10 Captivating Tunisian Locations You Can Explore in Street View

Carthage Ancient Ruins

The ancient city of Carthage was founded by Dido, daughter of the King of Tyre who landed there in 814BC. From a small settlement it became one of the most important trading cities in the western Mediterranean, but unfortunately its success made it a target for competitors and it was destroyed in 146BC. Later, it was rebuilt by the Romans, flourishing into the third largest city of the empire. It was eventually destroyed again in the Muslim conquest of the Northern Africa in 692AD and crumbled into the ruins it is today. Around Carthage some of the more unusual sights you can see are: the Tophet, a religious sanctuary where excavations revealed evidence of human sacrifice; piles of enormous limestone cannonballs leftover from historic attacks; and a 2nd century Roman amphitheatre that was sometimes flooded to conduct mock naval battles.

Cap Angela

Cap Angela may not look overly remarkable, but its tip, Ras Ben Sakka, is famed for holding the title of the northernmost point of the African continent. Interestingly, it has only held this accolade since the Tunisian tourism ministry proclaimed it in 2014, when it stole the top spot from Ras al-Abyad, also in Tunisia. Ras Ben Sakka was found to extend 30m further north than the previous champion, giving it the edge in the competition. Cap Angela is an example of the rugged natural beauty of the Tunisian coast as the rocky outcrops meet the azure blue of the Mediteranean sea.

La Medina

The medieval medina quarter, or old town, of Tunis is a sprawling maze-like area originally surrounded by walls and entered through any one of its 12 ancient gates. Although the walls no longer stand and only 5 of the gates remain, the medina remains the most lively area of the city. It’s home to winding colorful souqs, residential areas, and 700 important historical monuments, including palaces, mosques, mausoleums, and Arab Orient style madrasas, or colleges. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, the medina was built in 698AD in the area around the Zitouna mosque and is now home to around one tenth of the population of Tunis. Enjoy a view across the rooftops of its labyrinthine alleyways from the roof of the famous Olive Tree mosque and spot the skyscrapers in the distance in the newer part of Tunis.

Zaouia of Sidi Mehrez

Sidi Mehrez was the patron saint of Tunis, revered for how he dedicated his life to the teachings of the Quran and worked to protect the rights of the Jewish population of the city. He is also credited with reviving the city after it was badly damaged during the revolt of Abu Yazid in 945AD. Sidi Mehrez was instrumental in rebuilding the city walls and establishing new souks after the originals were destroyed and looted, earning him the gratitude of the medina’s inhabitants and the honorary title of “Sultan of the Medina”. The Zaouia of Sidi Mehrez is his final resting place after his death in 1022, built opposite the Mosque of Sidi Mehrez. Women come to the mausoleum to pray for marriage and children and traditionally, young boys visit to drink from the well there before circumcision ceremonies.

Wreck of Ydra

In January, 1983, the engine room of the Ydra, a Greek cargo ship sailing off the northern coast of Tunisia, dramatically caught fire and the ship was forced to run aground. With the damage too great to be repaired, the dilapidated wreckage has been sitting there ever since, not far from Bizerte. Since its abandonment, most of her plating and parts have been salvaged or collapsed and the wreck is now quite a haunting sight. Standing at 8.8m tall and 154m long, the ship, built in 1966 in the UK, was originally called Manchester Fort. It presents a piece of modern history to contrast with Tunisia’s wealth of Roman ruins, however it did briefly find a second life as a filming location when it had a starring role in the music video for Welsh rockstar Bonnie Tyler’s song Louise.

Kasbah of El Kef

Towards the West of Tunisia, the beaches gradually begin to transform into the dramatic landscape of the Atlas mountains, which provide a spectacular backdrop to the easygoing city of El Kef. El Kef is scattered with multicultural relics from different eras of history, including Roman baths, a Christian church, an 18th century Jewish synagogue, and an Ottomon fort that rises out of the medina on a hilltop. The fort, built in 1600 to help the Ottoman rulers watch over the local tribes and borders, consists of four watchtowers, accommodation for soldiers, and a secret escape door. It was further developed over the years by subsequent rulers of the city, including the apparently security-conscious Hammuda Pasha, who added a moat and wooden drawbridge around it.

Bulla Regia

Bulla Regia is a Roman town in North-western Tunisia, but it is unlike any of the others that can be found dotted around the country. Not only are the buildings extremely well-preserved compared to other Roman ruins, but the resourceful residents of this city devised a clever way to escape the scorching heat of the North African summer. The living quarters were built with two storeys, one above ground and one below, away from the rays of the sun. Many of the villa floors were adorned with elaborate Roman mosaics, which the inhabitants used to sprinkle with water, both to cool the rooms down, but also to bring the colors in the tiling to life.

The Great Mosque of Sfax

Sfax is the second largest city in Tunisia and is home to the distinctive Great Mosque, founded in 849. Construction of the mosque began at the same time as Sfax itself and has undergone many renovations over the centuries. Its two domes were added in 988 and its minaret was raised to a height of 25m and elaborately decorated with islamic geometric patterns. During a long period of turbulence from the 11th to the 17th century, fragments of the mosque were chipped off and peddled as historic artifacts and souvenirs, until 1702 when the Imman Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Farati poured his fortune into restoring the mosque to its former glory. The mosque was damaged again during the French occupation of the city when it was used as army barracks and disfigured by bombs, but has since been restored again.