Massalia

Marseille, known in antiquity as Masalia, Massalia or Massilia ((ancient)|Ligurianantiquity]]) is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 850,636 (January 2011) on a land area of. It is the 3rd-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris and Lyon, with a population of 1,720,941 at the January 2011 census.Marseille was historically the most important trade center in the region and functioned as the main trade port of the French Empire. Marseille is France's largest city on the Mediterranean coast and largest commercial port. Marseille is the capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, as well as the capital of the Bouches-du-Rhône department. Its inhabitants are called Marseillais in French and Marselhés in Occitan.