Tunisia– Thourgh North Following History
The capital of this country - Tunis - is full of contrasts, history blends with modernity. Like most tourists, we head downtown to the main avenue Avenue Habib Bourguiba. We enter the traditional Arab medina and the market, where there are a variety of products from shoes, clothing and accessories through perfumes to oriental spices. The winding streets are full of life and just be careful not to get lost here. Magnificent palaces, mosques, public baths, all testify to the former glory.
In the suburbs is our next destination - Carthage. We walk along the Byrsa hill until we visit the magnificent Antonius Spa. Here we recall the history of the Punic and Roman times. The original spa complex, which stood here, was one of the largest in the world right after the Roman baths. The construction was started by order of Emperor Hadrian, it was not completed until the reign of Antonio Pius. Carthage used to be one of the most famous and powerful cities of antiquity. To this day, however, only ruins have survived.
After a hearty lunch made from local ingredients, we move to the charming blue and white town of Sidi Bou Said. It is built on a rock and inscribed on the UNESCO list. And it is probably the most beautiful place in all of Tunisia. Many famous poets or singers from France and Tunisia drew inspiration here. They met in the famous Café de Nattes. Today it is rather under siege by tourists. We do not hesitate and for a small fee we visit a private museum, which is actually a completely preserved Arabian palace with the original interior. We can see how people used to live here.
If you remember the film Angelica and the Sultan, it was here that the scenes were shot where the heroic Joffrey de Peyrac fled on the roofs of houses. The charming town has not changed much since then. It still offers a view of exotic buildings, a flood of flowering plants and walks through winding streets. If you get to the rooftops like us, a surprise awaits you in the form of views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Tunisia.
We say goodbye to our trip with a cup of traditional mint tea. Unfortunately, it didn't fit more into my article. So when you're in Tunisia, head to these places and bring your own experiences.
GPS: Kartágo 36°51'54.0"N 10°20'00.6"E
Text: Veronika Kocmanová
Photos: Veronika Kocmanová, Wikimedia Commons: Dacoslett
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