• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

She Paused 4 Thought

Food, Fun and Travel

  • Home
  • Recipes by Category
    • Listed Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast / Brunch
    • Dessert
    • Fruit & Veggies
    • Healthy
    • Main Dishes
    • Meat
      • Chicken
      • Fish & Seafood
        • Shrimp
    • Super Easy
    • Party Food
    • Salads
    • Soup
    • Holiday
    • Ethnic
    • Side Dishes
    • Vegetarian
    • Good Information
      • Product Review
      • Food Photography
    • Snacks
    • Simply FUN!
    • Cooking School
    • Recipes
  • About
  • Travel
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

My Favorite Historical Sites of Tunisia | Travel Tuesday

May 13, 2019 by Cathy Arkle 15 Comments

Visiting the historical sites of Tunisia was just one of many reasons why I fell in love with this fascinating country in Northern Africa.

Dougga Tunisia | She Paused 4 Thought

The Capitol, seen through the door of the ‘Unnamed Temple’ in Dougga

Tunisia is a country with an extensive and colorful history. So many archeological sites demonstrate the historical role of Tunisia as one of the most important crossroads of civilizations, though it is not often recognized as such. It could be, for Tunisia hosts the most impressive Roman ruins outside Italy.

Here are three of my favorite historical sites of Tunisia.

Dougga

Potentially one of the most magnificent Roman sites in Africa, Dougga’s ancient remains – a Unesco World Heritage site since 1997 – are surprisingly complete, giving an intriguing glimpse of how prosperous Romans lived back in the day with baths, temples, mausoleums and theaters.

Dougga Tunisia

Front view of the Roman theater in Dougga

Dougga Tunisia

Temple of Caelestis, Dougga

Dougga Tunisia

This restored theater was built in AD 168. These 19 tiers could accommodate an audience of 3500.

Dougga Tunisia

The nosebleed section has an enchanting view of the hillside surrounded by olive groves.

Dougga Tunisia Dougga Tunisia

Below is our knowledgeable and entertaining Tunisian tour guide Ghazi Zaroui. Born and bred in Nabeul, he was able to expertly navigate us through the Tunisian treasures. We would have been lost without him.

Tour guide Ghazi Zaroui in front of Dougga

Dougga is about a 2 hour drive from the capitol city of Tunis.

El Jem

This Unesco World Heritage–listed colosseum is the third largest in the Roman empire after Rome and Capoue.

El Jem, Tunisia | She Paused 4 Thought

Inside, most of the supporting infrastructure for the tiered seating has been preserved.

El Jem, Tunisia

El Jem was built entirely of stone blocks, with no foundations and free-standing, its facade comprises three levels of arcades.

El Jem, Tunisia

You can explore the long underground passageways that were used to hold animals, gladiators and other unfortunates in their last moments before they were thrust into the arena to provide entertainment for 35,000 people.

El Jem, Tunisia

Any number of exotic animals may have faced their death here – Camels, horses, zebra, even giraffes – as the concept of the Colosseum was to show off the glories of the Roman Empire.   

El Jem, Tunisia

You can still climb to the upper seating levels and gaze down on the arena.

El Jem, Tunisia

Or you can look out across the town.

El Jem, Tunisia

El Jem, Tunisia

El Jem is 130 miles from Tunis. Getting there is a two hour car journey, worth every minute.

Carthage

Carthage was founded in the 9th century B.C. on the Gulf of Tunis. From the 6th century onwards, it developed into a great trading empire covering much of the Mediterranean.

Carthage, Tunisia | She Paused 4 Thought

Baths of Antoninus at Carthage

The Romans chose a magnificent seaside setting for this monumental bath complex. Finished in the 2nd century AD, it was the largest bath complex outside Rome.

Carthage, Tunisia | She Paused 4 Thought

In the course of the long Punic wars (The Punic Wars were a series of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage from 264 BC to 146 BC. At the time, they were some of the largest wars that had ever taken place.), Carthage occupied territories belonging to Rome, which finally prevailed, destroying its rival in 146 B.C. A second Carthage, this one belonging to the Romans, was then established on the ruins of the first.

Carthage, Tunisia | She Paused 4 Thought

This was on the grounds of the Carthage Museum which was closed for a major renovation.

Carthage, Tunisia | She Paused 4 Thought

We walked around the grounds and gave the locals a “heads up”.

Carthage, Tunisia | She Paused 4 Thought

The facade of the Saint Louis Cathedral in Carthage. (The Acropolium of Carthage)

Next to the museum is the Acropolium, also known as Saint Louis Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church built in 1890. It bears part of the heritage of Christianity that Tunisia hosted throughout its history. Unfortunately, many Catholic monuments that marked that period were abandoned.

Inside Acropolium - Tunisia

Inside the Acropolium

Since 1993, the cathedral has been known as the “Acropolium”. It is no longer used for worship, but instead hosts public events or concerts of Tunisian and classical music.

Carthage, Tunisia | She Paused 4 Thought

La Malga Cisterns in Carthage

La Malga Cisterns are vast, ancient storage tanks used to supply water to the ancient city of Carthage. Though built roughly 19 centuries ago, the technology used to construct them, and to get the water where the Roman’s wanted it to go, is engineering at its finest.


These are just a few of the richly historical sites of Tunisia, and the ones that fascinated me the most. But there are many more. If you want to see more, take another trip with me to Sidi Bou Said.

Like me, you’ll be inspired to visit if you’ve never been, or to return if you have.
…and then, she paused for thought.

Yum

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Carthage, Dougga, El Jem Tunisia, Historical Sites of Tunisia, Tunisia, Tunisian travel

Previous Post: « Ancho Chicken Pot Pie with Cornmeal Drop Biscuits | Hero Dinners
Next Post: Spinach Tart | The Italian Table »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nanette La Salle

    May 14, 2019 at 7:59 am

    Beautiful Cathy! Thanks. My favorite pic is of you! 🙂

    Reply
    • ShePaused4Thought

      May 14, 2019 at 10:44 pm

      Thanks Nan. It was such a beautiful country.

      Reply
  2. occakelady

    May 14, 2019 at 8:17 pm

    You take the most amazing trips, and the most beautiful photos! Thank you for sharing your experiences with us!

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      May 15, 2019 at 9:06 am

      Thank you so much, I am so blessed I can travel with my mom, she makes these trips so much fun.

      Reply
  3. cookingontheweekends

    May 14, 2019 at 8:21 pm

    Cathy, these photos are spectacular! And I felt like I was along for the journey. It’s all so interesting and so beautiful. What an intriguing place!

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      May 15, 2019 at 9:07 am

      You are so kind. I am so happy you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  4. April

    May 16, 2019 at 1:54 pm

    I love these pictures Cathy! It’s so cool you get to do this with your Mom, what a blessing! xo

    Reply
    • ShePaused4Thought

      May 16, 2019 at 2:20 pm

      Thanks April, it is very cool and I am so grateful I can travel with my mom.

      Reply
  5. Jamie

    June 4, 2019 at 5:49 pm

    Great pictures, Cathy! Please say hello to your Mom for me!

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      June 5, 2019 at 10:39 am

      Thanks Jamie! Will say hi to mom.

      Reply
  6. Karen (Back Road Journal)

    June 6, 2019 at 11:31 am

    What a fascinating country to visit and you captured it so well in you photos. It appeared that there weren’t many tourists at the places you visited.

    Reply
  7. Christina Conte

    August 22, 2019 at 8:28 am

    I am in awe! Such amazing structures that are still so much very intact, and what I’m also amazed about is the lack of people! Holy cow, you had it all to yourselves! I need to go before word gets out! Thanks for this, Cathy! Amazing places!

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      August 22, 2019 at 4:59 pm

      It really is an amazing place and I would go sooner than later. Once the cruise ships start going again, it will be so busy. I see a few tours added for 2010 with a travel company I travel with, so it won’t be long.

      Reply
  8. Cheri Cameron Newell

    January 30, 2021 at 2:42 pm

    Wow… finally getting to see your pictures from Tunisia… just glorious!!! Glad I can travel vicariously through you! Don’t know how I have missed the travel portion of your Blog! It’s wonderful!

    Reply
    • Cathy Arkle

      February 15, 2021 at 4:30 pm

      So happy you are enjoying the travel section!

      Reply

I would love to hear from you! Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Who is She?

Welcome to She Paused 4 Thought! I’m Cathy - a farm girl from Iowa living in Los Angeles. Let’s cook, laugh, travel & have fun together. Read More…

Subscribe and Connect

Get new posts via email.

Recent Posts

  • Barbara Hansen’s Lemon Bread
  • Rosemary – Onion Mac and Cheese
  • Hatch Pecan Brownies
  • Raspberry Crumble Bars
  • Passover Celery Root Salad
  • Kiwano Melon, Smoked Trout and Avocado Salad

Categories

Follow Me On:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Other Favorites

RASPBERRY CRUMBLE BARS

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Cathy Arkle