by Henri Zimand

Created on: January 27, 2009   Last Updated: May 01, 2010

Monaco is the smallest and most magical country in the world.

With less than one square mile, in fact three quarter square mile and thirty five thousand inhabitants it is an extraordinary country. Some of it was taken from the sea like Fontvieille and the Grand hotel which used to be the Loews Hotel.

Monaco has its own sovereignty, a Prince ruling it with its parliament. The country is divided into three main parts, Fontvieille which is the newest part where the famous soccer stadium can be found. The Rocher, which is the small mountain, where the Prince has his palace, some excellent restaurants, can be found, in the small streets, the main cathedral the Oceanographic Museum, the city hall and some smaller museums.

The third part is Monte Carlo Ville where you can find the main old casino, Caf de Paris, the main hotels like Hotel de Paris, the Hermitage, the summer casino and the Beach Club.

At the entrance of Monaco coming from France you have the famous Jardin Botanique which is an incredible place with plants. Monaco has its own hospital and even a special hospital for heart and sports patients.

So being so small what is there to do in Monaco could be your question? Believe me in this little country you have every type of entertainment. For the museum lovers, you have the mechanical doll museum which has all the different mechanical dolls that were ever built, the Oceanographic museum where you will find all the different fishes that exist , you will find specimen that were researched worldwide, you will find prehistoric mammals, research equipment and the museum has its own research team.

There is an incredible collection of cars that belongs to the prince and can be visited and has from the first carts pulled by horse to the newest and most incredible race car. You have the Jardin Botanique which has all the cactuses and plants from around the world and if you care to walk carefully you have well below an incredible grotto where you can see how over years the inside of mountains are formed. There is also the Japanese garden which is so beautiful and the rose garden where roses are planted of all different origins in memory of Princess Grace.

So you want more, there are several big swimming pools and training rooms around, spas, there are several beaches of which one is where you will be able in the summer to see all the famous people, there are beautiful tennis courts were every year around Easter there is a world competition and of course also formula one car racing in the streets of Monaco. . For the night life there are dozens of fantastic restaurants and nightclubs where you can dance. In the summer months every night you will have a show with famous artists appearing especially during week-ends.

Of course there are also casinos run by one company the SBM which is the company where the prince is a partner, don't expect Las Vegas, it is a mini formation. Most of the hotels belong to the same chain. There are of course cultural entertainment with the opera, several theaters, the yearly circus competition, music competition, film competition, the famous ballet of Monaco there is an extraordinary music school and arts school.

When you walk around Monaco you will find beautiful gardens filled with beautiful sculptures. So Monaco is a visit worth and has something for all tastes.

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