Carthage (Tunisia): location on the map, photo, ancient history, excursions and reviews of tourists

Today we will talk about the once powerful and richest city - Carthage. Now from it there were only picturesque ruins. Today Carthage is also a revered city, for example, the residence of the President of Tunisia. However, from his former greatness there are only memories. Today a photo of Carthage in Tunisia is available in all tourist brochures of this country. Therefore, we suggest to get acquainted with this ancient city, its history, culture and location.

Carthage (Tunisia): history

According to legend, this city was founded by the Tire princess Elissa, who was forced to flee from her native places after the palace coup. It happened in 814 BC. Elissa and her supporters sailed for a long time on the sea, until they reached the African coast, where they landed on land in the Tunisian Gulf. The locals were very pleased with the strangers, who brought with them many amazing products. A run-down tsarina wished to buy a piece of land equal in area to the size of a cowhide. The local leader was very surprised at such a proposal and long laughed at Elissa. He was sure that all her people would never be able to fit in such a small space, but nevertheless agreed to a deal. Next night, Elissa ordered to cut the ox skin into thin strips and cover a fairly large piece of land with them, thus denoting their new possessions. This is the way the city of Carthage was founded in Tunisia. It is no accident that the citadel built in its center is called Bierce, which means "skin" in translation.

By the 3rd century BC Carthage (Tunisia) became the largest state in the western part of the Mediterranean. Its geographical location made it possible to control all the ships passing by. Carthaginians were very businesslike, inventive and warlike. They surrounded themselves with a high fortress wall, and along with the trade wall, they created their own navy, numbering more than two hundred ships. Thus, Carthage proved impregnable both from land and from the sea.

Managed Carthage is not the Senate, where the best people of his time were elected, as in Rome. Here all decisions were made by the plebs, that is, the people. However, some scientists believe that in fact in Carthage, the oligarchy (a group of the richest citizens) was in charge of everything. Be that as it may, along with Rome, this city was the most cultured and developed for that period.

Carthaginians actively swam to other countries and subdued 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 hostilities. However, soon between them there were tensions over the ownership of Sicily, as a result of which in 264 BC the First Punic War began. The military operations went with varying success. However, in the end the Carthaginians were defeated. However, they were a stubborn people and were able to recover. Then came two more Punic Wars, which eventually ended in the complete victory of the Romans. Thus came the call of a Roman statesman named Marcus Porcius Cato, who ended his speech with a phrase that later became winged: "Carthage must be destroyed!" The wars of the Roman Empire routed a half-million city. The survivors 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 you could do only the elimination of his army. As a result, they began to restore and re-inhabit Carthage. The city after a while became the main center of Africa.

In the 2nd century AD, the Carthaginians adopted Christianity. In the 6th century, together with the collapse of the Roman Empire, this once-magnificent city came into decline. After only a hundred years, the Arabs captured him. The remnants of local constructions were used by the new rulers of Carthage for the construction of a new city - Tunisia. Today Carthage is a suburb of Tunisia. And in connection with 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 attractions of Africa. Few tourist who finds himself in this region, deprives himself of the opportunity to touch the ancient history of once great empires. Carthage on the map of Tunisia is quite easy to find. It is located in the northern part of this state on the shores of the Tunisian Gulf, entering the water area of the Mediterranean Sea.

Hotels in Carthage

The number of rooms in this village can be called modest. This is due to the fact that Carthage is a unique place, there is no possibility of erecting hotels. The only option for travelers wishing to stay here is the five-star "Villa Didon" hotel with 20 rooms. If you are looking for a more budget option, it makes sense to choose a hotel in Tunis or Gamarte.

Excursions

One of the obligatory places to visit Carthage are the thermae of Antoninus. Their size, they were inferior only to the Roman counterpart. Today, from its former grandeur, there is little left, but you can estimate the scale of the construction by looking at the mock-up built here. None of the excursions to Carthage (Tunisia), as a rule, can not do without visiting Tophet, which is an altar-burial in the open. Here the Phoenicians sacrificed their first-born in order to appease the gods. In addition, it is worth taking a look at the Roman amphitheater, which accommodated 36,000 spectators, the remains of a huge aqueduct, and also the water cistern of Maalga.

Shopping

In addition to the standard for any country of souvenirs in the form of magnets, keyrings, postcards, etc., here traders offer tourists and items that are supposedly of historical value: coins, mosaics, pieces of stellas and columns, etc. Do not fall for this Fishing rod. You can buy these things only as a souvenir, but do not hesitate to bargain.

Cafes and restaurants

On both sides of Habib Bourguiba avenue, along the coastline, there is a whole mass of cafes where you can quench your thirst with cool juice or have lunch. If you want to pamper both your stomach and your gaze, then visit the restaurant in the five-star Hotel Villa Didon, from which you have a stunning view of the whole of Carthage.

Reviews of tourists

As a rule, the reviews of people who visited Carthage (Tunisia) are mostly positive. Even a list of five things has been compiled, which must be done here:

1. Visit the world-famous thermae of Anthony Pius.
2. Standing among the funeral stelae of Tofet's burial ground, declaim a couple of pages from Flaubert's Salammbo.
3. Dine in the chic restaurant of the Villa Dido hotel with a view of Carthage.
4. Make a couple of photos on the background of the facade of the Cathedral.
5. Bargain with the sellers in numerous trays for "the real Phoenician coin."