Carthage

Founded in 814 B.C. by Elissa-Dido and her Phoenician followers from Tyre, Carthage was in turn, Phoenician, Punic, Roman, then Vandal and Byzantine. From its long history including many centuries and worthy of various civilisations, its ground has preserved multiple relics which have, since 1972, patiently and skilfully, been unearthed by archaeologists appointed within the framework of research-and-excavation undertakings scheduled under the aegis of the National Institute of Patrimony and the UNESCO. Today, the visitor can but be amazed by the variety and beauty of the exhumed structures. Among other monuments, one can enjoy:
1. The Punic period
° The ports; the war port, round-shaped with its small islet known as the isle of admiralty, could shelter up to 180 ships; the trading port has a rectangular shape. Both ports communicated through a channel which is still visible.
° The tophet;
° Hannibal " street " with its houses on the hill of Byrsa...
2. The Roman period
° The thermes of Antoninus where a few columns have been restored indicating the commanding height of the monument, more than 30 metres high...
° The aqueduct which provided the city with fresh spring water coming from the region of Zaghouan through a 132 km pipe-line.
° The theatre
° The amphitheatre
° The villas
° The temples
3. Miscellany
Today, the site harbours a very rich museum with artefacts exhumed at the very site. Systematically exhibited in special rooms, these precious samples complete the archaeological picture of Carthage.