TINA PICOTES: MONEGASQUE STYLE FOR TRAVELLING

Tina Picotes

Today is a great day for our unforgettable families. Another member is going to join us: Tina Picotes.

Tina Picotes was born in Maison Neuve a quartier of Monte Carlo, Monaco. She studied in the London School of Economics and Political Science and she works like a Monegasque Diplomatic. Because of this, she is always travelling around the world. She’s an expert in human and political relations and she’s an important figure for her country. She always travels accompanied by her bodyguards: Grimaldi & Ghibellines.

Tina is going to explain us her travels and we’re going to learn a lot about different countries, manners and languages.

The Grandma met Tina in Saint Tropez in the French Riviera. Both of them have a common friend: Joseph de Ca’th Lon. All of them are going to explain you lots of interesting stories about different themes.

TINA'S HOMETOWN: LE MAISON NEUVE IN MONTE CARLO

Tina with Grimaldi and Ghibellines in Monte Carlo.

Monte Carlo, Monte-Carlu in Monegasque, officially refers to an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco, specifically the ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is located. Informally the name also refers to a larger district, the Monte Carlo Quarter which besides Monte Carlo/Spélugues also includes the wards of La Rousse/Saint Roman, Larvotto/Bas Moulins, and Saint Michel. The permanent population of the ward of Monte Carlo is about 3,500, while that of the quarter is about 15,000. Monaco has four traditional quarters. From west to east they are: Fontvieille (the newest), Monaco-Ville (the oldest), La Condamine, and Monte Carlo.

Monte Carlo or literally Mount Charles is situated on a prominent escarpment at the base of the Maritime Alps along the French Riviera. Near the western end of the quarter is the world-famous Place du Casino, the gambling centre which has made Monte Carlo. It is also the location of the Hôtel de Paris, the Café de Paris, and the Salle Garnier, the casino theatre which is the home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo.

More information: Visit Monaco

TINA'S ANCESTORS: THE HOUSE OF GRIMALDI

Tina, Grimaldi & Ghibellines leaving the Palais

The House of Grimaldi has ruled the tiny principality of Monaco on the Mediterranean coast for over 700 years. The first Lord of Monaco, a merchant-turned-pirate called Lanfranco Grimaldi, was Italian by birth and a member of the Genoan Guelphic family who invaded the area in 1297, following an economic dispute with rival clan, the Ghibellines.When Lanfranco died in 1309, he was succeeded by his first cousin, Rainier I, from whom all subsequent Monegasque monarchs are descended.

Rainier was also a seafaring man, but unlike those of his predecessor, the new leader's trading activities were legitimate, and eventually earned him the respect of the French monarch who appointed him Grand Admiral of France in 1304.

More information: Palais Princier de Monaco

Monaco became a principality when the then ruler Honor II assumed the title of prince in 1612. At that point the territory was still under the protection of Spain, with whom it had been linked since 1524, but the Treaty of Peronne in 1641 allied it instead with France. Subsequent Monegasque sovereigns upped their title count by marrying a string of French heiresses, which explains why; in addition to the title of Sovereign Prince of Monaco, the head of the principality can lay claim to 19 other titles.

Although the Grimaldi family was exiled from Monaco in 1793 following the French revolution - during which time the principality reverted to its ancient name of Fort d'Hercule - its members returned in 1815, following the Treaty of Paris, and have been its monarchs ever since.

 

Welcome Tina to our families!

 I must hurry back to my house and my flowers in Monaco - Lillie Langtry.