TUNISIAN TOURS: ROMAN TUNISIA
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Roman Tunisia

A seven night package concentrating on the northern portion of Tunisia and the legacy of the Roman period.

7 nights!

Day 1, Friday - Tunis
Arrival, welcome and assistance at the airport. You will be transferred to your hotel in central Tunis. This evening you will rendezvous with your guide for a welcome dinner and orientation. Overnight in Tunis. (D)

Day 2, Saturday - Tunis/Carthage
This morning, you depart for the Bardo Museum. Housed in a former palace of the Ottoman Bey, the Bardo houses a world-class collection of mosaics, along with many remains found in sites throughout Tunisia. It provides a wonderful foundation for your days ahead. Following the Bardo, you drive to the suburbs of Tunis and to the most famous site in Tunisia, Carthage. As you will discover in the days ahead, the renown of Carthage exceeds its present remains when compared to some of the better-preserved Roman sites of Dougga, Bulla Regia and Sbeitla. However, the setting of Carthage helps underscore the strategic importance of the site to its inhabitants in past centuries.

A View from Carthage

From Carthage, you will take a short drive to the nearby village of Sidi Bou Said. A picturesque town, whose architecture was inspired by its many Andalusian settlers following their expulsion from Spain in the late fifteenth century, Sidi Bou Said provides a pleasant place to stroll and enjoy the winding alleyways and ocean views. From the suburbs, you drive back into town to the medina, Tunis's historic heart, where you will have a walking tour of the historic points within the medina. Dinner and overnight in Tunis. (B)

Day 3, Sunday - Bulla Regia/ Dougga/Le Kef
This morning you depart the Tunis region and drive to the northwest of Tunisia. Your excursion will take you through scenic country roads and rich farmlands. You eventually arrive to Dougga. Known in Roman times as Thugga, Dougga is Tunisia's largest Roman site, covering some sixty acres. Known as the city of temples, its existence is thought to date back to the 4th century B.C. From Dougga, you drive approximate one and a half hours to Bulla Regia, one of the largest Roman sites in Tunisia. Dating from the fourth century, BC, Bulla Regia has beautifully preserved underground villas, built to provide an escape from the hot summers.

Mosaics in situ at Bulla Regia

From Bulla Regia, you drive into the mountains and cork forests around the city of Ain Draham, a region where the architecture resembles that of the Alps, rather than what one imagines of Tunisia. Your base for the night is a small hotel that is more like that of a hunting lodge, as the region is popular with European hunters who come to the area to hunt wild board. Dinner and overnight in Ain Draham. (B, D)

Day 4, Monday - Makthar/Kairouan
Monday is "market day" in Ain Draham. Your day begins with a visit to the local market, which provides an opportunity to experience a weekly market that caters to the locals. From Ain Draham, you drive south through the rural countryside, with your first stop being El Kef. This picturesque, hilltop town has a recently excavated Roman basilica. From El Kef, you continue south to Makthar. Known in Roman times as Mactaris, the town became a place of refuge for many Punic refugees following the fall of Carthage in 146 BC. The site has a small, but impressive museum housing a collection of neo-Punic stelae. Your touring continues through the country roads, with a mid-day arrival to Kairouan. Kairouan is today, a rather provincial town. The city was founded and subsequently developed during early Islamic times, with Kairouan's Great Mosque, dating from the 7th century, reputed to be the oldest mosque in the Islamic world, making Kairouan the fourth holiest city, following Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. Kairouan's location along the caravan routes also provided a base for a flourishing crafts industry. The region still provides the base for much of Tunisia's craft industry, particularly rugs and textiles. You will have the opportunity to explore some of Kairouan today and again, tomorrow. Dinner and overnight in Kairouan. (B, D)

The Great Moque at Kairouan

Day 5, Tuesday - Sbeitla/Kairouan
Following breakfast you drive southwest to Sbeitla. Known by its early Punic name, Sufetula, this impressive site seems to be in the middle of nowhere. During Roman times, olive trees were cultivated in this region and provided a flourishing olive oil export trade to Italy. You will have plenty of time to explore the site. Afternoon return to Kairouan, where you will have more time to explore the town. Dinner and overnight in Kairouan. (B)

Day 6, Wednesday - El Jem/Sousse
This morning you drive southeast through this central part of Tunisia to the main site of the day, the Roman coliseum of El Jem. Known in Punic and Roman times as Thysdrus, the approach to El Jem offers a scene of contrasts, due to the setting of the site amidst the barren and simple surroundings of the present day town. The coliseum appears better preserved than the one in Rome and certainly, has seen far less numbers of tourists over the years. You will have plenty of time to walk through the site and learn about its past. There is also a small, but good museum within a short drive. From El Jem, you continue east towards the coast and head north to the city of Sousse. Sousse is Tunisia's third largest city. Following lunch, you will have a walking tour of the Ribat and the old town of Sousse. You will also have time to explore on your own and shop in the markets, if you choose. Overnight in Sousse. (B)

Day 7, Thursday - Thuburbo Majus/Tunis
Today's drive turns northwest through the interior. Your first destination is Thuburbo Majus, one of the best-preserved sites in Tunisia. Debate continues as to the original settlement of the town, whether Berber or Roman. However, the setting is quite scenic and at the end of the second century, it is said that the town's population may have reached over ten thousand inhabitants. Agriculture was a primary source of income in the region. After having plenty of time to visit Thuburbo Majus, you make a short drive to Zaghouan, site of a Roman aqueduct that carried water from the hills of Zaghouan all the way to Carthage, a distance of over 130 kilometers. From Zaghouan, you continue on to Oudna, known in Roman times as Uthina. Oudna has been undergoing excavations that have yielded some rather impressive finds, including stately homes, baths, cisterns and a theater. From Oudna, you return to Tunis. Overnight in Tunis. (B)

Day 8, Friday - Tunis departure
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight. (B)