The ancient city of Carthage, a landmark of Phoenician and Roman culture, lies in the suburbs of Tunis, easily accessible by TGM light railway. According to Virgil, Carthage was founded in 814 BC by Queen Dido. During the Punic war, Hannibal set out from here – with his 38 Alp-climbing elephants – to conquer Rome. The Romans fought back, razing Carthage to the ground in 146 BC, later rebuilding it. Poignant reminders of the sheer scale of the settlement are still visible amongst the ruins, the most spectacular being the Antonine baths and amphitheatre.
National Museum of Carthage
The Carthage Museum, beside the Cathedral of St. Louis, on Byrsa Hill, gives an all round historical context before exploring the archeological sites. The museum exhibits include Roman and Punic treasures, marble sarcophagi, household items, weapons and death masks. The remaining landmarks are testimony to the size of the place - the trek between the sites is best attempted by TGM light railway or do the circuit by taxi, to see the Amphitheatre, Tophet sanctuary, Antonine Baths and Punic ports. A copy of Flaubert's Salammbo, a romanticised account of the fall of Carthage, may help you envisage life in the third largest city in the Roman Empire.
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