Monaco

The Mediterranean city-state preserves a Ligurian-rooted dialect, religious processions and a coastal culinary heritage.

Language & oral Food & cooking Spirituality & rites

Knowledge in this place

Monegasque language

Monegasque language

A Ligurian dialect taught in local schools and kept alive as the historic vernacular of the Rock.

Language & oral

Barbagiuan pastry

Barbagiuan pastry

A fried stuffed pastry of chard and ricotta, the emblematic dish of Monegasque home cooking.

Saint Devota festival

Saint Devota festival

The patron saint's celebration with the symbolic burning of a boat on the harbour each January.

Spirituality & rites

Christmas olive branch ritual

Christmas olive branch ritual

A Monegasque Christmas Eve custom of dipping an olive branch in wine and blessing the family table.

Spirituality & rites