Tunis is the capital of the North African nation of Tunisia, a country full of historical wonders and relics of all the empires that have passed through it. Two focal points exist in the capital, those being The Medina, and the ruins of Carthage on the coast just north of the city. These two sites will give you an insight into the richness of Tunisian history and appreciate its cultural heritage.
The Medina (which means "town" in Arabic) is the Old City of Tunis that was established in the seventh century AD. It remained the city center until the beginning of the twentieth century when the French colonial power built a new city center. The Medina was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, because of its historical significance. The Old City is surrounded by city walls with covered alleys and streets, tunnels, shops
and street merchants hawking their wares, while the scent of Arabic spices fills the air. Some of the major sites to see within the Medina are the Great Mosque, Bey's Palace, Ziadib-Allah II al Aghlab Palace, and the Bardo Museum housed in the Hasfid Palace. The museum contains a large collection of antiquities from the Roman and Greek periods, and from the nearby ruins of Carthage. In all, the Medina holds over 700 historical
monuments. You might go crazy if you attempt to find all of them, but needless to say that you will encounter something historical at every turn.
The ruins of Carthage lie just north of Tunis on the Gulf of Tunis, in a town called Carthage. The great military general of Hannibal was based here, and it was later rebuilt by Julius Caesar and became the second most important city in his empire after Rome. It was late captured and largely destroyed during the Muslim conquest in AD 698. Due to being repeatedly pillaged, not much is left of ancient Carthage except for ruins. But archaeological digs have unearthed a number of historical antiquities at the site. These provide an interesting experience to history buffs, and the beauty of their seaside location makes for a pleasant excursion from Tunis.
The Medina (which means "town" in Arabic) is the Old City of Tunis that was established in the seventh century AD. It remained the city center until the beginning of the twentieth century when the French colonial power built a new city center. The Medina was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, because of its historical significance. The Old City is surrounded by city walls with covered alleys and streets, tunnels, shops
and street merchants hawking their wares, while the scent of Arabic spices fills the air. Some of the major sites to see within the Medina are the Great Mosque, Bey's Palace, Ziadib-Allah II al Aghlab Palace, and the Bardo Museum housed in the Hasfid Palace. The museum contains a large collection of antiquities from the Roman and Greek periods, and from the nearby ruins of Carthage. In all, the Medina holds over 700 historical
monuments. You might go crazy if you attempt to find all of them, but needless to say that you will encounter something historical at every turn.
The ruins of Carthage lie just north of Tunis on the Gulf of Tunis, in a town called Carthage. The great military general of Hannibal was based here, and it was later rebuilt by Julius Caesar and became the second most important city in his empire after Rome. It was late captured and largely destroyed during the Muslim conquest in AD 698. Due to being repeatedly pillaged, not much is left of ancient Carthage except for ruins. But archaeological digs have unearthed a number of historical antiquities at the site. These provide an interesting experience to history buffs, and the beauty of their seaside location makes for a pleasant excursion from Tunis.
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