The historical heart of Tunis
is the Medina, built in the 7th
Century, it still retains the ambiance of a Muslim town of centuries ago. Enclosed
by ramparts, with gates, narrow, winding streets will take one past small shops
laden with such goods as brass, olive wood, leather, colored garments,
antiques, jewelry, carpets, and pottery. Also, nearby, is the Ez Ziutouna or
Mosque of the Olive Tree, also dating from the 7th Century; one can
admire the mosque’s courtyard from a fenced off walkway. Along the walls of the
mosque is the Souk of the Perfumes, with its almond, spice, and traditional
clothing shops. Tunisia's
most renowned museum, the Bardo, is located in a former royal palace. The Bardo
palace used to house the Turkish sovereigns, known as the
"beys" who ruled Tunisia
from the 16th through the 20th century. After Tunisia
achieved independence, the splendid rooms were emptied of their furniture and
then packed from floor to ceiling with ancient artifacts — the most important
or valuable material recovered from archaeological sites throughout Tunisia.
The Bardo Museum
is most famous for its collection of Punic statues and jewelry, as well as
Roman mosaics.
Carthage
Founded in the 8th Century BC, Carthage
was destroyed by the Romans during the Third Punic War in the middle of the 2nd
Century BC. It was later rebuilt as a Roman city under Caesar Augustus. Today,
the ruins of both civilizations lay open for visitors. Places of interest in
the ancient city include Byrsa Hill, the Antonine baths, the Punic ports, the
Roman amphitheatre and the Sanctuary of Tophet. The baths are the most notable
ruins to visit, a huge complex of public baths built in the second century AD.
One of the columns that held up the frigidarium or cold pool still
stands to give an idea of the overall grandeur. Rising to 15 meters, eight such
columns were necessary to support the massive vaulted roof. In addition to the
cold room, there was a warm room or tepidarium and hot room or calidariu.
Bysra Hill, where the city was first founded, is crowned by the Cathedral of
St. Louis, dating from French colonial times, and a museum filled with Punic
antiquities. The Roman amphitheatre is still used today for cultural events.
The Tophet, now located in a grassy square, is said to have been the place
where Carthaginian children were sacrificed to Baal Hammon. The ruins of the
two Punic Ports are also impressive. One was used for trade, the other for
military vessels.