Marseille: The Oldest City of France

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Marseille…the Naples of France.

Anonymous

A couple locals we talked to said Marseille is like the Naples of France. We take that to mean that it is an underrated city, quirky with a lot of history and charm! Also, both places have their own language that the rest of the country has a problem understanding at times. 

We had a great time exploring Marseille and its rich history as well as indulging in all of their amazing cuisine for four days and three nights! Here are our top recommendations for Marseille.

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Unearthing Pompeii and Ercolano

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Archaeology holds all the keys to understanding who we are and where we come from.

Sarah Parcak

When people think of Naples, they often think of Pompeii first (or pizza). Most forget about Ercolano, or Herculaneum in English. When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, both cities were tragically buried. Archaeologists were able to unearth these lost cities, giving us a chance to walk the streets and see how these people lived. It is the archaeologist Sarah Parcak that said, “Archaeology holds all the keys to understanding who we are and where we come from.” 

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Amalfi and Ravello: Cliffs as Far as the Eye Can Sea

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For the people of Amalfi who go to heaven, Judgment Day will be a day like any another.

Renato Fucini

It was the poet Renato Fucini that said, “For the people of Amalfi who get to heaven, Judgement Day will be a day like any other.” Amalfi Town is a beautiful part of the Amalfi Coast that lies right on the water’s edge. It used to be a powerful maritime republic during the 9th and 11th century and has transitioned to become a prime tourist destination today. Try not to go in June, July, or August — those are the busiest months.

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Athens: It’s All Greek to Me

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Man: a being in search of meaning.

Plato

Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle shaped society’s views on philosophy. They helped us think outside the box and really dive deep into the meaning of life. In Greek, “philosophy” means “love of wisdom.” They wanted to ask those hard questions and really stretch the minds of their contemporaries. It was Plato that said, “Man: a being in search of meaning.” We are constantly asking ourselves those hard questions and, to my husband and me, exploring other cultures is a way to understand those around us.

We were so excited to experience Athens and to walk where the great philosophers walked. Here are the top sights we’d recommend seeing over a 5-7 day trip.

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Venice Carnival

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The man who seeks to educate himself must first read and then travel in order to correct what he has learned.

Casanova

It was Casanova that said, “The man who seeks to educate himself must first read and then travel in order to correct what he has learned.” That is what we do not matter where we go. We take time to research every place before our visit, including the history and local foods. It helps us get an idea before we actually go and decide if we like it.

We were so excited to continue exploring Italy with our friends — and what better place to go than Venice during Venice Carnival? Venice is considered one of the most romantic cities, so we were excited to see if these rumors were true. 

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