Tunis: Capital of Tunisia and Ancient Hub of North Africa

Tunis is the capital of the North African nation of Tunisia, a land filled with historical antiquities and remnants of all the rulers that have left their mark there. 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 places offer you a taste of Tunisian history and heritage and take you away to another time.

The Medina (which is Arabic for "town") is the oldest part of Tunis that was founded in the 7th century AD. It remained the city center until the beginning of the twentieth century when the French colonial power built a new city center. In 1979 the Medina was given the status of World Heritage Site by UNESCO, due to its historical importance and cultural heritage. The Old City atmosphere is truly Arabic, with stone walls surrounding the city, covered lanes and alleys filled with overpowering sights, sounds and smells, and animated vendors playfully hawking their wares.
There are some major sites to see inside the Medina, including the Great Mosque, the Bardo Museum located inside the Hasfid Palace, and other palaces. 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. It's impossible to see all of them, but it goes without saying that history is an integral pat of the Medina and you will encounter something historical no matter where you go.

The ruins of Carthage lie just north of Tunis on the Gulf of Tunis, in a town called Carthage. The great warrior Hannibal held power here, as did Julius Caesar who made Carthage the second most important city in his empire. During the Muslim Coquent of the seventh century AD the city was taken and mostly demolished. Not a whole lot is left of the ancient city except for ruins, because of constant pillaging throughout the centuries. History lovers in particular will find the ruins fascinating, and seeing the ruins set amidst such a beautiful marine environment makes this a pleasant excursion even for travellers with a minimal interest in history.

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The Medina and Carthage, The Gems of Tunis


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