What attracts millions of tourists to visit one of six microstates situated in Europe is definitely a great sugar-fine sandy beach, long boulevards surrounded with tropical palms and flowers, luxurious yachts in the port, and especially the omnipresent casinos. The Principality of Monaco, the second smallest independent state in the world, has no bigger area than 2 square kilometres and no more inhabitants than 33,000 people.

Though, Monaco is considered to be one of the most expensive places you can ever find and thanks to its famous label "The Tax Haven" became home to numerous millionaires, celebrities, film directors, and business people of all sorts.

Being situated on the Mediterranean coast and surrounded by France, Monaco lies on a narrow strip of rock with the steep cliffs rising to 60 meters above the sea level. The mild sunny climate, along with the amazing reputation of unbelievable 300 sunny days a year, and a great number of annual events like various festivals and famous car races attract to this prestigious "Haven of Glamour and Money" millions of visitors in every part of the year.

People in Monaco

What is curious about the Monaco's population is the fact that the native Monegasques create the minority in their own country. The majority of residents belong to the French and the rest of population is divided between more than 125 nationalities. The official language is French, though English and Italian are also widely spoken, as well as Monegasque, the special mixture of French and Italian, which experiences its renaissance by being taught at schools again.

Monaco's history

Founded as a commercial station by Phoenicians already in the fifth century, Monaco gained its name thanks to the Roman denomination Herculis Monoeci portus according to the temple devoted to the mythical Greek hero Hercules. In the tenth century, Monaco fell to the House of Grimaldi from Genova and became the independent principality under their rule in 1297. Thus the House of Grimaldi belongs to the one of the oldest princely houses in Europe.

What to do in Monaco

The main and undoubtedly the most adrenalin attraction in Monaco is certainly an abundance of splendid gambling rooms and casinos, unceasingly tempting to try one's luck. The gambling rooms are often pompously decorated with spectacular paintings, sculptures and posh pieces of furniture and require the strict observing of the dress code. Not only enthusiastic car lovers are annually fascinated by the driving art of Formula One drivers, zigzagging in the narrow streets of Monte Carlo on the famous Circuit of Monaco. Others can just enjoy the calming tranquillity of the numerous public gardens and parks, promenades on the luxurious boulevards with the trendy boutiques, relaxing on the dreamy sandy beach, or celebrating some of the colourful festivals.