Hello Monaco magazine HelloMonaco 2018#04_Summer_Autumn_WEB | Page 131

MONACO NEIGHBOURHOOD
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age 19 to an elder friend of her parents . Her husband was a gambling addict who passed on to her a sexual disease that left her barren . Divorced but with a passion for life she built this absolute gem of a Villa in Italian Renaissance style in 1912 to house her art collection . And what a collection — garnered from every corner of the world . Gardens in this case is an understatement , there are as many uniquely themed gardens as there are days in the week — yes , seven , including ponds , waterfalls , sculptures and beautiful flowerbeds . For your extra enjoyment water fountains burst into motion and spray and tinkle to music every 20 minutes or so in the French garden ; these beautiful fountains were designed by the Baroness herself . Beatrice Rothschild was exceptional , even eccentric , paying strict attention to every detail to the point of having 30 gardeners dressed in Marine uniforms — at attention when she took her morning stroll . While walking along

Destiny has had Cap Ferrat become a host to Royalty and celebrities . The peninsula is also part of the Pelagos Sanctuary for Mediterranean Marine Mammals , a protected area jointly managed by Monaco , France , and Italy and whales and dolphins swim protected there . A paradise for divers . The Mediterranean coast , its mild winter climate with day after glorious day of sunshine was a magnet for European Royalty , mainly English and Russian , and the Dutch and the Belgians joined in the party too . And it was King Leopold of Belgium who with mega riches amassed from colonial invasion of the Belgian Congo saw the potential in Cap Ferrat . Its location , nearly equidistant between the lively city of Nice and Monaco was ideal .

Fit for a Kingdom

There is something about rocky promontories on the Mediterra nean coast that they are destined to become mini-kingdoms . Maybe it is because of their distinct geographical boundaries and their regal , commanding positions that they cry out to be the homes of dukes , prin ces and kings . So King Leopold pieced himself together a royal fairyland there and bought every parcel he could lay his hands on . Tie together the winter exclusivity of European Royalty and then the summer playground for the 1920s invasion of the Lost Generation and you have the perfect cocktail of royalty , celebrity , and literati . And , of course , the light of the Riviera drew more than its fair share of artistic geniuses , Picasso , Monet and Chagall . Cap d ’ Antibes had F . Scott Fitzgerald and Cannes to send its reputation to the stars and Eden Roc and Eilenroc as its palaces for entertainment . Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat has Somer set Maugham , Oscar Wilde , and Noël Coward and it does have the great Fortune that Baroness Beatrice Rothschild alighted there .

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is the Baroness ’ creation . She was heiress to a large Rothschild fortune and survivor of a disastrous marriage at

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
the narrow paths you also get a feel for the special geography of Cap Ferrat which because of its narrow finger-like shape allows , on occasion , for sea-views to both the East and West side — incredible and impressive . The Baroness watched over every detail and that applied to the Villa too . You notice it as you enter the ornate marble hall of the pink Villa from the gardens . From the hall you will find her dining room where you take tea ; it is bright , fresh and airy with beautiful views to the Bay of Villefranche . Her taste was exquisite much of which is on show as you check out the immaculate rooms in her apartments . Villa Ephrussi Rothschild — a visit to remember .
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