Surrounding Areas of Tunis.
Bardo Museum
Sitting just a tram’s ride away is the National Bardo Museum, probably one of the most important museums in the Mediterranean region. Their collection ranges from Roman artifacts and Islamic works to Hellenistic and pre-historical pieces. You will need to spend at least two hours here to really get to see the incredible collection on offer!
The museum has a large collection of Roman mosaics from the excavation of Roman archaeological sites. Dotted around Northern Tunisia are sites such as Dougga and the Carthage, all offering fine mosaics from their time. Some of the pieces are really well maintained and it was hard to believe how much effort it must have taken to keep these pieces at such high quality!
This museum has officially become my favorite museum ever. I never really appreciated mosaic and tile work until seeing the things on display here. There is just something so mesmerizing about seeing the shiny little tiles all matched up symmetrically against the walls. I think this museum would have made anyone realize their love for it!
Le Goulette
Spending the morning in the Bardo neighborhood and seeing the museum was the perfect little adventure away from the centre of Tunis. I found the local tram and train systems really easy to use and really cheap. For those seeking for more of an adventure, head back into town with the tram, change at Place de Barcelone for a newer train to Tunis Marine before catching the TGM from across the road. Make sure you get tickets each time at the booths, as I have seen ticket inspectors around! Get off at Goulette Neuve station and navigate towards the beach and waters. Once you are close, pop into any of the restaurants and order yourself some freshly caught and beautifully grilled fish. My lunch came with a tomato based soup and a dish of the local favorite, Brik. This is a deep fried bit of pastry with a runny egg yolk in the middle. Being so close to the waters means fresh fish and I had a lot of it when I was in Tunisia. They were always so well cooked and so fresh!
After a big lunch, go for a gentle stroll along the waters and you will realize what a sleepy little town La Goulette is. Stop by at Salon De The Tahiti for a nice Turkish coffee while staring into the beach and waters. Its so relaxing and a perfect post lunch activity. The owner here is super nice, really encouraging you to just relax and take your time.
Carthage
Pop back onto the next train and make your way to Carthage Hannibal station. From here, it is a mini 20-30 minute walk up a hill to get to the archaeological site. Not really sure what google map was telling me but I ended up round the back of the site after a nice long uphill hike and was faced with the impressive Acropolium of Carthage. This is a mighty looking cathedral and was built around the 1880s under the French protectorate. With my mind thinking about the Roman ruins and all things Roman, I was really surprised to see such a grand Cathedral. It reminded me of the massive one in the middle of Hanoi, Vietnam. Both so grand and just a bit out of place!
Around the corner and you will be at the Carthage site, which is predominately a flat area overlooking the city below and the waters in the background, with lots of old Roman structures. The original city was from a Phoenician colony which developed into one of the major forces in the Mediterranean during the 1st millennium BC. The third Punic war (146BC) saw the destruction of the city but you can still see the remains of this Roman city.
This is a really nice place to have a walk around to see the different structures and how buildings used to be in Roman times. There are a lot of structures that you can just about make out as individual rooms. It is all very impressive how they have found and preserved so much of this. It makes you see how big this original site must have been.
The location of this city also has the perfect view of the land and the sea. Being able to see ships coming in and any army forces approaching must have been a major factor of setting up here. The views now are just incredible, it is always so nice to stare into the distance while seeing everything laid out below you.
Sidi Bou Said
The final stop of the day is at the rather popular stop of Sidi Bou Said, a coastal town famous of its views and beautiful Santorini like buildings and vibes. The area was actually named after a religious figure who resided here but no one really knows that when they visit. They come here for the beautiful scenery and buildings!
I have never been to the coastal region of Italy but I see the appeal of the blue and white buildings. It is really plain but beautiful, with the nice white contrasted against the beautiful ocean blues.
Head for a wander and check out some of the buildings and shops as you make your way up to the top of the hill.
At the top is a little cafe restaurant that has the most incredible views of the sea and bright blue waters. I spent a fair bit of time at Café Des Délices, just sitting, people watching, staring out into the waters and relaxing. Literally the perfect afternoon activity, staring out and enjoying the bright sun! Do be mindful that the staff here are a little rude and slow, but to be fair, the view itself makes up for it!
All in All
The surrounding areas of Tunis was a lot of fun and a real adventure. It is definitely worth spending an extra day in Tunis to discover and finding out more about the history and beauty of the capital!
Also published on Medium.