Discover  Most Iconic Sculptures in Monaco, from Botero’s Adam & Eve to Le Plongeur. A guide to public art where history, elegance, and creativity meet in the streets of Monaco.

Sculptures in Monaco – Introduction

In Monaco, art isn’t only kept behind museum walls. It spills into the gardens, the squares, and even along the sea. More than 150 sculptures are spread across the Principality, but a handful stand out -pieces that locals pass every day, and visitors stop for without even planning to. They are not just decorations; they tell stories of history, beauty, and identity.

This walk through Monaco’s most remarkable sculptures takes you from the formal Casino Gardens to the quiet corners of Fontvieille and the seafront near Port Hercule. Some celebrate Monaco’s history, others invite you to pause and feel something, and a few are simply there to surprise you.

1. Adam & Eve by Fernando Botero

Placed in 1981, Botero’s Adam & Eve has become one of Monaco’s most recognizable works of public art. His signature style exaggerates roundness, giving the figures both humor and weight. Standing tall in the Casino Gardens, they bring a playful note to Monte-Carlo’s elegance.

Visitor tip: Arrive in the morning when the light is soft and the gardens are calm, before the square fills up with movement.

2. Sculptures in Monaco – Prince Rainier III Statue

In Place du Campanin, Fontvieille, a bronze equestrian statue honors Rainier III, Monaco’s “Builder Prince.” Unveiled in 2012, it depicts him as steady and determined -a reminder of his role in shaping modern Monaco into the confident state we see today.

Visitor tip: Pair this stop with a stroll through Fontvieille Park, where other sculptures dot the paths.

3. François Grimaldi (“Le Malizia”)  – A Cloaked Beginning

At the gates of the Prince’s Palace, François Grimaldi stands cloaked in bronze, sword hidden. The statue, unveiled in 1997, commemorates the night in 1297 when he disguised himself as a monk to seize the fortress -an act that began centuries of Grimaldi rule.

Visitor tip: Best seen as part of a visit to the Old Town and the palace square -history and art blend in one setting.

4. Princess Grace Statue  – Sculptures in Monaco

Set in the Princess Grace Rose Garden in Fontvieille, this bronze figure of Princess Grace was sculpted by Kees Verkade in 1983, shortly after her death. Surrounded by thousands of roses, the statue is quiet, tender, and deeply personal.

Visitor tip: Spring and early summer are the most magical times to visit, when the roses are in full bloom.

5. La Danse by Emma de Sigaldi – Motion in Bronze

Emma de Sigaldi, Monaco’s own sculptor-princess, captured movement in stillness with La Danse. Installed near the Casino Gardens, the bronze figure feels fluid, as though frozen mid-step. It’s one of the many works she gifted to the Principality.

6. Hexa Grace by Victor Vasarely – Geometry Over the Sea

On the terrace of the Grimaldi Forum, Vasarely’s Hexa Grace (1979) explodes in color. Made from over 24,000 enamel tiles, the geometric optical work creates shifting illusions depending on where you stand. It’s a modern contrast to Monaco’s Belle Époque elegance.

7. Sculptures in Monaco  – “Ludus”

On the Opera esplanade, Bezzina’s surreal bronze sculpture shows a fragmented hand lifting a delicate globe. The cracks across the hand’s surface remind us of fragility and strength combined. Installed in the 2010s, it has quickly become a landmark of contemporary Monaco.

8. Le Plongeur (The Diver) by Emma de Sigaldi

Looking out over the Rainier III Nautical Stadium, Le Plongeur stretches forward -arms open, body taut, caught just before the dive. Created by Emma de Sigaldi, the statue has become a favorite for locals, echoing Monaco’s connection to the sea and sport.

Sculptures in Monaco – Final Thoughts

Sculptures in Monaco are more than decoration. They are memory, movement, and meaning, scattered across a city where art is part of the everyday landscape. From the playful forms of Botero to the solemn history of Grimaldi and the fluid lines of Emma de Sigaldi, each piece offers a pause – a reminder to slow down and notice.

Next time you wander Monaco, let the statues guide you. They’ll show you the Principality not just as a place of glamour, but as one that treasures culture and beauty in the open air.