:: Destinations

Carthage

Carthage had a fascinating history and a position of dominance in the ancient world. But the Romans were no respecters of reputations and they did such a thorough job demolishing it that the ruins today are something of a disappointment. Most of the present ruins are of Roman origin. Spread over a vast area is six main sights. The wide spread nature of the ruins cause a lot of hassles to the visitor. He has to be on foot or quite some time if he wants to see the whole of it. Of course, there is a light rail (TGM) line that runs through the hub of the area. One can take a ride in it. But it still leaves a lot of walking to be done.

To get a good view of the entire site, one can start off from the Byrsa Hill. Reach its peak and you will get a panoramic view. The Cathedral of St Louis is a structure of massive proportions and is right down at the base of the Byrsa Hill. The cathedral built by the French in 1890 is an eye sore and does not fit in to the scenery, according to some. It was dedicated by the French to the 13th century saint-king who died on the shores of Carthage in 1270 during the ill-fated 8th Crusade. Later on it was deconsecrated and remained closed for years. But now the Cathedral has been restored and is open to the public.

The large white building at the back of the cathedral is the National Museum. It has been recently revamped and now has a better look. The upper floor contains the Punic artifacts and is worth spending some time over. 

A 15-minute walk from the museum will take you to the Roman amphitheatre on the west side of the Byrsa. It is said to have been one of the largest in the Empire, though little of its grandeur remains today. Most of its stones were pinched for other building projects in later centuries. During the Roman period Carthage had a wonderful water supply scheme and the remnants of the same still exist in the form of a collection of huge cisterns northeast of the amphitheatre. But they are now in a state of utter ruin and weather it is worth a scramble through prickly pear cactus that now fill the area is left to you!

The Antonine Baths are right down on the waterfront and are impressive more for their size and location than for anything else.

 The Magon Quarter is another archaeological park near the water, a few blocks south of the baths. Recent excavations have indicated that this area was once the hub of a sophisticated residential area. A look at these will be worthwhile.

The Sanctuary of Tophet:  The Tophet was a sacrificial site with an associated burial ground, where the children of Carthaginian nobles were killed and roasted to appease the deities Baal Hammon and Tanit. The story is in deed exciting and it did create sensation when it was first excavated in 1921. a great lot was written about it also. But unfortunately what is left now is not quite as thrilling as it sounds; it's little more than a patch of overgrown weeds with a few excavated pits. Weather it’s worth a visit depends on your love for history.