Our first stop in our adventure is La Turbie a historic village perched high above Monaco. It sits on the historic Via Julia Augusta and has a famous Roman monument, the Trophy of Augustus, that we really wanted to visit while in the area. Finding parking is quite difficult but at the third spot we try we finally find an open place and then are greeted by some nice views of the town that seems to extend across all the surrounding hills.
We actually found a premium parking spot without knowing as it is very close to both the entrance to the Trophy of Augustus and a beautiful viewpoint over Monaco. We can see the whole country in fact from here including a cruise ship visiting Monaco and the palace. The view is quite special and we spend quite some time taking photos before moving on.
We see the Trophy right from the viewpoint but we decide to enter the park to see it close up. There are some nice short trails climbing towards the Trophy and there are fewer tourists inside as it costs some money to enter.
There are also a few birds around including lots of blackcaps but they are quite skulky and difficult to see. The wildflowers are more easy to see including some nice poppies.
As we finally arrive at the top we are suprised that there is a an outdoor sitting area like for a wedding that we assume is blocking access to the monument. However you can pass through and we make our way towards the monument.
Before the monument we take a side trip into the small museum showing how it was saved and restored after being destroyed as a fortified spot by Louis XIV and then being used as a quarry till the 1900s.
Next we walk around the Trophy and notice that actually the front or at least the better preserved section is on the part that we assumed is the back. Here is also the inscription we have seen mentioned quite a few times including in the museum that dedicates the trophy to emperor Caesar Augustus for his victory against the tribes who populated the Alps.
And then it is time to climb the monument. We had no idea it is possible before entering the park so up we go on multiple flights of stairs towards the terraces that are almost at the top of the monument.
The views are quite beautiful especially La Turbie and its huge church sitting in the downtown area. But right now what we really want is to find a place to eat so it is time to get down from the Trophy and visit the downtown area to find an open restaurant.
That does not mean that we do not stop for birds as we descend, there is at least a wood pigeon watching us and we even see an Eurasian Jay passing through.
As we reach the downtown area there are multiple restaurants however most are closed at this time. And the ones that are open do not seem to serve food only drinks, quite annoying.
In the end we convince a restaurant to serve us a platter of cheese and salami which in the end is quite good and welcome for two hungry tourists. And then we also get a tiramisu which is served differently here but still quite delicious.
Afterwards it is time to enter the old quarter of La Turbie, a maze of narrow streets that we could easily get lost in. They are also quite empty almost like in a horror movie as we explore them looking for a way back to the parking area.
We continue exploring and find the fence surrounding the Trophy and another entrance to the park which is closed right now. So we chose correctly when we decided how to enter the monument.
And then we finally find the right alleys and down we go exiting through one of the gates directly into the parking lot. And now it is late enough that we can make our way to the AirBnB, buy some groceries and then maybe catch some sleep as we are quite tired.
