Luxurious and striking villas tend to take our minds to the world of lavish parties, with famous figures in fancy dresses. But Villa Gaby is that and more—as it has been the property of a local hospital center, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), since the 1950s. In 2015, the AP-HM entrusted the villa to MCO Congrès, an agency specialized in putting medical conventions together, which initiated renovating the property to become a site dedicated to promoting science and medicine—allowing Marseille a new and unique place to organize national and international events. But the story of how Villa Gaby became involved in the medical field in the first place is what Marseillais relish most. The villa is named after Marseille-born Gaby Deslys, a “femme libre” who took an unconventional path, considering the early 20th century period. Performing at venues from the Moulin Rouge to the Casino de Paris, she …