Tunisia (Page 1: Tunis)

Tunis - view of Av Bourguiba, the principal thoroughfare through the New Town, the part of Tunis built by the French during their colonial rule.

Tunis - the French Cathedral, built in 1882.

Tunis - a street in the New Town near the French Cathedral.

Tunis - another street scene in the New Town area.

Tunis - another view of the Bab el Bar, taken from inside the medina.  The central part of Tunis has two very distinct areas which reflect Tunisia's rich Arabic and French heritage.

Tunis - Bab el Bar (the Sea Gate), which opens from the Medina (Old Town) part of the city into the New Town.  This was the edge of the city before the French built the New Town.

Tunis - a typical street scene in the Medina.

Tunis - another scene in the Medina.

Tunis - one of countless such scenes in the Medina section.

Tunis - a coffee shop in the Medina.  The clientele appears to be 100% male.

Tunis - the Great Mosque, known as the Zaitouna (Olive Tree) because it stands on the site where its founder sat under an olive tree teaching the Koran.  Built in the 9C but remodeled several times since.

Tunis - rooftops in the Medina from atop a "carpet shop" (at least the tea was free!).

Tunis - Halfouine.  This area was originally settled outside the main Medina, and has a very different character despite its close proximity.

Tunis - Halfouine, a typical street market in progress.

Tunis - Halfouine, detail in the street market.

Tunis - the Bardo Museum.  This museum houses some of the finest ancient Roman mosaics anywhere, and is a short trolley ride away from the center.

Tunis - detail of mosaics in the Bardo Museum.  The area now known as Tunisia was particularly renowned in ancient times for the quality of its mosaic artists, which is evident in these photos.

Tunis - detail of mosaics in the Bardo Museum.

Tunis - street scene in the New Town area on the edge of the center.  Could be Marseille!

Carthage - Cathedral of St Louis.  The ruins of Carthage, one of the most celebrated ancient cities, lie just a short ride by commuter train from central Tunis.  This cathedral was built by the French in 1890.

Carthage - view of the archaeological gardens.  Carthage was founded according to legend in 814BC, but destroyed by the Romans in 146BC.  Later it was rebuilt and became the second largest city in the empire after Rome.

Carthage - a second view in the archaeological gardens.  As in other lands where the ancient Romans spread, many of these roads are still in use today.

Carthage - the Antonine Baths.  These were once the largest such complex of their kind in the Roman world.

Carthage - another view of the Antonine Baths.

Map courtesy of maps.com.