Carthage - Tunisia - October 2023.

 Per our hotel concierge in Tunis, we can visit the Carthage archaeological site, the North Africa American Cemetery and Sidi Bou Said in one day. He also told us to take the direct train to get to Carthage and take taxi to the cemetery and Sidi Bou Said to save time. It's going to be a long day, but we're excited to take on these sight-seeing adventure while in Tunis.

It's about an half hour walk to get to the train station from our hotel. When we got there, we're told that the train had a problem and did not run that day. Fortunately, we could catch the bus just outside the station to go to Carthage. Even though the bus made stops after getting out of Tunis, we were still be able to reach Carthage in less than an hour.

Carthage :  The city of Carthage was one of a number of Phoenician settlements in the western Mediterranean. It was a greaat city of antiquity on the north coast of Africa and was a signitficant trading empire throughout the Mediterranean. Carthage is now a residential suburb of Tunis. The archaeological site of Carthage, an UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the top tourist attractions in Tunisia. The major known components of the site are the necropolises, theater, amphitheater, residential area, basilicas, the acropolis of Byrsa, the Punic ports, cister and the archaelogical reserve. 

Carthage Municipality

Carthage Municipality overlooking the Mediterranean.

Map of Carthage archaeoligical site.

Street sign near the Roman Theater.

Roman Theater

Main entrance - The Roman Theater and Odeon of Carthage is a restored ancient Roman theater complex. It is now used to host variety of events.

Inside the Roman Theater.

Odeon Hill and Park is behind the theater.

Malik ibn Anas Mosque on the top of the Obedon hill from the Roman Theater.

Near Roman Theater, "Roman Villas" is another attraction in the ancient Roman City. The site holds the ruins of a number of Roman luxury houses and apartment blocks.

Some ruins in the Villas

In the "Villas" park, with Odeon Hill in the background.

A column capitol/head.

Large portion of the mosaic flooring remains in tact at one of the weathiest houses in the "Villas" park.

Beautiful intricate mosaic flooring.

Mosaic flooring found at the site known as "villa of the aviary", the best conserved house in the park.

The ruins of  ancient "columns" can be found in "L'Edifice a Colonnes"
park, across from the Roman Theater.

 

In the "Columns" park.

 "Columns" complex. 

The Acropolium, knonw as Saint Louis Cathedral of Carthage, sits on the peak of Byrsa Hill.

Sideview of the  Acropolium from Byrsa Hill.

The archaelogical site of Carthage, at the peak of  Byrsa Hill, once thriving Byrsa Acropolis.

Ancient site of Byrsa hill overlooking the Punic ports.

The ruins of Carthage on Byrsa hill overlooking the Mediterranean.

Ancient headless statue on the excavation of Carthage archaeological site.

Drawings of ancient horses on the wall of Carthage archaelogical museum.

In the Carthage National Museum park.

Carthage amphitheater was a Roman amphitheater constructed in the first century CE in the city of Carthage. The archaeological site only exists within the arena itself. It is one of three African amphitheaters built atop flat ground instead of on a hill. Other two was: El Jem and Thapsus.

The front "arch".

The arena looking toward the entrance.

Arch at the end of the arena.

The (outside) wall.

Amphitheater - By the column at center end of the arena.