The Berlin Experience

Summarising the three-day excursion to support the promotion of the Principality of Monaco in Germany and abroad.

It is not a secret that Monaco stole my heart with its charming size and impressive quality of life back in 2010. While I have never been attracted to luxury, I have always appreciated safety and a good community. I believe these are two very important factors for growing both spiritually and business-wise.

Over the past fourteen years, I was fortunate enough to build up relationships with multiple residents, and this often led to joint travels to foreign locations.

Prior to the COVID pandemic, with Niche Media, we had multiple events in London where we frequently invited and flew up Monaco residents, allowing British people interested in the Principality to have their direct questions answered by people who actually live in Monaco.

Since the Principality of Monaco is a small city-state, we, as residents, love to travel to get some fresh inspirations. And what could be more uplifting than creating shared experiences among like-minded residents? One of the kindest memories I safeguard is when I had the privilege to spend a weekend in Berlin with Gildo Pallanca Pastor when his electric car race team had a race weekend in Germany.

Being in a nostalgic mood, in April, I decided to approach some of the Monaco embassies abroad to see whether they would be interested in creating a unique event for Monaco residents in foreign countries.

One of the very first embassies to positively reply was the Monaco Embassy in Germany. We organised a personal meeting with His Excellency Ambassador Lorenzo Ravano, who was very open to the idea. His Excellency also agreed that Monaco has a great and diverse community, both Monégasque and foreign residents, – people who make the city-state unique.

While my initial idea was to create a standalone event, Ambassador Ravano offered me his full trust to collaborate on their biggest annual diplomatic reception. 

In 2024, this event celebrated the 19th anniversary of the accession to the throne of H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince. The event took place at the prestigious Waldorf Astoria hotel in Berlin, Germany.

What an honour it was to collaborate on such a prestigious event in a city that I know, as I have lived there before. Understanding the focus on the diversity, we ensured the participation opportunity with a three-day shared experience trip for residents with different backgrounds.

Arriving on the first day, the group of established residents and successful business people found themselves in an unusual environment where diplomatic protocol and politics took place. 

To break the ice and have the opportunity to get to know each other, Ambassador Ravano and his wonderful wife, Claudia, offered a welcome reception the first evening. This reception was exclusive to the colleagues of the Monaco Embassy and the invited Monaco residents.

Being intimidated at first, the group decided to go up together to the welcoming reception hosted by Ambassador Ravano. His excellency offered his warm welcome, and during the evening he  spent time with everyone to understand their backgrounds, stories, and ambitions in the Principality of Monaco. 

On the second day, July 5, 2024, the Embassy of Monaco in Germany held a reception to mark the 19th anniversary of H.S.H. Prince Albert II’s accession to the throne.

H.E. Mr. Lorenzo Ravano welcomed over 200 guests and friends of the Principality, including representatives of the German Federal Foreign Office, Ambassadors, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and Monaco’s honorary consul in Potsdam, along with several figures from the worlds of business, finance, culture and German nobility.

During the event, His Excellency took the time to take a picture with all the Monaco residents, creating a long-lasting memorabilia from this exceptional trip to Germany.

In his speech, H.E. Mr. Lorenzo Ravano highlighted a series of stand-out events in recent months, including the Princely Family’s inauguration on April 25, 2024 of the Monaco section at the Miniatur Wunderland Museum in Hamburg and the participation of H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince as a keynote speaker at the Arctic Circle Berlin Forum last May, following His scientific cruise in Antarctica in December 2023.

The Ambassador spoke of the close ties between Monaco and Germany and the Principality’s dynamic German community. He also recalled that 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the Principality’s adhesion to UNESCO and the country’s 20th year as a Member of the Council of Europe.

In these unstable times, amid multiple calls to observe the Olympic Truce, H.E. Mr. Lorenzo Ravano also invited guests to take part in a moment of silence to honour victims of conflict and terrorism around the world.

He spoke of the UEFA European Football Championship currently underway, hosted by Germany, and highlighted the Principality’s track record of sporting tradition and excellence, as exemplified by its hosting of the Olympic Torch, the departure of the final stage of the 2024 Tour de France, and the country’s individual and collective success stories, including the Monegasque Formula 1 pilot Charles Leclerc who triumphed at home last May.

Dr. Sven Mossler, Germany’s head of the division for bilateral relations with Monaco and Representative of the Federal Foreign Office, also praised the excellent relations between the two countries, and stressed the importance of a partner like the Principality, especially in international forums, to defend the rule of law, the fight against climate change, and the protection of the seas.

After Dr. Mossler, His Excellency kindly introduced me to the esteemed group of guests, and the stage was mine. Keeping it short, I expressed my appreciation for such an opportunity provided by a truly open-minded Ambassador, and I briefly introduced the selected guests who joined me to make the trip to Germany and promote Monaco by sharing their own personal life experiences.

Gathering together as residents on the stage in front of 200 Dignitaries, Ambassadors, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and political figures was an uplifting experience. 

During the reception, I was proud to observe how much this group of residents mingled and networked with the Ambassadors, who were genuinely interested in better understanding the Principality of Monaco from a very interesting, personal angle.

This event perfectly resonated with all the community values that made me establish Living in Monaco magazine 11 years ago, as I truly believe that Monaco is not just a geographical location but a wonderful hub bringing together established people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Therefore, I cannot express enough my gratitude towards His Excellency Ambassador Ravano and his wife Claudia, as well as to all the valued members of the Monaco Embassy, for making this unique opportunity happen and allowing us to contribute to Monaco, a city-state that we all dearly love.