ROYAL ARTS VISIONS; Prince Albert II on a cultural visit to Mount Pincio in Rome

Prince Albert II 

on a cultural visit to Mount Pincio in Rome

Prince Albert II at the foot of the stairs of the church on Mount Pincio (Photo: Axel Bastello / Prince's Palace)

Prince Albert II of Monaco is currently in Rome, where he is making cultural visits for two days. Prince Albert visited a church on Pincio Hill that honored a famous member of his Polignac family. At the end of the first day of his stay, Prince Albert was awarded a prize.

Prince Albert in the footsteps of Melchior de Polignac

On September 26 and 27, 2024, Prince Albert II of Monaco is traveling to the Italian capital. On the first day of this trip, which focuses on history, culture and the environment, the Monegasque sovereign visited Pincio Hill, where he was welcomed by Anne Eastwood, Monaco's ambassador to Italy.

The Church and Convent of the Trinity of the Mountains (Photo: Axel Bastello / Prince’s Palace)

On the hill is the Church of the Trinity of the Mountains, which is reached by an impressive staircase. It was inaugurated in 1725 by Cardinal Melchior de Polignac. The church is one of the French national churches in Rome. Prince Albert's visit to this place was an opportunity to evoke this illustrious member of his family. The Polignac family is a very old family descended from the nobility of the Viscounts of Velay in Auvergne. The family died out in the male line but the name was passed down to Guillaume de Chalençon.

Visit the interior of this church inaugurated by Cardinal de Polignac (Photo: Axel Bastello / Prince’s Palace)

Bien que l’existence de cette famille soit attestée depuis le 12e siècle, on considère habituellement Melchior de Polignac comme étant le premier illustre membre notable de cette famille. Melchior était devenu cardinal en 1713. Il était aussi diplomate et poète. En tant que cardinal, Melchior de Chalençon n’a pas eu de descendant. Il est l’arrière-grand-oncle du prince Albert II de Monaco à la 8e génération. La dynastie Grimaldi est en réalité descendante en ligne masculine de la famille de Polignac, depuis le mariage de la princesse Charlotte avec Pierre de Polignac, les parents du prince Rainier et grands-parents du prince Albert II.

Le cardinal Melchior de Polignac, frère de l’ancêtre du prince Albert II, avait inauguré cette église en tant qu’ambassadeur de France à Rome. Après cette visite, le prince Albert et l’ambassadrice de Monaco ont pris la direction de la célèbre Villa Médicis, également située sur le mont Pincio. La Villa abrite notamment l’Académie de France à Rome.

The Villa Medici and its gardens (Photo: Axel Bastello / Prince's Palace)

"This emblematic place of artistic creation and European cultural life was the scene of a high point: the signing of a partnership between the Academy and the Consultative Commission for the Collections and Artistic Heritage of the Prince's Palace," proudly explains the Prince's Palace.

Visit to the Villa Medici on Mount Pincio

This visit to the magnificent 16th-century villa was an opportunity to announce the creation of an annual scholarship, the "Prince of Monaco-Villa Medici Scholarship". This scholarship will be a financial aid that will support an artist resident at the Academy by commissioning a work from them.

During the visit, an agreement for the creation of an artistic scholarship was signed (Photo: Axel Bastello / Prince's Palace)

This initiative echoes the long tradition of patronage of the princes of Monaco and pays tribute to the Monegasque painter Jean-Baptiste Vignali (1762-1799), who won a prize from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Rome in 1781.

Prince Albert of Monaco visits the magnificent Palazzo Doria Pamphilj (Photo: Axel Bastello / Prince's Palace)

Prince Albert is rewarded at the end of the day (Photo: Axel Bastello / Prince's Palace)

Prince Albert II delivers a speech in Rome (Photo: Axel Bastello / Prince's Palace)

Prince Albert receives the Magna Grecia Prize (Photo: Axel Bastello / Prince's Palace)

This first day in Rome ended with the presentation of an award to the Head of State of Monaco. Prince Albert II went to the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj to receive the Magna Grecia Prize. "This award recognizes his international commitment to environmental protection, as well as his support for sport and culture," explains the Prince's Palace. The award also recognizes his work to promote southern Italy through the network of Grimaldi Historic Sites in Monaco.

Nicolas Fontaine