There is a new invitation to discover the screen legend Grace Kelly and her life as Princess Grace, beyond the fairy tale.
The Grace Kelly exhibit that originated in Monaco in 2007 has travelled to Paris (France), Moscow (Russia), Rome (Italy), Toronto (Canada), Astana (Kazakhstan), Montreal (Canada), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Bendigo (Australia), Doylestown (PA, USA) and more recently Apeldoorn (Netherlands). The latest stop for the Grace Kelly Exhibition is in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, in the former Soviet Republic.
On June 12, 2015 (in conjunction with the beginning of the 2015 European Games) this Caspian Sea city will be hosting Prince Albert II of Monaco in the opening ceremony of: GRACE KELLY, PRINCESS AND STYLE ICON EXHIBITION. The exhibition, reputed to be guarded by more than 40 people, will showcase clothes, jewelry, accessories, letters and photographs to bring to life the unique story of the fascinating and eventful life of Princess Grace of Monaco.
In general, visitors will have a chance to view more than 200 exhibits. Some items are unique to this exhibit, like a 1952 Taxi Austin which was one of Princess Grace’s favorite cars, particularly for shopping as one her best friends, Joan Dale, recalls in the book My Days with Princess Grace of Monaco:
“On my birthday… Grace sent me beautiful flowers, then she and I went shopping and for a swim at the Hôtel de Paris pool. Grace loved to go shopping in her black London taxicab that had been converted into a chauffeured limousine – it was roomy and comfortable, with ample space for purchases! Afterwards, Grace and Rainier invited me for a simple and intimate dinner at the Palace. Caroline’s birthday party was three days later, then we all went to Switzerland for a month.”
Princess Grace – 1952 Austin Taxi – Cyl 4 – CV 14
The exhibition space itself – The Heydar Aliyev Center- is a further attraction for tourists as it is considered one of the world’s masterpieces in architecture The overall shape of the building resembles a wave-like ascension from the ground towards the sky followed by gradual descent down to the earth. Not a single straight line was used in the Center’s design. This is not only a tribute to post-modern architecture, but also a portrayal of an eternal cycle. . The lines on this architectural symbol marries the past with the present in a city that blends the East and West and combines the cultures of Russia and Turkey.
The 2015 Grace Kelly exhibition will run until November 1 – but if going to Baku seems as far away as Timbuktu for you, you can just sit back and read “My Days with Princess Grace of Monaco” to relive the times of Grace Kelly as Princess Grace.
