🇲🇨 Monaco - Travel Tomorrow https://traveltomorrow.com/category/countries/🇲🇨-monaco/ Travel Tomorrow is a global media outlet reporting on the travel and tourism industry. Sun, 06 Jul 2025 11:23:13 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 Discover Monaco’s $2 billion neighbourhood built into the Mediterranean Sea https://traveltomorrow.com/discover-monacos-2-billion-neighbourhood-built-into-the-mediterranean-sea/ Wed, 04 Jun 2025 15:49:09 +0000 https://traveltomorrow.com/?p=147122 The world’s second-smallest sovereign state has recently grown by 3% thanks to an innovative new initiative. The Mareterra eco-district, as the neighbourhood is called, has been […]

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]]> The world’s second-smallest sovereign state has recently grown by 3% thanks to an innovative new initiative. The Mareterra eco-district, as the neighbourhood is called, has been built into the Mediterranean Sea, thus answering to the country’s lack of space.

With a population of approximately 39,000 people, at first sight, Monaco doesn’t seem to have any overpopulation issues. However, knowing that the entire country measures 2.08 square kilometres, it is not difficult to see why the state is looking for some extra space to expand. Especially since almost seven out of ten of its residents are millionaires, according to property firm Knight Frank. 

The new Mareterra project partially resolves that problem. The so-called eco-district, which cost $2 billion, is a luxury development including a marina, seaside promenade, and high-end housing. Its particularity consists of the fact that it is entirely built into the Mediterranean Sea, meaning the state gained some 3% of the land surface when the district opened its doors at the end of 2024. Half of that surface is accessible to the public, offering a park, cycling paths, a marina and shopping facilities. 800 trees were imported from Tuscany in Italy to offer some much-needed greenery, helping to make the pedestrian neighbourhood feel like a village, albeit a very modern one.

“Mareterra is a largely pedestrianised district that encompasses a lushly planted park, an elegant waterfront promenade, a small port, underground parking and both residential and retail offerings. The master plan has been carefully conceived to integrate with the existing coastline and provides important new recreational and cultural opportunities for the people of Monaco. With its distinctive curved coastline, gently rising hillside, and native flora, Mareterra forms a vital new waterfront connection for the people of Monaco, from Port Hercule to Larvotto beach,” the developers explain.

Mareterra was first announced in 2013 and is quite the engineering marvel. In order to make the project possible, concrete chambers were constructed in the sea, which were then drained of water and filled with 750,000 metric tons of sand. 

Once the groundworks were done, the privately funded project could really take off. The neighbourhood includes approximately 100 apartments, 10 villas, four townhouses and 14 commercial spaces, for which high-profile architects provided the designs. Norman Foster and Tadao Ando were some of those working on Mareterra, while Renzo Piano – who also designed the Centre Pompidou in Paris – even lent his name to a residential building called ‘Le Renzo’ designed by his firm. 

According to Knight Frank, people can expect to pay some €100,000 per square meter for a Mareterra property. Monaco’s government receives a 20% tax on all property sales and thus benefits from the privately funded project. None of the housing units at Mareterra have been reserved for some of the 10,000 Monegasques who are entitled to subsidised housing.

Monaco’s expansions

While building into the sea might sound like something extraordinary – which it is – it is not the first time Monaco has expanded its surface by reclaiming the sea surface and turning it into building grounds. Approximately a quarter of the country’s territory consists of such ‘reclaimed’ land. The most important land reclamation happened during the 1960s and 1970s when the Larvotto and Fontvieille districts were built, but the first reclamation even dates back to 1907.

Such projects have raised environmental questions in the past as Monaco’s marine life is naturally impacted by land reclamation. In 2009, another project was refused, partly because of ecological concerns raised by Monaco’s Prince Albert II. 

Mareterra’s ecological measures

During the development of Mareterra, various initiatives were taken in dialogue with marine experts in order to limit its environmental impact. Reliefs and grooves were carved into the concrete chambers under the district in order to attract marine flora and fauna. The so-called Jarlan chambers provide shallow areas, much-loved by fish. Moreover, 510 square meters of Posidonia oceanica – a species of protected sea grass crucial for the Mediterranean ecosystem – were saved and replanted in the Larvotto Marie Protected Area nearby.

“Usually we transport Posidonia plants one by one. What is ultimately innovative is that we took the Posidonia, along with its entire root ecosystem and about a cubic metre of sediment,” Sylvie Gobert, an oceanologist at the University of Liège in Belgium who worked on the project, told BBC.

Moreover, sustainable technologies were used during the project in order to limit its ecological footprint and thus align with Prince Albert II’s commitment to make the principality carbon neutral by 2050. For example, 80% of the district’s heating and cooling will be provided through renewable energy, provided by geothermal heating on seawater. 9,000 square meters of solar panels provide electricity, an irrigation sprinkler system based on humidity and rainfall limits water consumption and 200 charging systems for electric vehicles are present on-site.

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]]> 10 Must-see tourist attractions in Monaco https://traveltomorrow.com/10-must-see-tourist-attractions-in-monaco/ Thu, 18 Mar 2021 10:22:57 +0000 https://traveltomorrow.com/?p=29045 The Principality of Monaco is a sovereign city-state and micro-state located on the French Riviera close to the Italian region of Liguria. Monaco is known as one of the most expensive and wealthiest […]

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]]> The Principality of Monaco is a sovereign city-state and micro-state located on the French Riviera close to the Italian region of Liguria. Monaco is known as one of the most expensive and wealthiest places in the world and is the second smallest sovereign state in the world, after Vatican City. Despite being a small country there are in fact a lot of things to do and visit. Here are 10 must-see tourist attractions in Monaco.

1. Casino de Monte-Carlo

We cannot speak about Monaco without thinking about its famous casino, the Casino de Monte-Carlo. Not only a place for gambling, it also the home of Monaco’s Opera and Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo.

2. Prince’s Palace of Monaco

Prince’s Palace of Monaco or Palais du Prince is home to one of the oldest monarchies in the world. The location of the palace is unusual, positioned high above the sea on the picturesque peninsula of Le Rocher. The Palais is a private place but open to the public at certain times of the year.

3. “Musée océanographique de Monaco”

The Oceanographic Museum is a museum of marine sciences in Monaco-Ville. Jacques-Yves Cousteau, explorer and filmmaker who studied the sea and all forms of life in water, was its director 1957 to 1988. This place is perfect for a family travelling with children. They will love the museum and learn all about the marine and sea life.

4. Larvotto Beach

If you love beaches you must visit this place, the Larvotto Beach has everything from clear water, blue sky, free toilet and shower, and near to the Casino there are very nice bars and restaurants.

5. Exotic Garden of Monaco

For plant lovers, the Exotic Garden of Monaco is a perfect place to visit. The garden has a valuable collection of plants from South America, the United States, Africa and the Middle East. There is also a cave which you can visit and the view is amazing from the garden so you can take wonderful pictures.

6. Marché de la Condamine

Besides sightseeing in the city and visiting tourist attractions you can also try local food. At La Condamine market you can buy local products such as socca (made with chickpea flour and often enhanced with herbs), barbagiuan (a savory filled pastry), pissaladière (provençal tart or pizza made with caramelized onions, nicoise olives, and anchovies) and fougasse (sweet bread flavored with oranges and decorated with nuts, raisins, and anise). The market was opened on 18 November 1880 and is open every day.

7. Saint Nicholas Cathedral

After eating, why not visit the Saint Nicholas Cathedral? This Cathedral has several different names, such as the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate or simply the Monaco Cathedral. Built between 1875–1903 and consecrated in 1911, the architecture is really impressive both inside and outside.

8. Opéra de Monte-Carlo

Opéra de Monte-Carlo is an opera house which is part of the Monte Carlo Casino. If you like ballet, orchestra performances or operas, don’t miss this place when visiting Monaco.

9. Rock of Monaco

The Rock of Monaco is a 62-meter tall monolith on the Mediterranean coast. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and the Port Hercules. The view of this place is just breathtaking. You can walk in the Old Town and enjoy the view as well as lot of small shops and local products.

10. Port de Fontvieille

Port de Fontvieille is the second port of Monaco after the Port of Hercules. Port de Fontvieille has 275 berths available for yachts up to 200m long. Numerous restaurants on the waterfront and nearby shops make the Port of Fontvieille a place of vitality to be explored in any season.

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