Dugga tunisia. Excursion to Dugga in Tunisia. Meat and fish dishes

A real Ancient Roman City - this is how one can characterize Dougga, the majestic ruins of which have earned it the reputation of one of the best archaeological parks in terms of the degree of preservation not only in Tunisia, but throughout Proconsular Africa, the ancient province of Rome. The uniqueness of Dugga was recognized by UNESCO, and in 1997 this place was included in the list of World Heritage Sites. cultural heritage. Located in the central part of the country, on the central Tell plateau, the ruins of Dugga, despite their distance from the coast, invariably attract groups of tourists, and there is really something to see here.

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How to get to Dugga

  • The best way is as part of an organized excursion. Russian tour operators offer day trip to Duggu, sometimes with a passing stop in the town of Zaguan and a visit to the Water Temple. The cost of the excursion is about 145 TND, this amount includes lunch at the tourist restaurant Douggi. The tour time of the archaeological park under the guidance of a guide is about 3 hours.
  • renting a car. Focus on the cost of 85-90 TND per day for an economy class car plus gasoline costs. The road is not too good, but there are no obvious potholes. The closest resort to Dougga is Hammamet, also easily accessible from the city of Tunis.
  • It is not recommended to rely on public transport: buses and minibuses do not come directly to Dugga; their nearest stop is the city of Tebursuk, 8 km to the north, from where you can get to Dugga by an ordinary yellow taxi. They go all the way to Tebursuk minibuses from Tunis, Le Kef and Beja, which in turn still need to be reached from the coastal resort towns.

Prices on the page are as of March 2019.

Search for flights to Tunis (closest airport to Dougga)

Weather forecast for Dougga

It is better to leave at least a three-hour walk through the archaeological park for one of the cool days. It is better not to come here during the peak summer heat: there is absolutely no saving shade in Dugga, and in July - August it is easy to fall into prostration here, not so much from the imperial grandeur, but from the mind-blowing heat. As an option, you can arrive in a rented car around 8 a.m. so you have time to see everything before noon.

Douggi Hotels

There are no accommodation options directly in Dugga and the surrounding area - people come here for an excursion, and not for a vacation. The nearest hotels of acceptable quality are in Hammamet and the city of Tunis.

Where to dine in Dugga

The only possibility is in a tourist restaurant near the main entrance. For a fixed fee you will be offered an unlimited number of approaches to the buffet; drinks are paid separately. Please note that the restaurant is closed early in the morning and during low season. Another option is to buy a sandwich on the way to Dugga or take some food with you when leaving the hotel.

3 things to do in Dugga

  1. Recite something from our William Shakespeare on the stage of a magnificent Roman amphitheater.
  2. Visit Latrinia - an ancient toilet with 12 seats.
  3. Take a photo next to the eloquent sign to the city brothel.

Entertainment and attractions in Dugga

In Dugga there is an abundance of ruins of ancient buildings of all times, purposes and layouts. At the beginning excursion route there is the Douggi Amphitheater, built in 199 AD. e. one of the rich men of the city. Accommodating 3.5 thousand spectators, it still serves as the site of the annual theater festival.

The center of the archaeological park is the forum and the Square of the Winds (on a rosette carved in marble you can read the names of the twelve winds, among them Africanus, known to us under the name Sirocco). It rises right there famous temple- The Capitol, the “face” of Dougga, has a massive portico, 8-meter solid columns and three niches for the statues of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva.

Just below are the Baths of Caracalla and the remains of numerous villas of wealthy citizens (some of them feature wonderful mosaics). An undisputed hit is Latrinia, public toilets with 12 seats, located in a semicircle to make it easier to conduct philosophical conversations, and Trifolium - a city brothel.

The undisputed masterpieces include the ancient Punic mausoleum (2nd century BC), the only monument of its kind in Tunisia, and at the same time perfectly preserved.

There are 21 temples in Dugga from different periods - from the Roman Temple of Minerva to the Victoria Church, built during the era of the Vandal invasion of North Africa. In a word, there will almost certainly be more attractions than you have the strength to see them all. When entering the park, it is recommended to purchase a map and decide on the optimal and, most importantly, feasible route.

If you are visiting Dugga not as part of an organized excursion, you can use the services of local guides. One of them, Hedi bel Larbi, is a local attraction: a 70-year-old man with youthful agility will lead you from building to building and recite La Fontaine’s fables from the stage of the amphitheater.

Sights of Duggi

Festivals

At the end of July, the ancient Roman amphitheater of Duggi hosts a theater festival interspersed with concert evenings, and the surroundings here are more significant than the action itself.

On the plateau of central Tell lie the ruins of the ancient settlement of Dugga. The city was founded by the Berbers - translated from their language, Dougga (more precisely, “Tukka”) means “pastures”; Later, Dugga was captured by the Numidians, from whom it passed to the Romans. You can book a tour to Tunisia with a visit to Dougga from us; The most convenient way to get here is from.

Why go to Dugga

Dougga is attractive because this ancient Roman city is considered one of the best preserved archaeological parks. It will take at least three hours to explore the ruins, but it is better to set aside a whole day for this excursion in Tunisia to also visit the Water Temple and the pretty town of Zaghouane along the way. We recommend going to Dugga in any months except summer - there is practically no shade here, and in 50-degree heat, being under the scorching sun is unsafe for your health. By the way, there is nowhere to stay overnight in Dougga - people come here exclusively on excursions as part of a tour to Tunisia. But you can have lunch - there is a restaurant not far from the main entrance to the complex.

Ancient ruins of Dougga

Twelve Roman temples have survived to this day in Dugga, as well as an ancient theater, baths with a colonnade and mosaic floor, and several houses. The Capitol, erected at Dougga in the 2nd century, was dedicated to Jupiter, Minerva and Juno; The walls and columns of the building are practically intact, which cannot be said about the missing roof, and the statue of Jupiter, which previously adorned the Capitol, was moved to the Bardo Museum in . In the center of Dougga there is the Square of the Winds and the Forum; From here, as a rule, they go on a tour of the ancient park.

From the stage of the Roman theater, located on a hill, anyone can recite Virgil, Cato or Horace. The theater seats 3,500 spectators; Nowadays, performances and concerts are often staged here, and the Douggi Festival is held at the end of July. The unique acoustics of the building are achieved due to the fact that the upper part of the theater in Dugga is built... from clay pots!

Another interesting building in Dugga - Trifolium: this private residence was once home to an elite brothel, and tourists often take photos at the Brothel sign. We also recommend visiting the Baths of Caracalla and the villas of rich Romans with unusual mosaics, as well as the Lathyrinia - public toilets in the Baths of the Cyclops, shaped like a semicircle and including 12 " seats": this design made it possible to conduct philosophical conversations! In Dugga are the houses of Ulysses (Odysseus) and Dionysus.

Finally, we advise you to visit the sanctuary of Juno Celeste (Juno Calestis) and walk under the arch of the first African emperor Septimius Severus, also built by the Romans. But among the Numidian (Punic, not Roman) buildings there are few preserved ones; the most majestic of them is the three-tiered mausoleum of Ateban, erected in the 3rd century. He. e. By the way, the inscriptions that decorate the walls of the mausoleum are written in the same letters that the Tuaregs use in Central Sahara.

Dugga can easily be called an Ancient Roman City. It is famous for its ruins, which are an archaeological park located in Tunisia. UNESCO recognized the uniqueness of this city, which was included in the list of World Cultural Heritage in 1997. The architectural park is located in the center of the country on the Tellya plateau. And the main thing is that these ruins, regardless of their location, attract a large number of tourists.

Tunisian cuisine

Throughout its existence, Tunisia was subject to attacks and colonization by different peoples, thanks to which the country's cuisine absorbed all the best that could be taken from other countries. Here you can find dishes of French, Turkish, Arabic, Asian and Spanish cuisine.

A large number of vegetables, grains and fruits grow on the soil of this country. Agriculture is concerned with animal husbandry. In addition, there is a large amount of fish and seafood. Due to this local residents They love to experiment in the kitchen, creating real masterpieces.

Meals in Tunisian families are a kind of ritual, since snacking on the go is not customary here. Local colorful food also attracts tourists.

Meat and fish dishes

Located next to the Capitol Wind Rose Square, laid out in mosaics, in the center there is a disk on which the names of the 12 winds are carved, among them Africanus, which is now called Sirocco.

Libyan-Punic mausoleum of Prince Atoban was built before the arrival of the Romans, and this increases interest in this object. A recording in Libyan and Punic languages ​​was found in the mausoleum; it was dismantled and is now stored in the British Museum in London.

In Dougga you can see several stone arches, Septimius Severus - partially preserved, the arch of Alexander Severus is in good condition, there was a third arch that completely collapsed. In the south of the city you can see the remains of private villas. One of them is Trifolium, a brothel. In the middle of the villa there was a courtyard around which there were numerous rooms.

Thermae - a modern fitness club

Another interesting attraction is the Roman thermal baths. This is a complex of buildings, including a bathhouse, rooms for recreation and sports, and a library.

During Roman rule, this was the center where local residents met, rested, and had conversations. It is interesting to see how the heating of the premises took place. Air ducts were laid between them, through which hot air from the furnace penetrated into the adjacent room.

In general, it is very interesting to look at the details of everyday life that have been preserved for thousands of years. Undoubtedly, the public toilet, well preserved in the Cyclops baths, is of equal interest. It is located in a semicircle and has 12 seats, making it convenient to have conversations at the same time. List and describe all attractions ancient museum under open air, impossible. You need to come and see everything with your own eyes.

What else you need to know about vacation

Visa

In order to visit Tunisia, and with it the city of Dougga, Russian citizens do not need to apply for a visa. When entering the country, it is enough to fill out an immigration document form. It is distributed on the plane or can be obtained directly at the airport.

But if you are going to this country by invitation, then a visa is required. And for its registration you must provide the following documents:

  • International passport;
  • A copy of the same passport;
  • Photo size 3x4;
  • Completed application form in English;
  • An invitation to visit the country.

Connection

Mobile communications cover the entire populated area of ​​the country. The only place, where the phone is completely useless is the desert. But to call Russia, it is best for tourists to buy local SIM cards upon arrival. This way you can save a lot on communication costs.

Communications in Tunisia are provided by three large companies:

  • Tunisie Telecom;
  • Orange Tunisia;
  • Ooredoo.

At the same time, the cost of calls from these companies is practically the same.

Safety

Tunisia itself has a low crime situation. There is some theft in the country, as in other African countries. Some time ago, Tunisia was in danger from the actions of terrorists, which was reflected in the restrictions imposed by the Federal Tourism Agency. But today, local authorities are taking all precautions to ensure the safety of foreign tourists in the state.

When going on an excursion to Dugga, you need to know that there is only one restaurant here, where Buffet. Therefore, someone may need to take sandwiches or other snacks with them.

Visit this amazing monument of the Roman Empire; any time of the year is considered a favorable time to explore it, except for the hot summer. Holidays in Dugga in 2020 will be of interest primarily to those who value educational excursion holiday and immersion in history.

Video about the city:

Tunisia is deservedly proud historical heritage countries. Carthage, El Jem, Dougga, Udna, Utica, Zaguan - this is far from full list archaeological sites of genuine interest.

We invite you to pay attention to two archaeological parks that fully demonstrate the greatness of the ancient Roman period in the history of the country.

Dugga

Antique roman city Dugga is one of the best archaeological parks in the territory of Proconsular Africa (ancient province of Rome).

As a World Cultural Heritage Site Dugga in 1997 it was included in the UNESCO list.

Located Dugga in Beja vilayet in the northern part of the country. The distance from the main resorts has made the site not very popular among tourists, although in terms of the importance of attractions, the city can compete with Carthage and El Jem.

Sights of Duggi

The archaeological park covers an area of ​​65 hectares and is of great scientific and historical significance. Initially, it was a Berber settlement, then the territory was captured by the Romans, then the Byzantines ruled, they were replaced by the Vandals (an ancient German union of tribes). All this left its mark on the architecture of the city. On the territory of Dugga you can see:

  • Capitol- this is the center of the settlement, here were the temples of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. 8-meter columns, niches for statues, a preserved portico, and the remains of a huge statue of Jupiter were moved to the Bardo Museum in the capital;
  • Mausoleum of Ateban– was built in the 2nd century BC. e., this is the only well-preserved tomb in Tunisia;
  • forumcentral square a Roman city where meetings of citizens took place;
  • Winds Square– located next to the forum, the names of the 12 winds of northern Africa are carved on a marble slab;
  • amphitheater– small (designed for 3 thousand spectators), well preserved, does not look as impressive as the amphitheater in El Jem, but arouses great interest among visitors;
  • trifolium– ruins of a city brothel. Since little remains of the brothel itself, the sign to the brothel is of greater interest - every visitor considers it his duty to photograph himself against the background of the sign;
  • Latrinia– public toilets in the shape of a semicircle with 12 seats. These objects are perfectly preserved, unlike anything else, and are very popular among tourists.
  • Baths of Caracalla– public baths;
  • villas of wealthy citizens– some have well-preserved mosaics.

How to get to the Dougga Archaeological Park

The park is located away from the main resorts (Hammamet - 160 km, Sousse - 190 km, Monastir - 205 km), from the capital - 120 km. The nearest settlement is Tebursuk (8 km north of the park). Public transport V Duggu does not go.

How to get there:

  • as part of an organized excursion - this is the simplest option, excursions can be one- or two-day, cost on average 145 TND (one-day) and 220 (two-day), the route often includes a visit to the city of Zaguan (Water Temple);
  • by rented car – it will cost 80-100 TND + gasoline costs;
  • public transport - you will first have to get to Tunis, and from there by luage to Tebursouk, then by taxi.

There is practically no shade on the territory of Dugga; it will be very hot in July-August. Sightseeing takes 2 - 3 hours (for some the whole day!), so evaluate your capabilities, do not forget about sunscreen, headdress, water.

Udna

This one is no less interesting archaeological park was opened to the public in 1999. Active excavations are still ongoing here - once upon a time Big city with a population of 60-100 thousand people cannot help but leave behind many traces.

The city was founded in the 2nd century BC; real prosperity began during the reign of Julius Caesar - veterans of the Roman legions began to settle here.

Sights of Udna

  • Capitol– one of the largest in the Roman province of Africa, its dimensions are 43x27 meters, there is a museum on the ground floor;
  • amphitheater– inferior in size to the amphitheater in El-Jem, but much larger than that in Dougga (designed for 16 thousand spectators), the arena, central gallery, punishment cells where gladiators and animals were kept are well preserved here;
  • public baths– not very well preserved, but fragments of the unique underfloor heating system are of interest;
  • villa and baths of the Laberi familymost interesting object in the residential part of the city: a house with an area of ​​2300 m², well-preserved mosaics (the three most valuable are in the Bardo Museum);
  • Amur baths and public toilets;
  • surviving fragments of the aqueduct

How to get to the Udna Archaeological Park

Udna is located 30 km south of the capital, the nearest cities are Nabeul and Hammamet (60 km).

How to get there:

  • an organized excursion is the simplest and most affordable option, excursions can be either one-day or two-day (combined visits to Udna and Dugga), as a rule, a visit to Zaguan (Water Temple) is also included;
  • by rail – Oudna is located 3 km from the “Oudna” railway station; to get here, you first need to get to the capital (about the features of train travel in Tunisia);
  • by taxi - despite the relative cheapness of taxis in Tunisia, the trip will end up being expensive even from the nearest resort of Hammamet;
  • by rented car - it will cost 80-100 TND + gasoline costs.

If you are interested in the history of Tunisia, then a visit Udny And Douggie will not leave you indifferent.

Find and book inexpensive tour to Tunisia you can use the services and. The search for tours is carried out using databases of 130 tour operators online. Compare prices, choose best options. You don't have to go to a travel agency office to book a trip.

Tunisia, which many of our compatriots associate with budget option beach holiday and most often goes by the motto: “There’s no money for Egypt, so at least go there...”, it turns out it’s not so simple and there’s something to see there too! The Tula traveler continues to tell us about this amazing country and its hidden capabilities.

— The first time I visited Tunisia was in 2006. Traditionally visited the most Famous places: the capital of the country, the fabulous Sidi Bou Said, ancient Carthage, the Bardo Museum, the cities of Monastir and Sousse. Of course, I went to the Sahara for two days with an excellent natural and historical excursion program.

10 years later, I flew to Tunisia again - this time the choice was made. I was able not only to get acquainted with the sights of the island, but also to travel beyond its borders to the southern part of mainland Tunisia.

After that, I was sure that I would definitely not have a third date with this African country. As it turned out, I was wrong - in August 2018 I again arrived in the city of Sousse. I was on vacation with my family in one of his hotels.

Over the course of 11 days, we chose two simple excursions. The first is quad biking, the second is Boat trip on a catamaran. Everyone liked it. But, I think you understand that for a real traveler this is torment, when passive relaxation in a hotel and light entertainment.

I wanted new places and discoveries. To my joy, the leisure list of the operator hosting the tour included an excursion marked “for real gourmets.”

It is called “Bizerta-Tabarka-Dougga”. I knew about the first city and dreamed of going there; I had heard about the other two before, but very little.

I paid the cost around 100 euros. This is in 2 days. In addition to the program, this also includes meals and a night in a hotel. To my surprise, from all over resort coast(from Monastir to Hammamet) there were 15 people who wanted to see the north of Tunisia and its main attractions.

Before continuing my tourist story, let me show you a map. On the left - the blue dots are the places where I was in Tunisia. A symbolic triangle is also highlighted there. These are just the 3 main objects of this excursion.

On the right is an enlarged fragment of the northern part of the country. 1 - Bizerta, 2 - Tabarka, 5 - Dougga. I'll tell you about the rest of the numbers below.

The excursion is really extremely rare so far. It was surprising to see dozens of large excursion buses, gathering hundreds of people in hotels, and after we passed the capital (Tunisia) we did not meet a single tourist vehicle. There was only our minibus. On the left in the photo is a guide named Adnen.
A few words about him. A remarkable person is the jewel of our program. I called him the Tunisian Celentano, especially since both of their names begin with the letters “Hell”. By the way, hell is not only a place known to everyone, but also an Arab tribe mentioned in al-Quran.

But the point here is not at all in appearance, Adnen simply has a very good command of the Russian language and knowledge, primarily historical. He had a dream to learn Russian in order to read books by great writers, watch documentaries about the difficult fate of our country. And he realized this dream.

In short, if you come across this guide, you will be lucky to experience a different Tunisia. Often, visitors to this wonderful country communicate with souvenir sellers and hotel staff, and then make very erroneous conclusions about the local residents.

First of all we went to Bizerte. This is the most northern city Tunisia, as well as throughout Africa. Its population is about 140 thousand people. Considered to be the oldest and most European city in Tunisia.

The city was founded around 1100 BC. Semitic Phoenicians from Sidon. During the periods of the Romans, Vandals and the Byzantine Empire, the city retained its names: Hippo Diarrhytus and Hippo Zarytus. Later the name was phonetically transformed into the Arabic word Banzart and then into Bizerte.

In the 16th century, Bizerte became a base for Mediterranean pirates. With the occupation of Tunisia in 1881, France gained control of Bizerte and built a large sea harbor there.

Bizerta is known as last city, which remained under French control after the rest of the country gained independence from it.

In 1961, an armed conflict occurred between France and Tunisia over naval base, known as the Bizerte Crisis.

Bizerte is closely connected with Tsarist Russia.

In 1776, the first Russian to visit Tunisia was naval officer Matvey Kokovtsov. In October 1897, the first foreign visit to the new port of Bizerte was made by Russian sailors on the Imperial Russian cruiser Vestnik.

In June 1900, in the roadstead of Bizerta, the Russian battleship Alexander II anchored under the flag of Rear Admiral Alexei Birilev.

And in 1920-1924, Bizerte became the last stop of the Russian Squadron. I wrote about this in detail in Gulbaria about . If you haven’t seen it, be sure to watch it, because this is our story, about which we know little.

The main goal in Bizerte was precisely the museum and cemetery where Russian officers of the Black Sea Fleet are buried. The cemetery is a bit neglected, but definitely worth a visit. In addition to our soldiers, there are graves of Serbian soldiers (World War I) and many French and Italian noble crypts.

I remember this one because it immediately reminded me of my wife, who was still alive. I didn’t know there was such a surname, or rather, I’ve never met it.

Overall, Bizerta is interesting. True, if a superficial inspection is not enough for you, then I recommend coming here on your own for the whole day. As a group, you'll get a lot of information, but you won't get as many pictures. For example, I was the only one who managed to run that day (in 35 degrees of shady heat) and quickly walk around the Medina of the city.

Let me sum it up. The main attractions of the city of Bizerte that cannot be missed are the Old Port (Le Vieux Port), the Christian Cemetery (Le cimetière chrétien), the Medina (Medina) and the Fort (Le Fort), built by the Spaniards in the 15th-16th centuries.

We stayed in Bizerte for several hours, had lunch and went to a place called the Grottes (Les Grottes). It is located at the exit of the Corniche area. All the cars stop here to admire beautiful view. Someone swims and explores small grottoes in the coastal rocks. Not knowledgeable tourists it is presented as Cape Blanco - the most northern point Africa.

In fact, this point is located 5 km to the west and is called Cape Angela. As I understand it, there was no time for the entire group of different ages to go there on foot. I asked our guide to take the bus a little closer and give me at least 30 minutes of free time.

As soon as the bus stopped, I ran as fast as I could to the edge of the nearby gently sloping cape (number 2 on the map). As luck would have it, in those moments the navigator on my phone was stupid and I didn’t know exactly where I was.

I decided not to stop and no longer ran, but climbed further up the steep western hill. I took few photographs. There was no path ahead of me, only loose, dangerous slopes.

About ten minutes later I climbed into such a place that I didn’t even know how to get out. It was clear that no human had ever set foot there. Pieces of limestone and other geological deposits fell in layers from under my pioneering feet. I couldn't even get my phone out of my pocket there. A rare island of hard rocky rock.

Unfortunately, time was almost up and I had to run back. I was upset that I didn't capture myself on the cool, with geographical point view, object. But I liked the adventure walk. Sometimes I like to find myself in completely deserted places.

Well, besides, we can safely say that in a broad sense, I certainly visited the northern tip of my beloved Africa.

Then we returned to the main road and headed west. Very soon we passed by Lake Ishkol(number 6). It is part of the same name National Park, which was declared by UNESCO in 1977 biosphere reserve, was included in the World Heritage List in 1980.

In the 13th century, there were hunting grounds Hafsid dynasty (ruling dynasty in Ifriqiya from 1229 to 1574).

The park is home to one of the most important ornithological reserves North Africa, with a rich variety of fauna and flora. Meet rare species, such as the plum and marbled teal, as well as the widespread ones - geese, ducks, swans and flamingos.

The roads in Tunisia are good and paved, but I got caught once small area, which I couldn't help but photograph through the back window of the bus. This road scenery reminded me real Africa, which I haven’t been to for almost a year. I miss...

There were a lot of interesting pictures outside the window, it’s impossible to tell about them all in one note. I dwell only on the most memorable and those moments where there are photographs.

I remember a small one Sajanan town(number 7 on the map). Sculpture at the entrance.

I've seen something like this once before locality Storks or the city where happiness lives. But the Tunisian one surpassed it many times over. Over a couple of kilometers, maybe more, we observed hundreds of storks on the roofs of residential buildings and even technical buildings.

An incredible amount. In this city, people believe that storks bring happiness and prosperity to the family, which is why many houses have dozens of nests. There are almost no tourists here, so we didn’t even stop and rushed on. Otherwise, I would definitely take a lot of photos here.

I was sitting in the back and therefore it was inconvenient for me to shoot through the side window - many shots in motion were blurred. Of course we managed to photograph something. I don’t think everyone has seen Tunisia like this. True Mediterranean landscapes.

Here in the north there is a completely different fertile land on which olive trees grow.

At sunset on the first day we arrived at Tabarku is a coastal city in northwestern Tunisia near the Algerian border (number 3). Population more than 40 thousand people.

Tabarka is an important fishing port. The city is famous for its coral mining, the Coralis underwater photography festival and its annual jazz festival. I haven’t seen any photographs, but I did photograph the sculpture of coral and double bass.

This historical city, preserving memories of the Phoenician, ancient Roman, Arab and Ottoman civilizations. Opposite the main embankment in the sea is the island of Tabarca of the same name, where the Genoese Lomellini family kept its garrison from 1540 to 1742.

They acquired from the Ottoman throne the right to fish for corals here. From this era, the fortress, the pit on the site of the church and the ruins of several other Genoese buildings have been preserved.

Tabarca was the last Numidian city on the way to Zeugitana and was a Roman colony. It was connected by road to Simittus, for which it served as a port for the export of the famous marble. In Tabarka, the rebellious Roman governor Gildon, brother of Firm, committed suicide.

In 1741, the Genoese surrendered the city to the Bey of Tunis. Part of the population moved to an island near Sardinia, San Pietro, and its population retained the dialect of the Ligurian language of the Genoese, which is called Tabarkino.

Tabarka is also famous for the fact that the Tunisian national leader Habib Bourguiba, who became the President of Tunisia after gaining independence, was exiled here in 1952.

I don't know, maybe it's my fault good weather or a busy day, but I really liked Tabarka. Small, atmospheric and unlike other cities. The main feature is the protruding rocks along which locals walk.

You can even walk through one of the rocks. It's great that this is natural miracle has been preserved and not destroyed to this day.

I am attracted to places where people live in harmony with nature. The stone embankment is beautiful, it’s a pity we were here for only one hour.

We just had to get to the hotel, which surprised everyone later. It's called El Mouradi Hammam Bourguiba. Located on a hill less than a kilometer from the border with Algeria (number 4 on the map). I don’t remember exactly, but it seems like it was built for people who come here to be treated for various skin diseases.

Judging by the beautiful football fields and numerous cups in the corridors, professional football players train and relax here. Just at dinner we saw one team. The food is excellent, better than even in the hotel where I stayed with my family :) Personally, I did not expect that we would be accommodated in such a place. The views around are unreal. This is me watching the sunrise from the common balcony.

On the second day, we had to get acquainted with only one attraction, then have lunch and drive back to Sousse (and other places) a little over 300 kilometers.

If the day before we saw a UNESCO site from the side (Ishkol National Park), now we had the opportunity to properly touch another site with our feet and hands.

In the northern part of Tunisia there is a Roman Dugga city(number 5 on the map). Its area is 65 hectares. I was very impressed by the scale. This is just a fragment.

Many of the monuments here are well preserved, since Dougga stood in the countryside, away from the outside world, and therefore was not sacked, like Carthage, for example.

The history of Dougga has been known since the Roman conquest, although archaeological excavations have uncovered numerous pre-Roman monuments, including a necropolis, mausoleum and temples, which are testament to the importance of the site before the arrival of the Romans.

The theater, built around 168 BC, is still used today during the "Duggi Festival" every summer.

I took a lot of shots here, so I will tell you more about the Roman city and its attractions in a separate article. Historically a very worthy place.

On the way back, a completely different road, I took new photographs of the landscapes and small towns through which we passed. I realized that this excursion allowed me to understand this even more small state, which was much larger before the French.

Despite the transience of the northern journey, it was great, for which thanks to the tour operator, guide and fellow travelers!

P.S. Without my third trip to Tunisia, I would not now be able to say that I have properly seen and known this country. However, there are still a few places left that I would love to visit.

A big request to those who return from Tunisia and write in negative reviews that they didn’t like the country, first ask yourself the question: “Have you really been to Tunisia, and not just in a hotel?”

As a guide, although this is not a hundred percent indicator, count how many UNESCO sites you have seen. If 6-7, then you probably already have the right to a more or less objective opinion :)

Let me remind you that there are 8 UNESCO sites in Tunisia. This is a lot for a small country. It says that it is rich in significant monuments and heritage of humanity. For example, in the huge Sudan there are 3 of them, even in the neighboring grandiose historically Egypt has one less.

1. Medina of Tunis city.
2. Ruins of Carthage.
3. Amphitheater in El Jem.
4. National Park Ishkol.
5. Punic city of Kerkuan and its necropolis.
6. Medina of Sousse.
7. Kairouan city.
8. Ancient city Dugga.
plus 12 interesting and significant objects are on the preliminary list.