Marseille & Notre Dame de La Garde

Begin your tour with a motorcoach ride through the area known as the Le Vieux Port or Old Port where the Greeks landed in 600 BC. Here the cafes, boats and restaurants are classically French. Drive along the Corniche J.F. Kennedy which follows the natural coast and offers lovely views of offshore islands dominated by the Marseilleveyre Massif (Summit). The Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde is the most magnificent building of its kind in southern France and at this impressive landmark you’ll find that it is well worth climbing the 170 steps. The basilica was built in the mid-1800s in Romano-Byzantine style and boasts beautiful objects on the walls and a stunning marble statue in the crypt. It stands on a limestone spire and offers a glorious 360 degree view of the city below. For those who do not wish to climb to the top, the view from the lower level is also quite splendid. You’ll have approximately an hour to explore at leisure before returning to your ship at the old harbor.