WildFocus Images. Images of lands of times long gone and precious animals who are in danger of going : Places : Tunisia

Tunisia Galleries

Tunis :

Tunis - Bardo Museum : The Bardo, located in the suburbs of Tunis, is in itself, an architectural landmark. Originally a 13th century Hafside palace, it has been restored and expanded throughout the centuries to become this superb example of Arab-Moslem
17th and 18th century architecture and decoration with its vaulted ceilings, galleries and cupolas.

Tunis - Bardo Museum

Carthage : For those with an interest in ancient history this area is well known. The capital of the empire that challenged Rome. Founded around 814 BC by the Phoenicians as a western outpost it eventually grew into the captial of their empire and the people became know as Carthaginians. After 3 major wars with Rome, Carthage finally fell to the Romasn in 146BC. By 44BC the Romans themselves built a grand city on the site. With the dall of the Romans the ancient glory faded and turned to ruins. Today though it is a leafy green affluent suburb of the Tunisian capital Tunis.

Carthage Museum : Byrsa Hill was the spiritual heart of ancient Carthage in Punic times, even the Romans built their Capitol and Forum there. Much later the impressive Cathedral of St Louis was built atop it. Alongside the stunnign Cathedral is the Museum. The Museum holds a fine colleciton of Punic and Roman displays. The museum grounds also holds the Byra Quarter, a small seciton of the Punic capital that was buried (pretty much intact) during the Roman levelling operations.

Carthage Museum

Sites around Carthage : The area that is Carthage has a few attractions other than the main site and is well worth the trip out there to look around. From the Punic remains of the Sanctuary of Tophet, the once majestic Antonine Baths (of which only the sub floor level remains), the amphitheatre and of course the ancient harbour itself.

Sites around Carthage

Bulla Regia : The city of Bulla was first mentioned by Latin classical sources when the pursuing Roman armies caught up with the Numidian king Hiarbas at Bulla where he had sought refuge (in 81 BC). It also appeared, much later, (end of 4th century AD) in one of Saint Augustin's sermons when he reproached the inhabitants of the city for continuing to go to such places of debauch as the theatre'' While their neighbours,the inhabitants of Chemtou, had long ago deserted them.In the writings of Arab travellers, Bulla Regia is referred to as Henchir bul. Archaeology and in particular Latin inscriptions , are much more generous in terms of information supplied.They enable us to trace the history of the city since the 4th century BC until the Moslem conquest in the seventh century AD.
Its main claim to fame today is the unique roman houses which have 2 levels, one above ground the other below. This offered the inhabitants protection from both the heat of summer and the cold of winter.

Chott El Jerid : The Chott El Jerid is a very large salt lake covering almost 5000 sq km. The Kebili - Tozeur road crosses the norhtern reaches of the chott on a 2m high causeway.

Douz : Douz is the gateway to the Sahara, it lies on the north eastern edge of the Grand Erg Oriental. It boasts a colourful market and a large Palmeraie. It is mainly used by tourists as the launching place for camel trekking in the Sahara.

Camel Trek near Douz : This is the WildFocus Images team on a Camel Trek in the desert. Considering all the images were taken with a lowly 2MP compact they came out ok. Most were taken over the shoulder facing backwards. True Point and Click!

Camel Trek near Douz

Chebika to Mides :

Chebika to Mides

El Jem : El Jem's fame comes from the amphitheatre of ancient Thysdrus. Thysdrud was a thriving market town that grew into a major junction of many major trade routes. From this wealth came their colosseum in 238 AD. This amphitheatre is the 3rd largest in the empire. At 138m long and 114m wide it is nearly as big as the one in Rome. Unlike the one in rome it is made mostly from sandstone quarried from Sullectum 30km away. It is estimated to have been able to hold 30 000 spectators.

El Jem Museum : The Museum at El Jem is a must see. The fantasic collection of mosaics were found in the luxurious villas behind the museum. The museum itself is fairly new and thus is light and airy allowing excellent viewing of the beautiful mosaics. This museum was a far more pleasant experience than the dark and over crowded Bardo in Tunis.

Gafsa : Gafsa is the central hub in the road network of Southern Tunisia. In ancient times it was known as Capsa. In 107 BC the town was captured and destroyed by the Romans as part of their campaign against the Numidian king Jugurtha.

Gabes : Gabes is a sprawling industrial city on the coast. Again like most Tunisian towns & cities it was once a Roman town; Tacapae.
Gabes is well known for its high quality Henna.

Dougga : The ancient hilltop city of Dougga is one of the most spectacular Roman sites in Tunisia.
The Romans built Dougga on the site of ancient Thugga, A Numidian settlement around 46 BC.
Since Dougga was built upon a non Roman town it does not follow their usual grid pattern, it weaves around the contours of the hill in a most un roman way.

Le Kef : Le Kef is a lovely little town that holds its charm due to the fatc its off the usual tourist trail. The town is dominated by the mighty Kasbah on the hill. There has been a human settlement at Le Kef since prehistoric times. It was known to the Carthaginians as Sicca, to the Romans its was Sicca Veneria and finally to the Arabs it was Shaqbanaria. There has been a fort at the current site since about 500 BC. The current kasbah was built in the 6th century by the Byzantines and upgraded in the 16th by the Turks. Its last occupants (the Tunisian army) left in 1992.

Sbeitla : The town of Sbietla has one major claim to fame, the roman city of Sufetula. As with many roman towns in Tunisia it started life as a Numidian settlement. The romans started here arouns the 1st century AD by the 2nd century Sufetula was at the height of its prosperity due to its olives. By the 4th century it was an important centre of Christianity. Im 647 AD it was taken by the Arabs. The centere piece of the site is the 3 main temples. The tempels of Minvera, Jupiter and Juno are impressive. The Theatre has had some obvious recent restoration but gives a good idea of what it may have looked like.

Kairouan : Kairouan is the holy city of Tunisia. It was here that Islam gained its foothold in North Africa. It ranks 4th behind Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem among Islam's holy places.
Apart from the impressive Great Mosque there are many fine old building lining the streets of the old Medina. Its is also know for its carpets and is the centre of a major fruit growing region.

Sfax : Sfax is the 2nd largets city in Tunisia. Its not on the usual tourist route which is a shame as the Medina is impressive. Well worth a visit.

Sidi Bou Said : An extremely pretty white washed village perched on a cliff overlooking the Gulf of Tunis. It is very reminiscent of the Greek Islands

Commonwealth War Cemetary :

Commonwealth War Cemetary

Matmata : Set amidst an arid inhospitable lookign landscape and scorching summer heat is Matmata. Hence is not suprising that its best known for its troglodyte pit homes. A primitve sounding term but in reality these homes are a prefect way to avoid the heat.

Tunis Zoo : For a non western inner city zoo, Tunis zoo is very good. Its well laid out and most exhibits are not just concrete cells. Sadly some are, and those belong to the big cats. While it isn't too bad, it did remind me alot of Adelaide Zoo from the 70s. Lots of coloured concrete. Provided they can maintain funding the zoo will continue to evolve for the benefit of its animals and patrons.

Tamazret : Tamazret is a quiet little village off the main tourist drag which overlooks the Nefzaoua plains. The old quarter is a maze of little alleyways that wind around the hillside.

Tozeur : Tozeur is an interesting old town overlooking a very large palmeraie on the northern edge of the Chott el-Jerid. The oasis at Tozeur has been inhabited since around 8000 BC. In time it became the small town of Thuzuros and became part of the Roman Limes Tripolitanus (a defensive lime defending the south western boundaries of Roamn Africa). Its prosperity peaked between the 14th and 19th centuries due to the great trans Saharan camel caravans. Today it is one of the most popular travel destinations in Tunisia.

Tamerza : Tamerza is located about 75km north of Tozeur, nestled in the heart of the Jebel en-Negreb ranges. About 1km east of current Tamerza is the old shell of Tamerza on the banks of the Oued Horchane. Like the other mud brick villages of Mides and Chebika the old town was abandoned in 1969 after 22 days of torrential rain turned them back to mud. Quite amazing considering they have all been in existance since Roman times.

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