![[roman_tunisia graphic]](http://www.tunisusa.com/tours/tunisia/regular/images/roman_tunisia.gif) |
Roman Tunisia A seven night package concentrating on the northern portion of Tunisia and the legacy of the Roman period. |
Itinerary
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 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. 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,L,D)
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 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. From
Bulla Regia, you continue driving through the countryside in this rather,
undeveloped part of Tunisia, with an early afternoon arrival 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 west to the picturesque
hilltop town of Le Kef. Also known in Arabic as El Kef, this town is seldom
seen by the five millions visitors to Tunisia annually, and as such, retains
a character much devoid of tourism. Your base for the night is a small hotel
in an area that makes walking Le Kef most pleasant. Overnight in Le Kef. (B,L,D)
Day 4, Monday - Makthar/Kairouan
This morning you depart Le Kef and head southeast towards the central
portion of Tunisia. Your first stop is 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,L,D)
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,L,D))
Day 6, Wednesday - El Jem/Sousse
This morning you drive 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, as well as a visit to the Sousse Museum, which
holds an impressive collection of mosaics. You will also have time to explore
on your own and shop in the markets, if you choose. Dinner and overnight in
Sousse. (B,L,D)
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, L, D)
Day 8, Friday - Tunis departure
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight. (B)
Click Here for the dates of Roman Tunisia tours
Additional tours and dates may be announced, Contact Us for updates.
Price includes:
- Double occupancy in deluxe/first class hotels ($395 single supplement applies)
- All touring, entrance fees, baggage handling and all meals as indicated
Prices do not include air.
