Letter of Recommendation: Ditch Paris for Marseille - Remodelista

"Following the coastline south, we pass a mosaic of classic, postmodern, and contemporary architecture that doesn't make any sense. Squinting we can see the charmingly dilapidated Rococo garden at Villa Santa Lucia up in the hills of Roucas Blanc, its sequence of terraces tumbling towards the sea."

"It's here where my husband and I stay every year, at Villa d'Orient: a small, unpretentious bed and breakfast in a tiered Deco building with stained-glass windows and a stony courtyard full of cycads and agave. Run by our friends Pascal and Jean-Marie, it makes me sad to say that it is up for sale."

"In the evenings, you can walk up the large flight of concrete steps at the end of the street and look out at the vast expanse of mountains and sea. The bustling two-lane road here leads down to trendy Les Goudes, its precipitous edges set against a horizon so orange it practically tastes tangerine."

A scenic drive along Marseille's coastline showcases the city's architectural diversity, from Rococo gardens at Villa Santa Lucia to Le Corbusier's Cité Radieuse. The journey passes through the 8th arrondissement toward the intimate neighborhood of Samena, home to Villa d'Orient, a charming Art Deco bed and breakfast run by locals. The area features Mediterranean vegetation, including bougainvillea and oleander, with dramatic views of mountains and sea. Samena's location near trendy Les Goudes and the entrance to Parc National des Calanques makes it an ideal destination for experiencing both urban charm and natural beauty.

Read at Remodelista