I was told, don't bother with Marseille. Not worth seeing. Not a tourist city. Infamous for being corrupt and run down (and perhaps the former is not true), this is Marseille, France's 2nd biggest city. Marseille has the one of the largest sea ports on the Mediterranean, and is one of the oldest cities in France. Marseille is unmistakably a port city, and has been influenced by close trade route ties to northern Africa, India, and Byzantium. Streets tend to be small, steep, and dotted with buildings far beyond the need for restoration. There is a sense of poverty, but also a sense of beauty to this city, in the picturesque cliffs along the Cote d'Azur. Marseille is a unique and refreshing break from the beaten path in Europe, offering a real sense of life untouched by the artificial character of that tourism sometimes brings.