Maryame, an 18-year-old student who arrived in the southern city only a few weeks ago from the nearby countryside, expressed shock alongside other residents over the destruction of the historic French town hall and local shops.
While the ban on public gatherings in Marseille and partial overnight curfews in other French cities have brought some temporary calm, more demonstrations are planned for the weekend.
The interior minister's visit occurred after President Macron rejected his resignation in the wake of the nationwide violence, which hit France's second city particularly hard on Saturday.
Marseille stands as one of France's most ethnically diverse cities, serving as a historic port where generations of new arrivals have landed over decades.
France's Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez travelled to Marseille on Monday evening, following weekend riots that saw hundreds of businesses smashed, looted, and gutted.
Local authorities enacted an eight-hour ban on demonstrations and gatherings in an effort to avoid a third consecutive day of disorder.
Thunder and lightning boomed across Marseille following the mayhem, illuminating cracked windows and boarded-up doors throughout the commercial areas.