On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco began his three-day visit to the southern region of Puglia, Italy. The purpose of the visit is to “…visit historical sites of the Grimaldi family and to strengthen the ties between the [Puglia] region and the Monégasque dynasty…” according to the Italian newspaper, Bari Today.

The sovereign prince began his visit in the city of Terlizzi where he, accompanied by the Mayor of Terlizzi, Mr. Ninni Gemmato, unveiled a street sign that says, Terlizzi: Historical Site Grimaldi. Thereafter, Prince Albert II visited the church of Santa Maria la Nova where he visited the tomb of one of his ancestors who lived in Terlizzi in 1546.

Soon, the sovereign prince, Mayor Gemmato, and other government officials made a mad dash to Corso Umberto, where Prince Albert II and Mayor Gemmato unveiled a stone inscription in memory of the sovereign prince’s ancestor who was a feudal lord and a Priest of Terlizzi.

Later in the day, Prince Albert II visited the Cathedral of Terlizzi where he met with Monsignor Domenico Cornacchia and other religious officials. The day ended with a visit to the art gallery, Pinacoteca Michele de Napoli, where he viewed a “…precious silver cross donated by Onorato to the Chapter of the Collegiate Church of Terlizzi…”

Tomorrow, Prince Albert II will visit Canosa, Spinazzola and Matera. On Friday, the sovereign prince will visit Alberobello.