His Serene Highness Prince Albert II travelled to Liguria on Tuesday to renew the ancient historical ties linking the Principality to this Italian region, as two municipalities officially joined the Network of Historic Grimaldi Sites…
The visit was placed firmly under the banner of shared heritage, memory and cultural transmission. The day began in Stella, in the hamlet of San Giovanni, where the Sovereign was welcomed by local officials and residents on land long associated with the early history of the Grimaldi family. HSH Prince Albert II paid tribute at the tomb of Sandro Pertini, former President of the Italian Republic and a native of the region, before continuing the programme with a visit to the ruins of the medieval castle once under Grimaldi control. The site bears witness to the dynasty’s Ligurian roots and its early territorial ambitions in the 13th century.
The Prince later visited the Sandro Pertini museum house and signed the official guestbook, marking the historic role played by the region as one of the earliest strongholds of the Grimaldi family outside the Genoese area. Historians recalled that several castles and territories across Liguria once formed part of this network, with Monaco itself originating from this broader territorial expansion.
In the second stage of the visit, another municipality was formally welcomed into the Grimaldi network, accompanied by the inauguration of restoration work at Clavesana Castle, also a former Grimaldi residence. The site was blessed by the village priest before HSH Prince Albert II visited the adjoining church, concluding a day rich in symbolism.
Beyond commemoration, the visit underscored the importance of heritage as a driver of cultural identity and sustainable tourism, strengthening the enduring bond between Monaco and Liguria for future generations.
Image: Prince’s Palace IG
