Following a land grant from Emperor Henry VI in 1191, Monaco was established as a colony of Genoa in 1228 and has been ruled by the House of Grimaldi since 1297. Monaco was annexed to France in 1793, and by the Franco-Monegasque treaty of 1861, Monaco went under French guardianship but continued to be independent.

Monaco’s culture is influenced by the ethnic tribes present, their tradition and religious beliefs. The Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, ballet, theatre and orchestra play a prominent role in the city’s culture scene.

The Principality of Monaco is the second-smallest independent state in the world and is almost entirely urban. It is located on the Mediterranean coast in Western Europe, on the southern coast of France and near the Italian border. It is surrounded on three sides by the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Région of France. It consists of a narrow strip along the coast at the bottom of the foothills of the Alps and its highest point is ‘Le Rocher’ or ‘The Rock’ on which Monaco-Ville is located. Its landscape consists of a long beach and steep cliffs that rise to a height of 63 metres above sea level.