First Time in Marseilles
 

My husband and I will be first time visitors to Marseilles for a weekend in September. We are staying in a hotel near the Vieux Port. Suggestions? We enjoy history, art, food, wine - our tastes are eclectic.

Here's what was on my itinerary last year:

- Main thoroughfare, La Canebiere stretches eastwards from Vieux Port towards the train station

- Various morning markets fill cour Julien an elongated square w/ a forest of palm trees: fresh flowers on Wed and Sat, antique books on alt Sats, stamps/books on Sun; Cafes on western square cook up world cuisine

- Vieux Port - Over 26 c old, thriving harbor for fishing boats, yachts, tourists

- Cross Port Ferry - Fun way to get on the water for a short time

- Bas Fort St Nicolas and Fort St Jean - Guarding the harbor, Fort St Jean, 13th C, by Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem, has Musee des Civilsations de l'Europe el de la Mediterranee (Europe/Med Civilizations Museum)

- Abbaye St Victor - Birthplace of Christianity in Marseille built on 3rd C-BC Greek necropolis

- Musee du Santon - And its neighboring boutique Atelier du Santon is home to handcrafted tiny kiln-fired figures called santons ("little saint"). Custom of creating nativity scene w/ figurines dates from the Avignon papacy of John XII (1319-34)

- Jardin du Pharo - Great for picnics or watching sunsets!

- La Panier District - From port, head north to history-woven quarter. "Marseille's Montmarte". Sloping streets and artsy ambience

- Basilque Notre Dame de la Garde - Stunning!!! Opulent, domed 19th C Romano-Byzantine basilica occupying Marseille's highest peak, La Garde. Built 1853-64, ornament w colored marble, murals depicting safe passage of boats and restored mosaics. Hilltop gives 360 view of city's terracotta rooftops

- Palais de Longchamp -Palace/Park - colonnaded Palais and spectacular fountains from 1860s in part to disguise water tower at terminius of aqueduct from Rier Durance. Northern wing houses Musee des Beaus Arts

- La Friche La Bella del Mai - Cultural center, former sugar refining plan and tobacco factory

- L'Unite d'Habitation -Historic bldg - Visionary intl-style architect Le Corbusier redefined urbank living in 1952 w vertical 337-apts 'garden city' aka La Cite Radieuse (the radiant city).

- Along the Coast - Great views along corniche Pres. JFK, coastal road cruises south to small sandy beach, busy Plage des Catalans and fishing coe Vallon des Auffes, crammed w/ colorful fishing boats. Further south, Prado beaches marked by marble replica of Michelangelo's David and beaches are all god sand created from backfill from excavations for Marseille's metro

- Chateau d'If - Island/Castle - Immortalized in Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, 16th C fortress turned prison sits on 30 sq km island Ile d'If. Political prisoners, hundreds of Protestants, the Revolutionary hero Mirabeau and the Communards of 1871 imprisoned here

- Some sandy beaches

I would add the amazing Museum Of History (http://www.musee-histoire-marseille-...nglish-version ), the Sainte-Marie-Majeure cathedral, and the unavoidable calanques (shuttle boats from Vieux Port).

Looks like you missed the incredible MuCEM, joannyc.

Here is my report from both 2013 and this year: http://tinyurl.com/mrscapital

Oh, I saw that you just called the MuCEM by its long stretched out name.

Thanks to you all! More than enough suggestions - we look forward to our visit to Marseilles!