Maison Diamantée, Private mansion in Old Port district, Marseille, France
Maison Diamantée is a three-story residential building in Marseille's Old Town with a distinctive facade of stone blocks cut into diamond shapes. The structure stands near City Hall and displays the craftsmanship typical of Renaissance construction methods.
Built between 1570 and 1600 by wealthy Spanish and Italian merchants trading in Marseille, the building is among the city's oldest surviving residences from that era. It remains a rare example of how the city's prominent trading families lived.
The building once served as a museum dedicated to the city's past, preserving collections that reflected how people lived and worked in early Marseille. This role shaped how locals and visitors understood their city's roots and traditions.
The mansion is located in the Old Town within walking distance of Vieux-Port metro station and can be viewed from the street, with the diamond-patterned facade visible from most angles. Visiting early morning or late afternoon offers better light and fewer crowds.
The building survived the massive demolitions that destroyed much of the Old Town in 1943 and remained one of the last Renaissance structures in the inner city. Its diamond-patterned stonework is so uncommon in architecture that experts still note this house for its unusual craftsmanship.
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