Marseille (France)
Since antiquity Marseilles was known as one of the most populated areas in Gaul. The Latins called it Massalia and
much sooner than Lutetia (Paris) it gained military and cultural power both ashore and at sea. It is an extremely interesting
crossroad which along the centuries acquired strategic relevance also from the military and political points of view.
Its history is very ancient: experts have no doubts in maintaining that Marseilles is the most ancient French city even
though the theory whereby the area would have been inhabited by the few survivors of Troy appears legendary. The legend
tells that the survivors apparently found shelter at the mouth of the Rhone River and created a new civilisation similar in all
respects to the one which existed prior to the war when they were defeated.
The theory whereby Marseilles was directly populated by the Greeks who landed there is less legendary and almost
certain. The Greeks apparently created their first and more flourishing colony in the Mediterranean.
Besides the Greek and Roman rule, Marseilles was subjected to several dramatic rulers. Its outlet to the sea was too
important as well as access to the internal part through the Rhone, particularly to Provence and Camargue. Very close to
Provence whose culture was permeated by romanticism, gentleness and attention to the arts and culture, Marseilles was
more vital and troubled. Not inclined to sign agreements with established power, people of this region have always
regarded economic and political independence as vital and as their main aim. Marseilles is a rich city. Its story is similar to
Genoa even though foreign culture deeply influenced the events of the city. The Arab influence in particular, both in the first
phase of expansion of the city and more recently, since the end of the world war to the present day, contributed to create a
"multiracial" social, civil and cultural system.
The race mix is interesting: Arabs, North Africans, Europeans, inhabitants of the first, second and third French colonies
made the city the capital of one thousand languages, and one thousand cultures also from the arts and music points of
view, thus making Marseilles extremely attractive and full of life. The central part of the city is very interesting from the
cultural and architectural points of view. However, Marseilles' most extraordinary feature is the port, which appears to
sneak into the houses. People in Marseilles are very tied to port activities and are said to always want to keep the traffic of
ships under control, an activity romanced in many films of a smuggle and illegal commerce theme.
In the centre the most important monuments are Notre Dame de la Garde Cathedral, a church venerated as a miracle by
people and enriched every year with gifts and a rich collection of memorials dedicated to war and sea survivors. Notre
Dame lies on the foundations of a 13th century church with mysterious origins. The bell tower dedicated to the Holy Virgin
is very famous, at 47-metres high with a golden statue of the Holy Virgin on top, who is the patroness of the city.
Longchamp is situated nearby, an almost renaissance palace, therefore very similar to Italian villas of the time, with an
extraordinary surrounding of gardens, water, allegoric fountains and statues. Not far from Marseilles, there is Avignon, the
city which became renowned for a dispute, when seven popes took refuge there between 1309 and 1403, building an
extraordinary architectural structure visited by millions of pilgrims and by tourists from all over the world.
much sooner than Lutetia (Paris) it gained military and cultural power both ashore and at sea. It is an extremely interesting
crossroad which along the centuries acquired strategic relevance also from the military and political points of view.
Its history is very ancient: experts have no doubts in maintaining that Marseilles is the most ancient French city even
though the theory whereby the area would have been inhabited by the few survivors of Troy appears legendary. The legend
tells that the survivors apparently found shelter at the mouth of the Rhone River and created a new civilisation similar in all
respects to the one which existed prior to the war when they were defeated.
The theory whereby Marseilles was directly populated by the Greeks who landed there is less legendary and almost
certain. The Greeks apparently created their first and more flourishing colony in the Mediterranean.
Besides the Greek and Roman rule, Marseilles was subjected to several dramatic rulers. Its outlet to the sea was too
important as well as access to the internal part through the Rhone, particularly to Provence and Camargue. Very close to
Provence whose culture was permeated by romanticism, gentleness and attention to the arts and culture, Marseilles was
more vital and troubled. Not inclined to sign agreements with established power, people of this region have always
regarded economic and political independence as vital and as their main aim. Marseilles is a rich city. Its story is similar to
Genoa even though foreign culture deeply influenced the events of the city. The Arab influence in particular, both in the first
phase of expansion of the city and more recently, since the end of the world war to the present day, contributed to create a
"multiracial" social, civil and cultural system.
The race mix is interesting: Arabs, North Africans, Europeans, inhabitants of the first, second and third French colonies
made the city the capital of one thousand languages, and one thousand cultures also from the arts and music points of
view, thus making Marseilles extremely attractive and full of life. The central part of the city is very interesting from the
cultural and architectural points of view. However, Marseilles' most extraordinary feature is the port, which appears to
sneak into the houses. People in Marseilles are very tied to port activities and are said to always want to keep the traffic of
ships under control, an activity romanced in many films of a smuggle and illegal commerce theme.
In the centre the most important monuments are Notre Dame de la Garde Cathedral, a church venerated as a miracle by
people and enriched every year with gifts and a rich collection of memorials dedicated to war and sea survivors. Notre
Dame lies on the foundations of a 13th century church with mysterious origins. The bell tower dedicated to the Holy Virgin
is very famous, at 47-metres high with a golden statue of the Holy Virgin on top, who is the patroness of the city.
Longchamp is situated nearby, an almost renaissance palace, therefore very similar to Italian villas of the time, with an
extraordinary surrounding of gardens, water, allegoric fountains and statues. Not far from Marseilles, there is Avignon, the
city which became renowned for a dispute, when seven popes took refuge there between 1309 and 1403, building an
extraordinary architectural structure visited by millions of pilgrims and by tourists from all over the world.
