The most renowned and populated city in France after Paris, MARSEILLE has – like the capital – prospered and been ransacked over the centuries. Today, it’s an undeniable fact that Marseille is a deprived city, not particularly beautiful architecturally, and with acres of grim 1960s housing estates. Yet it’s a wonderful place to visit – a real, down-to-earth yet cosmopolitan port city with a trading history going back over 2500 years. The people are gregarious, generous, endlessly talkative and unconcerned if their style seems provocatively vulgar to the snobs of the Côte d’Azur.

Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport. From the airport take the Metro to the “Saint-Paul” exit to get to the Marais district. Metro costs $8.30 (17 and under free)

The Picasso museum has been installed in the hôtel Salé constructed in 1656. The museum has been able to constitute itself in 1985 thanks to the new law on the endowment in payment of the inheritances taxes : the State inherited of 203 paintings, 158 sculptures, more than 3000 drawings. Wanted by Jacqueline Picasso, a second endowment enriched the museum in 1990. The museum also shows about a hundred works from contemporary artists, once owned by Picasso. Diego Giacometti has drawn the furniture of the museum. The brother of the sculptor, Alberto, created between others, the seats, the chairs and the tables in bronze, the center lights in white resin. Organized in a chronological way, the museum succeeds, in some ways, to the museum of Barcelona. It starts with the blue and pink period, continues with the cubist paintings but especially shows the works done after the 20s.

In the elegant Hotel Sale building. Metro – go to Saint-Sébastien Froissart, Saint-Paul

Situated at the end of the Allee Leon-Gambetta and of the Canebière, Saint Vincent de Paul is often referred to as the Reform Church since its site formerly belonged to Reform Augustinian monks. Inspired by the thirteenth century Gothic with its imposing ogees, armed with Father Pougnet’s designs, architect F. Reybaud oversaw the church’s construction (1855-88).The decor was never completed. The church has since survived severe, slow degradation and continual restoration projects.

check out these pricey antique shops behind the Saint Paul’s Church. No Admission.

Famous market pavilion behind Eglise Saint-Vincent de Paul

This magnificent 36-buildings pavilion has a significant history filled with elegant gardens and impressive fountains. It is also home to a fantastic area filled with touristy restaurants, fashion boutiques and hot nightspots. No Admission.

Home to the famous Beaumarchais, an author and playwriter during the 1700’s. This mansion has some spectacular gardens, find the carriage door with a medusa carving and ring the door bell located to the right of this door. Inside the door you’ll find a dazzling courtyard.

Situated on the southern bank of the Vieux-Port above the dry dock, this abbey founded in the 5th century on the tomb of an ancient Christian martyr played an important role in Christianity’s development in the Mediterranean between the 11th and 18th centuries. In the 14th century, Pope Urbain V (then installed in Avignon) oversaw its fortification.The abbey’s crypt and catacombs, which contain a number of ancient sarcophagi, are open to visitors, whilst its excellent acoustics make it the perfect venue for the religious and classical music concerts held here on a regular basis. Large crowds attend its special ceremonies for la fête de la Chandeleur (Candlemas) in February.Admission: free; crypt visit around EUR 1.52

Departing from the Vieux-Port, the Groupement des Armateurs Côtiers Marseillais (GACM) organizes guided tours of the bay and its series of rocky, fjord-like inlets called calanques. Cruisers take visitors on a non-stop four-hour tour from Marseilles to Cassis, past a dozen small islands including Morgiou (renowned for its underwater Cosquer Cave featuring some of the world’s oldest prehistoric cave paintings and engravings). Get close to imposing, steep limestone cliffs that date as far back as the Cretaceous period when dinosaurs still roamed the earth. Groups can stop off in the quaint old fishing port of Cassis.
Tickets: around EUR18.29

This Roman-Byzantine cathedral was built in the middle of the 19th Century by Leon Vaudoyer, on the remains of the ancient Roman-Provençal “Major” building which dates back to the 12th Century.With a capacity of 3000, it is the largest cathedral in France since the Middle Ages and inside, the marble slabs, impressive porphyry columns and mosaics reflect the cathedral’s true splendor, complemented by magnificent altars from the 12th and 15th centuries, and earthenware from the Della Robbia workshop.Admission: Free.

The Palais Longchamp – designed by architect Esperandieu – was built in conjunction with the construction of the canal in 1839. The arrival of water from the Durance in 1849 allowed the town to supply the new districts to the east.Today, the waterfalls, ornamental lakes, fountains and numerous sculptures give this enchanting place an Italian Renaissance feel. Housing Marseilles’ Fine Arts Museum in its left wing and the Natural History Museum in the right, this watery palace – a masterpiece of the Second Empire – commemorates and unites the glory of water, the arts and the sciences under one magnificent roof.