Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde

Rue Fort du Sanctuaire, 13281 Marseille, France

Notre-Dame de la Garde, built in 1864, stands guard over the harbor from the highest point in the city, with the Christofle-made bronze-and-gold-leaf Virgin Mary casting a watchful eye over sailors and fishermen. The neo-Byzantine-style church boasts opulent interiors, with multicolored marble arches and gilded-mosaic cupolas. On the church’s terrace, you’ll take in views from all directions: the boat-filled harbor, red-tiled roofs, the hills ringing the city and the islands out in the Mediterranean Sea.

Sign up for our newsletter
Join over a million of the world’s best travelers. Subscribe to the Daily Wander newsletter.
More From AFAR