Marseille to Aix-en-Provence - Provence and the Cote d'Azur - page 313

Vieux Port) Ships have docked for more than 26 centuries at the city's birthplace, the
colourful Old Port. The main commercial docks were transferred to the Joliette area north
of here in the 1840s, but the old port remains a thriving harbour for fishing boats, pleasure
yachts and tourists. The free Cross-Port Ferry ( 8am-12.30pm & 1-5pm) in front of
the town hall is a fun way to get out on the water, however briefly.
Guarding the harbour are Bas Fort St-Nicolas Offline map Google map on the south side
and, across the water, Fort St-Jean Offline map Google map , founded in the 13th century by
the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem, and home of the national Musée des
Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée's (MuCEM; Museum of European &
Mediterranean Civilisations; Offline map ; 04 96 13 80 90; www.mucem.org ;
1pm-7pm Wed, Thu & Sat) brand new 40,000-sq-m, state-of-the-art museum.
The port's southern quay is dotted with theatres and bars, and restaurants and cafes
buzz until the wee hours a block east on place Thiars and cours Honoré d'Estienne
d'Orves .
Abbaye St-Victor Offline map Google map (3 rue de l'Abbaye; 9am-7pm; Vieux
Port) is the birthplace of Christianity in Marseille, built on a 3rd-century BC Greek necro-
polis. Nearby Musée du Santon Offline map Google map 04 91 13 61 36;
www.santonsmarcelcarbonel.com ; 49 rue Neuve Ste-Catherine; admission free;
10am-12.30pm & 2-6.30pm Tue-Sat) with its boutique and neighbouring Atelier du San-
ton Offline map Google map (47 rue Neuve Ste-Catherine) are home to handcrafted tiny
kiln-fired figures or santons (from santoùn in Provençal, meaning 'little saint'). The cus-
tom of creating a nativity scene with figurines dates from the Avignon papacy of John XII
(1319-34).
Perched at the peninsula's edge, the Jardin du Pharo Offline map Google map is a per-
fect picnic spot and ideal for watching sunsets. See also Click here .