Carthage Tunisia description. Open left menu carthage

Today we will talk about the once powerful and richest city - Carthage. Now only picturesque ruins remain of it. Today, Carthage is also a revered city; for example, the residence of the President of Tunisia is located here. However, only memories remain of its former glory. Today, a photo of Carthage in Tunisia is available in all tourist brochures of this country. Therefore, we offer a closer look at this ancient city, its history, culture and location.

Carthage (Tunisia): history

According to legend, this city was founded by the Tyrian princess Elissa, who was forced to flee from her native places after a palace coup. It happened in 814 BC. Elissa and her supporters sailed the sea for a long time until they reached the African coast, where they landed on land in the Gulf of Tunis. The locals were very happy with the foreigners, who brought with them a lot of amazing goods. The fugitive queen wanted to buy a plot of land equal in area to the size of an oxhide. The local leader was very surprised at this proposal and made fun of Elissa for a long time. He was sure that all her people would never be able to fit in such a small space, but he nevertheless agreed to the deal. The next night, Elissa ordered to cut the skin of an ox into thin strips and enclose a fairly large piece of land with them, thus marking her new possessions. It was in this way that the city of Carthage in Tunisia was founded. It is no coincidence that the citadel built in its center is called Birsa, which means “skin” in translation.

By the III century BC, Carthage (Tunisia) became the largest state in the western Mediterranean. His geographical position allowed to control all the ships passing by. The Carthaginians were very businesslike, resourceful and warlike. They surrounded themselves with a high fortress wall, and along with the merchant fleet, they also created their own navy, numbering more than two hundred ships. Thus, Carthage turned out to be impregnable both from land and from the sea.

Carthage was not ruled by the Senate, where they were elected the best people of his time, as in Rome. Here, all decisions were made by the plebs, that is, the people. However, some scholars are sure that in fact in Carthage the oligarchy (a group of the richest citizens) ruled everything. Be that as it may, along with Rome, this city was the most cultural and developed at that time.

The Carthaginians actively sailed to other countries and subjugated a number of lands in southern Spain, North Africa, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica. At first they were on good terms with Rome. Both states supported each other in military operations. However, friction soon arose between them over the possession of Sicily, as a result of which the First Punic War began in 264 BC. Military operations went on with varying success. However, in the end, the Carthaginians were defeated. However, they were a stubborn people and were able to recover. This was followed by two more which eventually ended in complete victory for the Romans. So the call of a Roman statesman named Mark Porcius Cato came true, who ended each of his speeches with a phrase that later became winged: “Carthage must be destroyed!” The wars of the Roman Empire destroyed the half-million city. The surviving inhabitants were sold into slavery, and the ruins of Carthage were sprinkled with salt so that no one would have a desire to settle here. However, after some time, the Romans regretted the complete destruction of the city, because it was possible to get by only with the elimination of its army. Eventually they began to rebuild and repopulate Carthage. The city after some time became the main center of Africa.

In the 2nd century AD, the Carthaginians adopted Christianity. In the VI century, along with the collapse of the Roman Empire, this once majestic city also fell into decay. After only a hundred years, it was captured by the Arabs. The remains of local structures were used by the new rulers of Carthage to build a new city - Tunisia. Today Carthage is a suburb of Tunisia. And due to its greatest historical value, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Carthage (Tunisia): description and geographical location

So, today this city is one of the main ones. Few tourists who find themselves in this region deprive themselves of the opportunity to touch ancient history once great empires. Carthage on the map of Tunisia is not difficult to find. It is located in the northern part of this state on the shores of the Gulf of Tunis, which is part of the Mediterranean Sea.

Carthage Hotels

The number of rooms in this settlement can be called modest. This is due to the fact that Carthage is a unique place, there is no possibility of building hotels. The only option for travelers who definitely want to stay here is the five-star Villa Didon Hotel with 20 rooms. If you are looking for a more budget option, then it makes sense to choose a hotel in the city of Tunisia or Gammarth.

Excursions

One of the must-see places in Carthage is the Baths of Antoninus. In their size, they were second only to the Roman counterpart. Today, little remains of its former grandeur, but you can appreciate the scale of the building by looking at their model erected here. Not a single excursion to Carthage (Tunisia), as a rule, is complete without a visit to Tophet, which is an altar-burial under open sky. Here the Phoenicians sacrificed their firstborn in order to appease the gods. In addition, it is worth taking a look at the Roman amphitheater, which accommodated 36 thousand spectators, the remains of a huge aqueduct, as well as the Maalga water cisterns.

shopping

In addition to the standard souvenirs for any country in the form of magnets, key rings, postcards, etc., here merchants offer tourists items that supposedly have historical value: coins, mosaics, pieces of steles and columns, etc. You should not fall for this fishing rod. You can buy such things only as a souvenir, but do not hesitate to bargain.

Cafes and restaurants

On both sides of Habib Bourguiba Avenue, which runs along coastline, there is a whole lot of cafes where you can quench your thirst with cool juice or have lunch. If you want to pamper both your stomach and eyes, then visit the restaurant in the five-star Villa Dido Hotel, which offers stunning views of the whole of Carthage.

Carthage is an ancient city that was once a whole state and had power over almost half of the globe. Nowadays, it has long lost its former grandeur, but it attracts historians, lovers of ancient civilizations and just travelers from all over the world who want to learn the secrets of old Carthage and see with their own eyes the world of the times of the Roman Empire. In Carthage, he himself is beautiful, however, there is interesting places and nearby. Read the article and think - maybe this ancient city will attract you to rest in 2019?

Many have heard this name from history lessons, but not everyone knows or remembers exactly what this ancient city was so famous for.

Brief historical background

According to legend, Dido became the founder of the city of Carthage, and then its queen. She had to hastily leave Tyre, since the ruler of Tyre, Pygmalion, her own brother, killed Dido's husband in order to seize his wealth. Dido was allowed to take into her possession exactly as much soil as she could cover with an ox skin. However, Dido was able to get a large land "plot": she made thin straps from the skin and was able to clasp a whole mountain with them. This shows how much the Carthaginians have always been famous for their enterprise and resourcefulness in business.

As for history, it is reliably known that in the 3rd century BC, Carthage was the greatest state formation in this area. The population of Carthage made the city impregnable and actively developed trade. Carthage was led by an assembly of citizens, mostly wealthy individuals. Carthage was developed on a par with Rome.

And now, the time has come when the Romans and the inhabitants of Carthage began to conflict. Both great settlements wanted to control Sicily. The time has come for several Punic wars famous on the pages of historical chronicles. The Carthaginians stubbornly resisted the Romans, among them were such great military commanders as Hannibal. But all the same, Rome won - and during the Third Punic War the city was completely destroyed.

The Romans wanted the city to cease to exist altogether, but then they realized that the territory could be useful. Therefore, the city became inhabited again. Christianity came to the city. However, in the 6th century, the mighty Roman Empire collapsed, and already at the end of the 7th century AD, the city was captured by the Arabs. After that, Carthage became only an appendage of Tunisia.

So this ancient city stood in ruins until the active development of tourism in the country began. Now Tunisia is one of the most visited countries in North Africa by travelers, and many of them go to Carthage for an excursion or even stop in this city. Carthage is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is one of the most enchanting places in the world. And since the 19th century, it has attracted historians, anthropologists and archaeologists who have been and are still excavating this great ancient city in order to find new artifacts and make new discoveries.

Brief geographic reference and climate

Carthage is located near (the eponymous capital of the state of Tunisia). It is part of the administrative structure of the city. Tunisia itself stands on the Mediterranean Sea, and the type of climate in the city is appropriate - Mediterranean. Winters are warm and bring a lot of precipitation, while summers are very hot and dry. So, the average temperature of August - the hottest month - is around 27 degrees Celsius, it can be hot up to 32 degrees Celsius. It is quite pleasant to visit Tunisia and Carthage itself in June or September, the trip can be combined with swimming in the beautiful and healing sea, but it will not be so exhaustingly hot.

Carthage on the map

Travel planning to Carthage: transport, accommodation, visa, security

Before visiting the ancient city, it is necessary to plan the whole trip. After all, this is a guarantee that it will go smoothly and bring only good impressions.

How to get to Carthage

As already mentioned, the city is now a suburb of Tunisia, located 14 kilometers from the capital of the state. First you have to fly to Tunisia itself. If you book tickets in advance, then a ticket for a trip at the beginning of summer will cost from 11,000 rubles per passenger one way. From Tunis airport it is worth getting to railway linking the city and its suburbs. Getting to Carthage is mere pennies: about 25 rubles, and only half an hour of driving in fairly comfortable conditions (first class). You can also take a taxi, it will cost about 300 rubles. You can also visit Carthage with a guided tour: offers of guides for this direction there is always plenty.

Hotel infrastructure

There are very few hotels in this city - the historical significance of the place makes the construction of numerous hotels simply impossible. Hotel Villa Didon is the only place in the whole city where you can spend the night. The villa consists of 20 rooms, each of which has a unique design renovation, so the price per room will be from 7,000 rubles per person per day.

More budget options accommodations are presented in the cities of Tunisia, Gammarth and Sidi Bou Said, which are located near Carthage. In the capital, for example, you can find apartments, double occupancy in them will cost about $40 per day. An average three-star or even four-star hotel can be booked for about $100 per night for two people.

Visa

Carthage is no longer a separate state, and therefore the Russians need a visa to Tunisia. More precisely, it is not necessary: after all, for tourists from Russian Federation there is a pleasant visa-free regime. You can stay in a sunny African country for up to three months - for tourism purposes. Arriving in the country, you just have to present a foreign passport, in rare cases - to confirm your tourist goals of staying in the country, and that's it, you can go to Carthage!

Security

Again, it is worth knowing about security in Tunisia itself. There have been several terrorist attacks in the region in recent years, however, resort areas always guarded very well, the country is doing everything for the safety of tourists, the police are always on the alert. What you should know in advance, having gathered in Tunisia and Carthage itself:

it is worth taking out medical insurance for the entire period of stay in the country;
in places full of tourists, there are many pickpockets, and therefore it is always necessary to keep an eye on valuables and equipment, and it is better to leave a significant part of the financial resources in the hotel safe;
it is better for women in Tunisia to follow some rules: do not walk alone in the evening, do not wear too open clothes;
it is best to drink only bottled water;
and, if your trip is planned for hot days, always remember to protect yourself from the sun's rays.

Attractions in Carthage

The main attraction of Carthage is the ruins of the old city, which was once as powerful and great as Rome. The amphitheater, built in the 2nd century BC, is a five-tier building that could accommodate five thousand spectators. The uniqueness of the arena of the amphitheater lies in the fact that it could be flooded with water from the sea if the production included sea battles. And the spectacle was loved in Carthage as well as in Rome.

However, the most important ancient beauties of Carthage are the baths of Antoninus, which are almost equal in size and beauty to similar baths in Rome. The buildings date back to the 2nd century BC and occupy 2 hectares in area.

The Tunisian city of Carthage later became Christian, which means that there are corresponding buildings. Birsa Hill is famous for the fact that there used to be a fortress founded by Dido, and now the Cathedral of St. Louis has been built. It was built at the end of the 19th century in honor of the saint of the same name, who died during the siege of Tunis in the 13th century. The style of the cathedral is Moorish, so it blends well with the local landscape. A little north of this place is the hill of Jupiter, on which the monastery of the Carmelite order and the building of columns now rise.

Another famous place of this city are the ruins of Roman villas, which during the existence of Rome were built for wealthy citizens. Now the remains of the village are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the middle of the last century, one of the houses was restored and received the name "poultry house", as a mosaic depicting birds was discovered during the restoration.

In addition to standard excursions to the ruins of Carthage and the baths of Antoninus, many tourists are attracted by trips to Tophet, an ancient open-air burial place. A terrible legend tells that the inhabitants of the ancient city sacrificed their first-born children at this place in order to appease their gods. Confirmation are the columns on which there are images of priests performing sacrifices.

Not far from Tophet is the building of the Oceanographic Museum. The exposition consists of models of ancient ports, models of Carthaginian boats, an exhibition sea knots, artifacts raised from the bottom of the sea, aquariums with fish, stuffed rare Mediterranean animals.

To see almost all the beauties of the ancient city, you have to pay about 300 rubles. The ticket is valid for one day. The cathedral and the museum are paid separately - both together will cost another hundred rubles.

Things to Do in Carthage

In summer, a music festival is traditionally held in Carthage.

Artists from different countries perform classical arias and the most famous works of world classics in the old amphitheater, thanks to the acoustics of which the melodies sound bewitching. Hundreds of spectators visit the international festival every year.

As for food, there are few restaurants and small cafes in Carthage itself, since land in Tunisia is expensive and is sold mainly for the construction of villas, and few tourists stay in Carthage. In several gastronomic establishments you can taste Mediterranean cuisine or buy something to take away. If you want to eat in a romantic setting, then you should visit Villa Dido - a hotel that includes a wonderful restaurant overlooking the sea, the ruins of the old city and the Presidential Palace. Prices for main dishes here will be up to 1100 rubles.

By the way, it is better to learn about Tunisian cuisine in advance. It will please most Europeans, as the country's culinary traditions are similar to those of Mediterranean cuisine. Vegetables, meat and fish, olive oil... The difference is that Tunisians are more fond of seasonings, however, not overly spicy, but rather spicy. In coastal cities, in the capital, in particular, seafood is popular (especially tuna dishes). If you want to try traditional Tunisian dishes, you should take, for example:

pasties Brik;
omelet with chicken tagine;
hearty shorba soup.

From drinks, Tunisians prefer delicious coffee and green tea. Alcohol, especially in tourist areas, is treated quite calmly.

When visiting Carthage, you should definitely bring souvenirs related to its history: figurines of military figures, small copies of the ruins themselves. From Tunisia itself, as a keepsake of the trip and as a gift to all close people, they usually bring:

olive oil;
dates;
ceramic products;
local soap and cosmetics made from natural products;
sauces, sweets, preserves.

Attractions and entertainment in the vicinity of Carthage

It is unlikely that someone will go to Tunisia for the sake of Carthage alone. Of course, it is worth it in itself, but you can put other sights and entertainment in the trip.

So, in Tunisia itself, it is worth seeing the colonial street architecture and the Cathedral of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul. This building was built in a mixture of styles: Romanesque and Byzantine. If you want, on the contrary, to feel the breath of local color, you should visit the city's medina. This is a traditional Arab area, where many oriental bazaars, souvenir shops, and Arab catering establishments are located. Also there is the Zituna Mosque, built back in the 7th century, which still attracts many Muslim pilgrims.

Another interesting Tunisian city is. It also houses the old medina area, where the fort is worth a visit. In the fort of Hammamet there is a beautiful viewpoint, as well as exhibits of ancient tools, a tomb and a museum. There are traces of Roman culture in Hammamet - the ancient city of Pupput. Carthage is one ancient great city and Rome is different. In Tunisia, there is an opportunity to visit the consequences of the creations of both cultures.

In addition to all the ancient or ancient places, as well as a combination of colonial and traditional buildings, in Tunisia you can combine educational and beach holiday. For example, the resorts of Tunisia itself or Hammamet will please you with quite comfortable hotels, good beaches. There is an opportunity to relax in thalassotherapy sessions or to do outdoor activities- snorkeling, diving.

Carthage is a unique place in North Africa, ancient architecture and seascapes which will not leave anyone indifferent! It will be useful for travelers of any age to visit this ancient city, because knowledge is always great. Consider visiting a city that was once the greatest in 2019!

And finally, a little practical information how to get to Carthage:

And so, the second part of the review: EXCURSION PROGRAM.
As I wrote in a previous review, we rested in Tunisia from September 11 to 27 of this year. Even at home, we had planned six excursions, five of which we managed to bring to life. I prepared a list of places that I would like to visit in advance, but no tourist guides can replace a personal impression of what I saw. And do not believe those who claim that there is nothing to see in Tunisia. This is said by people who do not get out of the beach for the whole vacation. I will try to convince you of this. I will write about my favorite places.

TUNIS - CARTHAGE - SIDI BOU SAID
During this excursion we visited three cities of Tunisia. The first city on our way was the capital of Tunisia, which bears the same name as the country. For about an hour, a wonderful guide told us the glorious history of his country. According to the guide "Olives and tourism" are the two gods that are prayed to locals.
TUNISIA is a very modern, noisy and energetic city. It is also called the country of "victorious feminism." In other countries Arab world women wear a veil, take care of the kitchen, housework and raise children. In Tunisia, thanks to the reforms of President Bourguiba, all conditions for a full life have been created for a woman. They, along with men, study, work and have fun. Those. live a full life, which, for example, our beloved Egypt cannot boast of. In Tunisia, polygamy has been legally abolished, you must admit - this is a phenomenal phenomenon for the Muslim world. In general, the legislation does a lot of concessions for women.
The capital of Tunisia has modern highways, surface metro, hotels, cafes, restaurants, stadiums and museums. In the city itself, there are many French-style buildings, a memory of colonial times. As in other cities of the country, the Central Street of Tunisia is named after the first president - Avenue Habib Bourguiba. This street starts from the gates of the old city - Medina. On the main street of the capital is the national theater of Tunisia. Its steps are a meeting place for young people and students. By the way, the University of Tunis itself is not much younger than Oxford. On the same street is the International Hotel, where our first stop was. The group was given time to walk to the Old City of the Medina, which is famous for its large bazaar, with a labyrinth of shopping arcades. Here you can buy all sorts of souvenirs and gifts. The guide immediately warned that the bazaar is so big that you can get lost, so you should not get carried away and go deep into the malls. When you get to the Old Medina, you get the impression that you are immersed in oriental life with all its color and spicy smells of spices. We were really afraid to get lost and returned to Avenue Bourguiba to take memorable pictures. In general, the central street of the capital looks very European. I got the impression that Tunisia is a city where “yesterday and today” naturally mixed and intertwined.
MUSEUM "BARDO"
National Museum mosaic "Bardo" is also located in the capital. The museum building is an ancient palace, where the largest collection of ancient Roman mosaics, as well as statues of gods and heroes is presented. All exhibits of the museum were found during excavations in various cities of Tunisia.
The entrance to the museum is guarded by two marble lions. In order to take photos, you need to pay 1 dinar (22 rubles). Just in the museum great amount wall and floor mosaics of various sizes and subjects. There are several storey-sized wall mosaics that hang on the stairs of the museum. In the festive hall there is the largest surviving fragment of the mosaic - as much as 56 square meters!
Very beautiful ceilings of the palace building itself, many are decorated with paintings in the Italian style or unusually fine, lace carvings. In general, it is very difficult to talk and write about the museum, it must be seen. Mosaics can be viewed for hours, and the guide will tell you in detail who created them and for what reason. Our guide throughout the tour did not get tired of repeating the aphorism "Life is short, but art is eternal."
CARTHAGE
The next place to visit was the famous, and familiar to everyone from school, the city of Carthage or Carthage. This once powerful empire, founded by the Phoenician princess Elissa, was destroyed several times and revived again. Until now, the remains of the Roman buildings of the Capitol, the Carthaginian amphitheater and the Baths of Anthony have been preserved. The ruins of Carthage are located in several scattered places, where to this day, excavations are underway. We only visited the park of the thermal bath complex (baths) of Emperor Anthony Pius, which were built on the seashore and are best preserved to our times. After Trajan's baths in Rome, these baths were the largest in the Roman Empire. The aristocracy of Carthage met here for recreation, bathing and business conversations. Of course, only ruins remained of all the splendor, but they are also impressive.
Near the park there is a fence of the summer residence of the President of Tunisia, Ben Ali, which is strictly guarded (there are booths with machine gunners around the fence). Signs are placed around the territory warning that photography is not allowed in this direction. By the way, portraits of the president and state flags hang everywhere - in the lobbies of hotels, in shops, in shops, in cafes. A sort of patriotism on display.
Modern Carthage is one of the most prestigious suburbs of Tunisia. There are many snow-white villas and nobles live here, as well as the residences of foreign ambassadors. Carthage is carefully preserved from modernity. All telephone and electrical cables are buried underground, so walking around the city, it is easy to imagine that time has turned back and you are in another era. According to the guide, local authorities still fine homeowners if they do not update the color on their homes.
In general, we caught ourselves thinking that it was somehow unusual to touch the ancient stones that keep memories of the former greatness of the whole Empire ... Once in Soviet times, studying the history of Carthage according to the school curriculum, we could not even imagine that we will see it all with our own eyes...
From Carthage, we went to the suburbs to have lunch at one of the Caribbean hotels. Further, our excursion followed to the romantic town of artists, artists and poets ...
SIDI BOO SAID
And, finally, the last point of our journey is the picturesque blue and white town of Sidi Bou Said, which is located on Mount El Manar, and is located not far from Carthage. In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful places that we have seen in Tunisia.
White and blue are the main colors of the houses in this town. Back in the early 20s, the town of Sidi Bou Said, at the initiative of the British Baron Erlanger, was taken under protection as a historical monument.
We follow our guide past flowering cactus plantations, galleries and souvenir shops. Every now and then we meet students with tablets in their hands, sketching local architectural “masterpieces” ... We literally turn our heads 180 degrees with our mouths open and photograph, photograph and photograph ...
The steeply rising main street finally leads us to the Natt Café. They say that this is the most famous cafe in Tunisia, thanks to the painting "View of the Mosque" by Auguste Macque. Here the guide interrupted his story and let us go free swimming for an hour and a half. It was the shortest hour and a half of my life. There was no trace of fatigue left. We have time to walk along the shopping street with many shops, take a lot of pictures and look into the famous cafe. Every house in this town, every door, twined with ivy or roses, is a real work of art. And what an amazing view opens from the terrace of the cafe on the Gulf of Tunis and Mount Bou Cornin. I think that this wonderful, fabulous town will not leave indifferent any tourist. To feel the atmosphere of this amazing beautiful place, we need to stay here at least one day, but, alas, we have too little time. We have to rush back to the bus. It is a pity that there was very, very little time for inspection.
This wonderful, informative tour took the whole day. The cost for 1 person with lunch is 65 Dinar (1400-1450 rubles). By dinner we were brought back to the hotel for a well-deserved rest.
The whole next day we peacefully arrived on the beach, and shared our impressions of what we saw with new acquaintances from the rest. After resting and gaining strength, ready for new experiences, we went on an excursion to the city of El Jem.

EL JAM
First of all, the city of El Jem is famous for its amphitheater, which in 1979 was included in the list world heritage UNESCO. Like almost all other Roman settlements in Tunisia, El Jem was built on the site of a former Phoenician settlement. The Romans called it Thysdrus (Fisdrus) and under them it was a place where many trade routes converged, along which food was delivered to Rome. The huge Colosseum is a reminder of those times.
And so, about the main attraction of the city - the amphitheater or the Colosseum.
Even from afar, we noticed this structure, but thought it was just a mountain. And only, driving closer, they realized that this was a creation of human hands. This huge building, 38 m high, can be seen from all points of the city. The diameter of the building is about 430 meters. Three floors of the structure can accommodate up to 40 thousand spectators. By the way, the Colosseum in Rome is not much larger in size and capacity, but it has been preserved much worse. I haven't seen the Roman Colosseum, but I'm guessing the Tunisian amphitheater looks just as majestic. The building at El Jem is very well preserved, including the underground rooms where prisoners and animals were kept. In ancient times, gladiator fights took place here, and Christian martyrs were thrown to be torn to pieces by wild animals. Often the Colosseum also became a defensive fortress. According to one of the legends, El-Jem is associated with the city of Mahdia. underground tunnel, through which an elephant can pass, and another tunnel allegedly leads to the catacombs of the city of Sousse. Excavations are still being carried out on the territory of the amphitheater and underground premises are being restored. The local residents of the city, who used its walls as a quarry for new construction, contributed a lot to the destruction of Caliseum. But no matter how much destruction the Colosseum has undergone, it still proudly and majestically rises above El Jem.
Currently, international festivals of classical music are held on the territory of the Colosseum. On the territory of the former arena, a modern stage is being installed, as well as spectator stands. What else I remember is the chic acoustics present in the amphitheater. By the way, the Oscar-winning film "Gladiator" was filmed in this Colosseum. In general, there is something to see, something to be impressed with, and something to admire. Our group was given a little over an hour of free time to explore and buy souvenirs. We wandered on our own underground labyrinths Coliseum, took interesting pictures, climbed the most high points building with a good view modern city El Jem.
From the Colosseum we are taken to the ancient residence - Villa "Africa". This is once one of the most luxurious houses in Roman Africa with an area of 3 thousand m2. To date, the villa has been restored and restored by 70 percent. And the ancient mosaic depicting the goddess of Africa, after whom the villa is named, has also been restored. Excavations are still ongoing on the territory of the villa.
This interesting excursion takes only half a day. At 6 am, tourists are picked up from the hotel, and by the middle of lunch they are brought back. The cost for 1 person is 35 Dinar (770 rubles). In the afternoon we rested on the beach of our hotel.
I'm all about the cognitive, now about the entertaining tour.

LASER SHOW
An entertaining performance takes place in the evening on the territory of the Medinat El Zahra park, not far from the city of Sousse. The park and its scenes are surrounded by mountains and occupy about 3 hectares of land. The laser show is preceded by a folklore performance, where scenes of matchmaking and weddings from the life of the Berbers are played out.
We were first escorted to a makeshift Berber village where invited guests are entertained before the wedding. Here one could take pictures in improvised Berber huts, listen to musicians and watch Tunisian dances, which are actively lured by tourists. Then everyone moved to an impromptu amphitheater, where the action of matchmaking and the wedding itself was actually played out. The whole performance was accompanied by a beautiful trick riding on Arabian horses.
Then all the guests were invited to a restaurant where a classic Tunisian dinner took place. The guests were served traditional dishes, the main of which, of course, was couscous. For dinner, table red wine is served without limitation, mineral water and other drinks. The entire dinner is accompanied by a folklore show on stage, where national costumes, dances, customs and the wedding ceremony itself are shown.
By the way, in reality, weddings in Tunisia last 7 days and are a grandiose performance. Moreover, the bride and groom celebrate separately, each with their relatives and friends, and they don’t see each other, but meet only on the last day of the wedding)))
In our opinion, the first part of the evening, although it was quite rich and interesting, was a bit long. The people, having tasted the treats, began to actively leave the restaurant.
Next, an even more amazing spectacle awaited us - the Laser Show "Sound and Light". The entire show is accompanied by voiceovers in several languages, incl. and in Russian. The action takes place in the amphitheater, where on one side there are stone stands with wicker mats for spectators, and on the other side - the decoration of the eastern fortress, with battlements and loopholes. In the center of the amphitheater there is an impromptu pond 80 meters in diameter, and in the middle there are illuminated fountains.
As soon as the first three-dimensional laser projection appeared on the wall, as if on a screen, applause broke out in the amphitheater. Indeed - spectacular! In addition to the laser show, a theatrical action takes place on the stage, telling 3000 summer history Tunisia. The whole performance is so interesting that it keeps you in suspense until the last minute. And how all this was complemented by the dark night, the African starry sky and the thin face of the crescent...
If you are going to Tunisia, I highly recommend including the Medinat El Zahra park in the list of must-see places, of course - in addition to Carthage.
This concludes my long story about our excursions in Tunisia. Of course, it turned out to be chaotic and incomplete, and we simply didn’t see much. They did not see, for example, Bizerte, where the largest harbor in the entire Mediterranean is located. We didn’t see many ancient cities, for example, the famous Utica ... Yes, we didn’t even see all of Carthage ... I think that the next time I visit Tunisia, I will still decide on an exciting two-day excursion to the Sahara. Or maybe we’ll take it and wave it to the very south of Tunisia, to the island of Djerba. Then we will be very close to the Sahara)))
And I want to end my opus in the same way:
If you are still tormented by doubts whether it is worth visiting Tunisia, my answer to you is “MUST”!

Carthage- an ancient Phoenician state that once existed on the territory of present-day Tunisia, located in northern Africa. This city was founded in 814 BC by immigrants from the Phoenician city of Tire. The case, according to the guide's story, was like this: ships to the shores, on the main of which was Pygmalion's sister, Princess Elissa, who came to the reception of the local king and asked to sell her part of the territory that he owned. The king did not agree, and then the princess decided to cheat, saying that she was ready to buy a piece of land that would cover the bull skin, he allowed her to make this purchase, realizing that the bull skin would not take up much space. But the princess cut this skin into small strips, which she tied together and wrapped them around the territory around the hill of Byrsa. The king could not refuse the word given to her, and was forced to make such a deal. This is how the city was formed, its name in the Phoenician language is “Qart Hadasht”, which means “ New town". So, as you already understood, our story today is dedicated to the ancient city of Carthage, located on the territory of Tunisia.

Let's get a little acquainted with the history of this great city of the past. Created by the Phoenicians, Carthage, after the fall of their influence in the region of the Western Mediterranean, by the beginning of the third century BC, became the largest and most powerful state that managed to subjugate the territories of Southern Spain, North Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica. True, the peak of glory was not so long: after several wars with Rome, all the great conquests were lost, and the city-state was destroyed. According to the order of the military leader Aemilian Scipio, the Punic capital was destroyed, and the lands where it stood were plowed up and covered with salt so that nothing could ever grow on them. This was in 146 BC, the same year Carthage became an African province. Julius Caesar proposed the establishment of a Roman colony in his place, which was done shortly after his death. The city had a very advantageous and important strategic position, as it stood on a high promontory and had access to the sea from the north and south. It was this factor that made it the main leader of maritime trade throughout the Mediterranean, because absolutely all ships crossing the sea passed between the island of Sicily and the coast of Tunisia. Until the end of the fourth century AD, the Romans ruled from Carthage the entire African province, which was famous for cereals, butter, and game. Then they were replaced by the Vandals, after which the Byzantines came, and their emperor Justinian made Carthage the capital of the Carthaginian Exarchate. Two large man-made harbors appeared in the city: for the navy, with a capacity for two hundred and twenty warships, and for ships engaged in commercial trade. And the isthmus that separated these two harbors was occupied by a huge watchtower, which was surrounded by a powerful wall that stretched for a long thirty-seven kilometers, the height of which in some places reached twelve meters. Basically, the walls followed the contour of the coast, making ancient Carthage impregnable from the sea. Of course, there was also active construction inside the city: markets, towers, a theater, roads, a city hall and a huge cemetery, as well as numerous places of worship were built. At the heart of Carthage was the formidable citadel of Birs. When the Arabs conquered it, the city lost its original name, and became known as Kairouan. Since 697, a new - Islamic part of the history of the ancient - Carthage began. By the way, the foundation of the famous local Zituna Mosque - the “Olive Tree Mosque” was laid in the eighth century by one holy man. This mosque stands to this day. Over time, it was expanded, and the madrasah and bazaars of Medina were also erected. After the beginning of the Christian Reconquista in Spain, crowds of Muslims and Jews poured into the local lands, especially many of them were from the Andalusia region. Refugees were able to make a huge contribution to culture, science, art, craft, Agriculture Tunisia, enriching these areas with new knowledge, as well as modern technology and seed materials for those times. In the city of Tunis, including on the territory of ancient Carthage, a center of Andalusian-Arab culture flourished. And in the sixteenth century, the Ottomans came to power in the country, establishing the rule of governors here, and global construction began in Tunisia, after which many interesting buildings in the oriental style have survived to this day. From 1881 to 1956, Tunisia was under French colonial rule, a real European city. Then, after gaining independence, the city of Tunisia remained the capital of the state of the same name and gradually merged with its famous suburbs - Carthage and La Goulette.

Today, Carthage is the most famous suburb of the city of Tunisia, and an excursion to these famous places is one of the most popular among tourists who have come to rest in the country. And there is something to see here: the ruins of ancient Carthage are several thousand years old, this city is even older than Italian Rome. The ruins of Carthage to this day stand on the northern shore of the Gulf of Tunis in a suburb of Tunisia, which has a historical name - "Carthage". Unfortunately, today, there is not as much information about the origin of the city of Carthage as we would like, research work is still going on here, but excavation is hampered by looting and numerous destruction of these historical sites in ancient times. However, archaeologists working under the auspices of UNESCO managed to find the ruins of several ancient cities that existed in antiquity in this beautiful coastal area of modern Tunisia. During excavations in the "Punian" quarter, right under the Roman buildings, scientists found ancient Punic water pipes - this is a very ingenious design that in those ancient times provided six-story houses of the nobility with water. By the way, absolutely all the finds that archaeologists discovered during their research work can be seen in the National Museum of Carthage, located right there, next to the ruins - "Musee National de Carthage" on the hill of Byrsa. Entering the courtyard of the museum, you can see the rows of ancient cannonballs stacked along the building - these are real finds that once destroyed the powerful walls of Carthage. archaeological artifacts presented in the museum are very different: statues, fragments of ancient mosaics, jugs, vessels, busts and so on. All this looks very interesting and impressive. For permission to take pictures on the territory of the ruins of ancient Carthage, you will have to pay a symbolic amount of one dinar to the cashier, which is approximately equal to thirty-two Russian rubles. In addition, on the ancient hill of Byrsa, right at the entrance to the territory of the ruins, there is a delightful building, once erected here by the French - Cathedral Saint Louis. Unfortunately, it does not work and it is not possible to get inside the building, but the former grandeur of this religious Christian building can be judged by looking at its size and the remains of decorations. By the way, leaving the territory of the ruins of ancient Carthage, tourists can buy memorable gifts and souvenirs in several shops of local merchants located here: magnets, imitation of historical artifacts exhibited in the museum, mosaic panels and so on.

An excursion to the ancient city of Carthage, a suburb of Tunisia, is very important for those travelers who come to this country not only to visit its famous snow-white sandy beaches and beautiful resorts: Hammamet, Sousse, Mahdia, but also for people interested in the great history of this North African country.

Not far from the city of Tunis is Carthage, a city that was founded by the Phoenicians around 814 BC. In those days, several colonies-factories were formed on the Tunisian coast to carry out barter trade with the local population.

By the 5th century BC, these settlements turned into one great maritime power, which was called Carthage, in the 3rd century BC this state became a powerful opponent to Rome. The enmity between the two powers turned into three wars that shook the ancient world.

Carthage and its mercenary army, war elephants and commanders terrified the inhabitants of Rome, for many people today the word "Carthage" is associated with the phrase: "Carthage must be destroyed." This expression was used in ancient times at the end of his speech by the senator of Rome, Cato the Elder.

The last war between countries ended with the defeat of Carthage, it was in 146 BC. There was nothing left of the state, the Romans tried to scatter 400 wagons of salt on the ruins so that even the local land would be barren for many more years.

Throughout the 19-20 centuries, excavations of the ruins of the ancient city continue to this day, today everyone who comes to Tunisia can visit these places, but almost no one can see everything at once, because work is underway on one part, part has the status special regime, the rest is located on a vast territory. It is unrealistic to go around the entire area in one day, so it is better for tourists to choose the most significant objects and study them, or come here several times.

Among all the splendor that can still be explored, I would especially like to note the ruins of the baths of Antonina - one of the most major resorts ancient era. These baths are second in size only to the Baths of Trajan in Rome. Also noteworthy is the Roman amphitheater, which could accommodate up to 50,000 people at the same time, as well as the aqueduct.

Also not far from Tunisia, in its suburbs is the National Museum of Bardo - one of the largest repositories of ancient values. You will not find such a number of unique exhibits anywhere else.

Carthage on the map of Tunisia

By the 5th century BC, these settlements had turned into one large maritime power, which was called Carthage, in the 3rd century BC..." />