Lucas Catarina's tips to live Monaco like a local

Discover Monaco with GlobeAir's brand ambassador

Lucas Catarina helps you travel like a local

Tennis player Lucas Catarina is 26, ambitious and talented. Having turned professional in 2015, He has won twelve singles along with two doubles titles on the ITF pro circuit tour – and is currently ranked among the world's top 400 players. "The fact that tennis is a man-to-man contest is a powerful motivating factor for me," says Lucas. "Unlike team sports like football, it's all up to me."

Lucas however is not entirely alone as he makes his way to the top of tennis: he has his family and his coach at his side – and GlobeAir as a partner. GlobeAir's CEO Bernhard Fragner explains why he decided to support the young sportsman:

"Lucas sets himself high aims. He reflects what our DREAM TEAM stands for, he shares our values, namely excellence, competitiveness, speed, performance and fair play."

When Lucas is not on the court somewhere out in the wide world, the Monegasque loves to spend time in his native city, with its unique mix of medieval charm and modern luxury chic. He gives us a sightseeing tour of his favourite places in the principality.

The principality's highlights

Discover Lucas' favourite spots

• The Monte Carlo Country Club: is almost a second home to me. I've been coming here to train virtually every day since I was a young boy. Its spectacular location between the mountains and the sea and the Art Deco style make it one of the world's most beautiful tennis clubs. And from the restaurant terrace, you get a fabulous view of the open sea.
• Restaurant La Montgolfière: Le Rocher, the famous old town aka Monaco-Ville and The Rock, is home to a number of historical buildings, monuments and alleyways that take you back to the Middle Ages. Not far from the Prince's Palace, you will find La Montgolfière, which is very different from Monte Carlo's flashier establishments. The open-plan kitchen lets you experience the exciting fusion cuisine of top-ranked chef Henri Geraci – traditional French and exotic Asian – up close.

• Thermes Marins: I go to the Thermes Marins spa several times a week for my cryotherapy – a special form of low-temperature treatment for improving circulation and mobility. Also a wonderful thing to do there is relaxing in the pool, which has an amazing view over the famous marina.
• Le sentier des douaniers: I like to go jogging along: "Le sentier des douaniers" (the old customs officers' path), which runs along the coast between Monaco and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. It can also be a wonderful place for a romantic walk between the eroding cliffs and the lush vegetation. And surprisingly there's actually a tiny hidden beach, which you can have all to yourself, at least sometimes.
• La tête de chien: It's true that most of the tourists come to Monte Carlo for the noise of the Grand Prix, but here you can also find peace and quiet. One of the most beautiful places is La Tête de Chien: from La Turbie, walk up through the cemetery to the end of the rocky outcrop and you'll have a stunning view over Monaco, all the way to Nice and to the west. If you're lucky, you could see Corsica on the horizon. The perfect spot for a picnic!
• Les casinos de Monaco: One of Monte Carlo's best known places is of course the Casino. Few people, however, are aware of its outstanding restaurants. In Le Train Bleu and Le Salon Rose, there's not only the Italian and French cuisine to enjoy, but also a typical casino atmosphere with ornate reliefs and sculptures and a striking atrium in marble and gold. The architect was the celebrated Charles Garnier, who also designed the Paris Opera.