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Dining in Europe > Marseille In over 2600 years, Marseille has influenced and transformed the culinary traditions of the Mediterranean basin. Oriental influences, which came to Marseille as a result of successive invasions throughout its history, have created a melting pot of culinary styles. Many dishes make up the cosmopolitan mosaic of Marseille cuisine, including couscous, spices, pesto soup (flavoured with basil which was originally imported to Genoa from India), pasta, polenta, casserole with wine (for which a long preparation time is required) and of course the ubiquitous Bouillabaisse. Allow yourself to be guided by both your curiosity and your instinct and head towards the Vieux-Port and its quays, where restaurants abound. The best Bouillabaisse (this was originally a soup made by poor fishermen, but was later to find its way into the soup bowls of royalty) can be found at Le Miramar - one of the restaurants which adheres to the 'Bouillabaisse Charter'. Le Marseillois (opposite the town hall) is rather more exotic in terms of decor, and if you want to hear true Provencal dialect being spoken, you should try Les Mets de Provence on the Quai des Belges. The Le New-York brasserie has a terrace with a beautiful view of the port. From here, you can watch the boats as they leave, and see their sails go up as they pass the Fort Saint-Jean at the entrance to the port. Not far from La Vieille Charité, in the Panier district, Le Panier des Arts offers simple, yet tasty food. At the famous Etienne Cassaro pizzeria, you will be welcomed like an old friend. On the opposite bank, the symbolic Place aux Huiles, Les Arcenaulx and La Côte de Boeuf are three typical Marseille restaurants. The nearby Rue Sainte is home to a Marseille gastronomic institution: Patalain. However, the sea also calls out to you. The coastal road is bathed in romantic light and the waves murmur and lap at your feet. There is a restaurant hidden away in the Malmousque cove. There is also the Châteaux de Marseille, Le Petit Nice and the Chez Michel (on the Plage des Catalans beach) which attracts seafood lovers from all over Marseille. Further out, in the Goudes district (on the eastern edge of the city), where the deep blue of the sea meets the brilliant white of the rocks, is the Chez Aldo restaurant. Back towards the centre of the city, you will find the small fishing port of Vallon des Auffes. Here, you will get an insight into the regions culinary diversity. You can try seafood at L'Epuisette and Fonfon or pizzas and mixed grills at Jeannot. Near the Stade Vélodrome (home of Olympique Marseille) stands the Place Castellane with its marble fountain. This is home to Le Pescadou - one of the best places to try shellfish in the city. In the city centre, La Canebière, (a thoroughfare which divides the city in two), will lead you to the Cours Julien with its innumerable restaurants, all offering fine, Southern cuisine. These include: Le Sud du Haut, La Garbure and also Dar Djerba. The lively shopping streets of Marseille are home to a number of hidden treasures in the form of restaurants - treasures, which are reserved only for those in the know. However, you could easily become a connoisseur - you will find that the citizens of Marseille are proud of their city, and happy to share its wonders with you. Entertainment in MarseilleART AND CULTURE Of equal importance in Marseille are the large number of museums dealing with the history of the city and the multitude of galleries, which exhibit contemporary art. Marseille is very good at self-promotion and is a real cultural melting pot. Museums and Galleries The town boasts about 15 museums and more than 70 galleries. If you want to get to know the city better, start with the Musée d'Histoire de Marseille and its garden filled with relics. Following that, you may wish to find out about Provençal tradition at the Musée du Vieux Marseille or alternatively at the Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaires. Interestingly, there is also a museum of ornamental figures. Feast your eyes on numerous collections of ceramics at theMusée de la Faïence. Paintings and sculptures are housed at the Musée Grobet Labadié and at the Musée des Beaux Arts. In the sphere of economics, there is the Musées des Docks Romains and the Musée de la Marine which will chart the history of Phocaen commerce. Primitive Art: There is a stunning collection of masks and statues at the huge Vieille Charité. The Musée d'Arts Africains, Océaniens, Amérindiens will give you itchy feet. The Galerie Caroline Serero also exhibits African art. Contemporary Art: For those who like contemporary art, theMusée d'Art Contemporain hosts several permanent and temporary collections. Major artists from Marseille are represented here. The galleries are always very lively. For example, the Acaps displays sculpture. The Galeries Horizon and Jean François Meyer and even the Fonds régional d'Art Contemporain are all dedicated to the medium of sculpture. Figurative art: Classic Provençal painting is very popular with the people of Marseille and there are numerous galleries: one of the oldest, the Galerie Jouvène displays the work of Briata, Monticelli and Ambriogiani. The Galerie Jean-Pierre Sylvestre is a little more upmarket but in the same vein. Cinema Theatre and Dance ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC Classical TheOpéra and the Odéon regularly stage classical concerts. There is also a place (which music lovers are particularly fond of) called the Abbaye St Victor which put on a festival. Jazz-Blues Many of the cafés offer jazz music. The Caravelle is one of these. House, Disco, Rap, Fusion For House music, the best place to go is the 'Trolley Bus' in the Vieux Port. The Intermédiaire is an alternative rock venue and also very popular. The Poste à Galène showcases a mixture of rap, rock and reggae. Concerts are held in the Espace Julien, the Théâtre du Moulin and obviously the Dôme - the zenith of entertainment in Marseille. The Dock des Suds offers many different types of Mediterranean music. GARDENS AND PARKS SPORT Dining in Europe > Marseille
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