Prince Albert of Monaco has undertaken a tour of Italy that brought him from the south to the north in the footsteps of his ancestors.
His visit began in Apulia, one of Italy’s most southern regions, where part of the Grimaldi family history was created. The first stop was the small city of Terlizzi, which, according to town records, is a “historic site for Monaco’s Grimaldi family.”
He then went on to Trani, where he was given a tour of the famous St Nicholas Pilgrim Cathedral. St Nicholas is the Patron Saint of Bari and many small communities in Apulia.
The next stop was Canosa, one of Apulia’s most iconic places, famous around the world both for the immense archaeological patrimony (some of which has reached the British Museum and is currently hosted by the institution) and the iconic cuisine.
Also in Apulia was the stop of Andria for a visit to Castel del Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996. Italy is the country with the highest number of said sites, and they represent one of the main tourist attractions throughout the country.
The last stop in the south was the Garagnone Castle, located in the province of Spinazzola. It is referred to as the “invisible castle” because an earthquake in 1731 completely destroyed it, leaving only a few ruins visible today.
Prince Albert then moved on to the north with a visit to Genoa, the birthplace of the Grimaldi family. In the Liguria capital, the Sovereign Prince opened EuroFlora, an exhibit dedicated to flowers and plants, before attending some health-related engagements.
His Serene Highness visited the Giannina Gaslini Pediatric Hospital, where he met with doctors, nurses and staff members, before visiting the Gaslini Foundation’s Red House, a space inaugurated in 2021 with 11 mini homes dedicated to welcoming patients of the Gaslini Hospital and their families.
The Prince then went on a private tour of Villa del Principe, which belongs still to the heirs of the Doria-Pamphilj noble family and is open as a museum.
The final stop was the Ducal Palace, where Prince Albert watched the fourth edition of the Flag Fest, an event celebrating the city’s historic flag, before receiving Genoa’s honorary citizenship from the hands of the Mayor, Mr Marco Bucci.
The tour was short, only the three days from 20 to 23 April but was charged with significance, as it touched down on many places that have close ties with Monaco’s current reigning family.
