Saint Nicholas Cathedral
Image courtesy: flickr
Image by: Mary's Photostream
This cathedral - which really, could it be situated anywhere other than beautiful Monaco? - has three names. Since it was built on the sight of the much earlier parish church which was consecrated to Nicholas of Myra in 1252 it is still called, St. Nicholas Cathedral. After more than 600 years, St. Nicholas's church was torn down in 1874, and this beautiful cathedral was built. The structure was consecrated as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in 1875. The cathedral is also known simply as, Monaco Cathedral.
Being located on the Mediterranean Sea it is obvious why it was called in honor of St. Nicholas. He is of course, the patron saint of sailors!
Monaco's Location
Image courtesy: Hubpages
Image courtesy: Wikipedia
Beautiful Monaco!
The House of Grimaldi is the longest ruling monarchy in Europe and has ruled since just 45 years after the original church of St. Nicholas was built.
Elena Grimaldi
Image Courtesy: Wikipedia
Artist: Anthony Van Dyck (c.1623)
National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
Monaco is, next to The Vatican City, the smallest country in the world surrounded on three sides by France and the Sea to the south. It might be small but it has the highest life expectancy rate in the world! And... it knows how to celebrate marriages!
Many of the Grimaldi family have been married in St. Nicholas Cathedral (due to lack of room for guests unfortunately not the most recent marriage by the ruling prince, Albert II). The most famous recent marriage to have taken place in St. Nicholas Cathedral is still that of the American film star, Grace Kelly, to Prince Rainier III.
Image courtesy: Daylife
April 19, 1956
And their son's wedding...
Image Courtesy: Naijan (Reuters)
July 3, 2011
Outside the Royal Palace...just last weekend!
Interior View of St. Nicholas Cathedral
Image Courtesy: Radaris
The St. Nicholas Altarpiece in the Cathedral
Image Courtesy: Vino Con Vista Travel Guide to Italy
(St. Nicholas is seated in the middle)
And one last view of this lovely church still called in Saint Nicholas's honor...
Image courtesy: Wikipedia
Anyone for a trip to Monaco?!
29 comments:
Lovely post, maybe one day I will get to see Monaco and have a personal view of the cathedral :-) Diane
What a beautiful place!
WOOO HOOO I WAS THERE! STUNNING and chic, even for a church! HELLO ANN! YO, EDWARD!!! Anita
Really a lovely church! Cathy
Ann,
Your images are gorgeous as always!
Yes, we have been to Monaco. We were anchored off Villefranche and took the local bus to Monaco for the day. There is also train service. Other times we were in Villefranche we took the bus the other way to Nice or just stayed in Villefranche Sur Mer.
I will have to go look at my images from those trips if I can find them to see if this church is in them. I get a feeling the church is near the famous casino, to the right and across a square near the hotel as looking at the front door of the casino. There are gorgeous gardens behind the casino (between the casino and the sea) that we visited and photographed. It has been about ten years since we have been there so I may be very wrong about that location. I guess I have go to back, right?
Big hugs,
Lois
I'm not a casino patron but such a beautiful cathdral would definitely draw my interest. Well done!
We went to Cannes last year.
This Church is another beauty.
Also the city.
Just beautiful!! ;)
Thanks for this post... count me in for Monaco!
Oh, me, me, me!!! Such gorgeous photos and interesting history -- SUCH a beautiful, little place on earth :)
Great photos and very interesting history!
PS: how's the darling Edward? xx
Dear Ann
Magnificent churches.. What a beautiful sight... Thank you so much for sharing this piece of history and images.
Wishing you a beautiful weekend.
Penny
What a beautiful church Monaco.
Princess Grace was a beautiful bride....
Hugs to you and Edward,
Madi and Mom
That church is certainly fitting for Monaco! What a beautiful place and such a beautiful church!
Purrs to Edward!
that is a REALLY beautiful church
This is so beautiful!! Thank you so much for sharing it, Ann!
XO
Cindy
Great post, my friend!
OH ANN!!!! YOU CAME OVER and brought Sir Edward with you! teeeheee. Thank you dearest for leaving a comment to let me know you dropped by. It has been a blessing to invite you all into my little cottage.
ENJOY YOUR SUMMER DAY! Anita
Thanks for stopping by today. This is one place I haven't been but would love to see. My sister spend a few days here on her honeymoon and loved it. Have a great day!
Wow that is just breath taking! I love you do all this research and bring it to us!
I never knew that is where she got married just beautiful! What a wonderful piece of culture.
Thanks for your comment today ... it was good to have you visit!
What a beautiful church!
What a beauty Monaco is! Sorry I haven't been around lately! Hope you and Edward are well!
Beautiful, beautiful place. I haven't been anywhere much, never out of Australia, so I'm looking forward to a time when I get a chance to travel to glorious places like this.
Linda. xx
Wishing you a beautiful weekend Ann.
Blessings,
Penny
Salut Ann, even if I don't visit as often as I'd like, I always like all the information packed into your posts. In this particular case though the blue (wow) sky really helps too ;-) Wishing you a lovely weekend xo
Hi There, I always enjoy your St. Nicholas Churches. How many do you have now? I still say that you should publish a book....
VERY interesting history. I enjoyed it so much.
Have a great day.
Hugs,
Betsy
So beautiful! It must be a wonderful place to live if the life expectancy is the longest there.
Thanks for stopping by my blog...and to answer your question about whether Maximus likes the bathroom...it's YES!!! In fact, when he gets in those stages where he's REALLY crying, if we walk him into the bathroom and turn on the lights and the fan...or even flush the toilet (haha) he calms down! Funny...I guess you had good luck with your first born as well in there. Whatever works, right?
Have a blessed day!
hi-d
What an interesting post, Ann. This is a beautiful place.
And, thanks for your comment on my blog today. I have two German Shepherds and they are awesome. :)
Post a Comment