Treasure hunting ~ Basilica Saint Michel Archange

Menton once was the property of the Italian Ventimiglia family but was acquired by the Grimaldi's of Monaco in 1346. For centuries it remained under the Grimaldi rule until 1848 when Menton declared itself a free city under the protection of the King of Sardegna. In 1860 Menton chose to become part of France.

After years of trying to find this special place, and a lot of being lost walking the streets of this 900 year old city, Eureka! 

Walked up from the sea and overshot this day, ending up 1 hill over and above it ~ but, all in all...

The Saint-Michael Archange Basilica

With its incredible exterior, the bell-tower, the coloured cobbles of the parvis arranged to form the Grimaldi’s coat of arms and the “rampes Saint-Michel” (a series of flights of stairs) the “Basilique Saint-Michel” is a rare jewel of baroque art. More than 100000 tourists come to see the site every year.

The construction of the Basilica begun in 1640 under the reign of Honoré II, but took several centuries to be completed. The façade was then renovated in the 19th Century adding typical decor of the period such as smooth columns with ionic and corinthian capitals.

Saint-Michel Archange was proclaimed a Basilica in March 1999, by decree of Pope Jean-Paul II. This title, given for eternity, was in reward for the dynamism of the pastoral life and liturgy of the church.

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