbinding ballet.  

For more information and tickets, please click here.  

   

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2022 weather review: extreme heat and drought are the new norm for Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
16/02/2023
weather monaco

The year 2022 was marked by successive heat waves, record temperatures and 30% less rainfall, according to a new IMSEE report, sparking fears of a dangerous transition into unchartered territory.  

The report just released by Monaco statistics agency IMSEE shows a year marked by higher-than-usual average temperatures and significant rainfall deficits.  

Tracking by scientists has shown that the trend over the past 50 years has been heat increasing with each consecutive decade and last year was no exception, with the overall average temperature being 1.4ºC hotter than normal. The year-round average now sits at 18.2ºC.  

More notable perhaps is the fact that not a single day dropped below freezing in 2022, with the minimum temperature the mildest ever recorded at 5.3ºC, and the average minimum sitting at a balmy 15.6ºC. 

Temperatures were above average from May to September, with the hottest day of last year, 20th July, reaching 35.1ºC. Two major heatwaves punctuated the summer from 17th to 21st July then again on its heels from 30th July to 10th August. During these two periods, the minimum temperatures were a toasty 25.9ºC and 24.9ºC, with daytime temperatures regularly over the 31ºC mark.  

Three months saw lower temperatures than 2021 – February, March and September – but they were only very slightly lower, being 0.1ºC, 0.4ºC and 0.3ºC respectively.  

2022 was also a particularly dry year, with only 476mm of rainfall compared to the norm of 794mm, making it the fourth driest year on record. Rainy days were also significantly less. There were 20 less days with rainfall than to be expected considering averages gleaned over the past three decades. Rainfall totals were less as well, with the maximum of any rainy day only seeing 46mm, three times less than the previous decade averages.  

Finally, sunshine prevailed last year, with 7.26 hours of sun per day, compared to 6.97 the previous year, and a cumulative 2,650 hours in total.  

 

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Photo by Monaco Life

Dubai to host special anniversary of Monte-Carlo Polo Cup

by: Stephanie Horsman
16/02/2023
monte-carlo polo cup

The 10th edition of the Monte-Carlo Polo Cup will be held next month in Dubai, showcasing the Principality’s top players against those from Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. 

Polo, with all the alluring visions this sport conjures up, is a fitting one to be played in a place as glamourous as Monaco. It evokes images of teams of riders perched on horses worth more than most people’s homes racing up and down a field whilst onlookers sip champagne and cheer them on. 

Since 2012, the Principality has had a team of its own thanks to Francesco Mitrano, the founder and president of the Monte-Carlo Polo Federation, who set up a club dedicated to this sport of kings. A year later, with the support of Monaco’s “top authorities”, the very first Monte-Carlo Polo Cup was held. 

The success of the first edition allowed the federation – and the event – to grow in prestige and popularity, attracting high-profile guests including royalty, government ministers, ambassadors and foreign dignitaries as well as partners, sponsors and patrons. 

This year, the Monte-Carlo Polo Cup’s 10th anniversary edition will be held on 11th and 12th March in Dubai, another place known for its glitz and glam. Four top international federations – Saudi Arabia, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and, of course, Monaco – will go head-to-head under the desert sun. 

“We are confident that we will have representatives from the royal families of all the four countries mentioned with us,” says Francesco Mitrano. “We have big plans for the future, and soon we’ll have prestigious events in Rabat, Monte-Carlo and Riyadh. I just came back from an amazing trip to Saudi Arabia and I’m so excited for this new partnership.” 

Francesco Mitrano monte-carlo polo cup
Princess Charlene and Prince Albert pictured with Francesco Mitrano. Photo source: Monte-Carlo Polo Club

In addition to matches, the event will also set up meetings and conferences designed to attract new adherents to this exciting sport. On 12th March, an awards ceremony and gala dinner will round out the experience.  

For more information about the Cup and the Monte-Carlo Polo Federation, click here. 

  

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Photo source: Monte-Carlo Polo Club / Facebook