The city of Rome, as everyone knows, was until 330 AD the capital of the ancient Roman Empire. But everyone (and maybe you too!) would be wrong to think that the great Roman ruins are mainly located in Rome. No problem. Why? Because for two thousand years the descendants of those ancient Romans have been building the modern city of Rome on the ruins, effectively burying the original buildings under a patina of modernity.
To see authentic Roman ruins, those remarkable ancient buildings made of carved marble and set stone just as they might have appeared two thousand years ago, it’s best to hop and skip across the Mediterranean Sea from Rome to ancient Carthage, the Roman capital. . of Africa in present-day Tunisia. Tunis, the capital of Tunis, was built next to ancient Carthage, rather than on top of it, so the Roman ruins in Carthage are perfectly preserved and clearly visible today in a way that Roman ruins in Rome hardly ever have. they are.
Roman Africa was a center of trade and commerce known for its deep loyalty and attachment to the parent culture centered on Italy. Carthage worshiped many gods, and it was easy to see a Carthaginian priest from a distance because he was one of the few citizens allowed to be clean shaven. The current situation is very different because you will rarely see a Tunisian man who is not clean shaven, although many sport a mustache. Tunisia’s main source of foreign exchange these days, be it euros, yen or dollars, is tourism. Last year, some seven million visitors enjoyed the pleasures of Tunisia’s restaurants, hotels, beaches and historic sites, most notably the Roman ruins of Carthage. According The New York TimesTunisia is “known for its golden beaches, sunny weather, and affordable luxuries.”
Cartago is a place you will not forget. The theatres, temples, villas and baths are revealed today in pristine condition, including what are probably the largest thermal baths ever built in the Roman Empire, the Antonine Thermal Baths of Carthage. These fabulous baths, along with the ruins of the ancient Roman amphitheatre, are probably the two biggest draws for visitors to Carthage.
For the best view of Carthage, take time out of your visit to walk the gentle slopes of Byrsa Hill, which overlooks ancient ruins and at the top of which you’ll also find the fabulous Carthage Museum. The museum has one of the best mosaic displays in the world, along with sculptures and artifacts from the period before Carthage was destroyed in 146 BC. Also on Byrsa Hill is St. Louis Cathedral, built by the French in 1890 and dedicated to the 13th-century saintly king who died on the shores of Carthage in 1270. It is no longer used as a place of worship and is now often concert website.