Tunis & Surrounds Travel Guide

Carthage refers to a series of Phoenician cities on the Gulf of Tunis, from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BCE to the current suburb outside Tunis, Tunisia. The first civilization that developed within the city's sphere of influence is referred to as Punic (a form of the word "Phoenician") or Carthaginian. The city of Carthage is located on the eastern side of redirect-Lake Tunis across from the centre of Tunis. According to Roman legend it was founded in 814 BCE by Phoenician colonists from Tyre under the leadership of Elissa (Queen Dido). It became a large and rich city and thus a major power in the Mediterranean. The resulting rivalry with Syracuse and Rome was accompanied by several wars with respective invasions of each other's homeland. Hannibal's invasion of Italy in the Second Punic War culminated in the Carthaginian victory at Cannae and led to a serious threat to the continuation of Roman rule over Italy; however, Carthage emerged from the conflict at its historical weakest after Hannibal's defeat at the Battle of Zama in 202 BCE. After the Third Punic War, the city was destroyed by the Romans in 146 BCE. However, the Romans refounded Carthage, which became the Empire's third most important city and the capital of the short-lived Vandal kingdom. It remained one of the most important Roman cities until the Muslim conquest when it was destroyed a second time in CE 698.

Sidi Bou Said is an absolutely charming little blue-and-white city ... in fact, my favourite in Tunisia... there are a few museums and sights, but the primary pleasure of the city lies in its lively streets and charming tea-houses where you can sit and smoke sheeshas and have endless cups of tea ... the one up the white flight of stairs from the city centre offers fabulous views on the streets below and Cafe Sidi Chebanne has lovely views of the sea ... it is just amazing to while away time in one of these ... Sidi Bou Said was the getaway for several French writers like Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and Andre Gide ...and its white-washed buildings with blue doors and windows that have the most intricate designs on them are a treat ... quite reminiscent of Santorini in Greece ... get here on the train or coach ...