Monaco Monte Carlo Virtual Tours

2007-08-27T02:12:00.000-07:00

Arounder recently launched a new issue – Arounder Monaco Virtual Tours – with 15 panoramas of this jewel-like principality in southeastern France. Famous, or infamous, for its celebrity-studded nightlife on the cliffs of the Mediterranean, Monaco and Monte Carlo have become synonymous with the ‘high life’ and practically coined the term ‘jet-set’. Its tax-free status offers a haven to moneyed and influential individuals from all over the world, and affords locals an incredibly high standard of living (even as they are barred from gambling in its casinos – hey, the Grimaldi’s are darn smart).
click here to view Monaco Monte Carlo Virtual Tours

Monaco – land of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, the grand Casino, beaches, affluence, fashion, fancy cars and playboys. The tiny independent sovereign state located between the foot of the Southern Alps and the Mediterranean, in the far southeastern corner of France, Monaco’s 1.95 sq km benefit from an exceptionally mild climate with 300 sunny days a year. The Principality of Monaco is comprised of three main parts: Monaco (the Rock and Prince's Palace), La Condamine (the major port and bustling shopping area at the foot of the Rock) and Monte Carlo, the central area around the Casino with the high-end hotels.

The Grimaldi family has ruled the principality since 1297 and Prince Rainier's rule has modernized Monaco and weaned it from its dependence on gambling revenue, which now accounts for only 4.3% of GDP. Citizens live an idyllic tax-free life of cradle-to-grave security. Tourism is now the backbone of the economy.

Arounder Monaco boasts 15 panoramas of Monte Carlo and the principality. View the world-class Oceanographic Museum, play a round at the Monte Carlo Golf Club, visit the Monaco Cathedral, Princess Grace’s final resting place, and take in the glamour at Monte Carlo’s famous Casino.

What is Arounder?
Arounder was conceived as a series of online magazines, each profiling a different city and the best that city has to offer with a series of 360-degree panoramas. It’s an online magazine that educates with immersive panoramas rather than heavy in-depth text … a picture speaks a thousand words, as they say.

Arounder launched in 2004 with the first in a series of issues - Arounder Lugano - and followed with the popular Arounder Milan. and Barcelona, Monaco, and Rome. Each issue contains many panoramas in a selection of formats – QuickTime Full Screen, QuickTime Medium and Java – so that both dial-up and high-speed Internet users can participate. Navigation is easy with Zoomify Flash maps of the city and surrounding area. Every issue also links to local merchants with virtual tours of hotels, restaurants and stores.

Related Articles:
- Arounder Lugano
- Arounder Milan

Monaco Monte Carlo Virtual Tours

2007-08-27T02:11:00.000-07:00

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Casino Gardens

France > Monaco

Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi

Saint Devote Chapel

France > Monaco

Saint Devote is the patron saint of the Grimaldi family and every January 27th, the Principality celebrates St. Devote's Day as a national holiday. According to legend, during the Roman era a young Corsican Christian named Devote was executed and her body placed in a boat for Africa. The boat drifted off course and ran aground on the coast of modern-day Monaco, where a state was founded in her honor. The Chapel, originally built in the 11th century, is at the site where, in the 4th century, the boat with St. Devote's body landed. At the end of the 19th century, the chapel was restored, enlarged and given a new, monumental façade. Every January 26th, a boat is burnt on its square at nightfall in the presence of the royal family.

Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi

Place de Casino at night

France > Monaco

If it weren't for the Casino, Monaco would be just another little town on the French Riviera. The Casino is an extraordinary work of architecture, elaborately decorated, so you don't have to be a gambler to enjoy it. However, if you want to penetrate the inner sanctums, you'll need considerably thick wallet. It's almost worth it just to view the over-the-top baroque splendor of the Casino's architecture. The surrounding area is quite picturesque. In front, the Place de Casino is a small but marvelous park with perfectly sculpted bushes and pretty fountains. The rear of the casino grounds has a huge walkway built on top of a massive hotel overlooking the sea.

Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi

Fontaine Mirabeau

France > Monaco

Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi

Monaco Cathedral (Cathédrale de Monaco)

France > Monaco

This magnificent cathedral was built in 1875 on the site of a 13th century church and is the final resting place of Princess Grace of Monaco and home to the Grimaldi family burial chamber, along with several important 16th century paintings and a wooden altar dating from the Spanish Renaissance. From September through June, "Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco" and the singers of the Cathedral Choir School sing during the mass every Sunday at 10:00AM.

Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi

Palais de Justice

France > Monaco

Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi

Casino Gardens

France > Monaco

Visit the famous Casino and its garden with sculptures by Botero.

Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi

Japanese Garden

France > Monaco

This enchanting garden, designed by the landscape architect Yasuo Beppu, covers 23,000 square feet right next to the Mediterranean Sea and a short distance from the casino. The garden is an oasis amidst the skyscrapers with its koi pond, waterfalls, rocks, bridges, pine and olive trees. The natural stones were carefully chosen according to their shape, color and size. The bamboo fences, Tea House, stone lanterns, tiles and wooden gates were all made in Japan.

Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi

Oceanographic Museum

France > Monaco

The Oceanographic Museum represents Monaco's commitment to the marine environment. It houses the collections of Prince Albert I, the Scientist Prince, whose numerous cruises and research provided the basis of modern oceanography. The collections on show represent a complete range of marine and submarine fauna, with gigantic skeletons of oceanic mammals. The Musée houses what is probably the best aquarium in Europe, with nearly 4,000 fish from 350 different species occupying 90 seawater tanks. If you're unlucky enough to hit Monaco on one of those 65 rainy days, this is the perfect place to console yourself.

Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi

Port de Monaco panorama

France > Monaco

Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi

Place d'Armes

France > Monaco

If you're searching for the "real Monaco", the Place d'Armes is the place to start: sit on one of the benches that line the plaza and enjoy the beautiful Belle Epoque architecture and mosaic decoration on the buildings; stroll around the blue tiled fountain; walk into the center of the covered market and imagine you're in another time. During the day, the large open-air market offers fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers and the covered market with 35 stalls is buzzing with activity.

Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi

Palace of the Princes (Palais Princier)

France > Monaco

This is the official residence of the ruling Grimaldi family; when Prince Rainier is in residence, a flag is raised. Monaco's royal palace has been around since the 13th century and its 15 rooms, including the Throne Room, are open to the public. In the south wing of the palace, the Musée des Souvenirs Napoléoniens has a collection of Napoleon's personal knickknacks, including one sock, a handkerchief and some medals, coins, uniforms and swords.

Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi

Port de Monaco sunrise

France > Monaco

Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi

Monte Carlo Golf Club

France > Monaco

Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi

Grimaldi Forum

France > Monaco

Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi