Monaco is the smallest country with a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea.
The Principality of Monaco occupies roughly 2 square kilometres on the French Riviera. It has a short Mediterranean coastline and is bordered on land by France, while the Italian border lies only a short distance to the east.
Monaco is a constitutional monarchy headed by the Prince of Monaco. The Grimaldi family has been associated with the principality since 1297, when Francesco Grimaldi captured the Rock of Monaco.
Monaco is often called a city-state because its urban area covers almost the entire country. It is not the world's smallest country by area—that record belongs to Vatican City—and it is not the smallest Mediterranean island country, since Malta is larger in land area but is an island state.