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| PromoTunisia Exploration & Leisure |
| During the days of the Roman Empire, between the second and sixth century A.D., some of the most spectacular mosaics in the history of art were created in Tunisia. Many extraordinary mosaics are still in place at archeological sites in Sousse, ElDjem, Nabeul, Thyna as well as currently held by museums across Tunisia. Designed and produced by workshops staffed with master artists and skilled artisans, the floors were commissioned by provincial aristocrats seeking to display their social status and opulent life. The mosaics abound with images of exuberant plant forms, with animals both real and imaginary and with individuals-nobles, farmers, hunters and wrestlers- going about their daily activities. Watching over them are various divinities, Neptune, Venus…. |
| Inaugurated more than a century ago, the National Museum of Bardo is the oldest museum in Tunisia. It comprises several departments: Prehistory, Antiquity, Roman, Christian, Muslim eras and is well know worldwide for its vast collection of mosaics. Housed in what was once the Bey’s palace, it contains important Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine and Arab treasures. The National Museum of Carthage, located on the hill of Byrsa, contains extremely interesting mosaics collections, objects in molten glass, masks, Punic, Roman and Byzantine exhibits and stands over the remains of the Baths of Antoninus. |
| As few paintings survive from this period, mosaics remain the richest legacy of the magnificent lifestyle enjoyed in Tunisia at the beginning of the millennium. These works of art offer insight into the lives and desires of those who lived in their midst, and inspire the same visual delight they surely elicited when first created. |
Many small museums reflect Tunisia’s rich muslim heritage like Dar Ben Abdallah, a palace of the 18th century located in the heart of the médina of Tunis, that shelters the museum of arts and popular traditions. Muslim architecture is most visible today through large monuments such as the great mosque of Kairouan or the Zitouna mosque in Tunis and the Ribats of Sousse or Monastir. Tunisian’s architecture also has Ottoman and European influences. |
| World Heritage Sites More than 5000 known archeological sites, large and small, bear witness to Tunisia's great past. Seven of these are among the most impressive in the world and have been designated World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. These include the ancient sites of Carthage, Kerkouane, Dougga, and the amphitheater of El Jem. Early Islamic sites include the medinas of Tunis, Sousse and Kairouan. Many of the other sites lie known but unexcavated, not solely for lack of funding but also in the desire to preserve them for posterity. Excavation invariably means exposing ruins to the elements and further damaging them. Tunisia’s World War II Cemeteries To commemorate the lives lost in the North African battles of World War II and in the hope of preventing another word war, there are 12 war cemeteries. Nine British, one French, one American, and one German. The American Cemetery at Carthage gathers the dead not repatriated from the North African Campaign, where nearly forty percent of the losses occurred. It also contains a memorial to the thousands of missing soldiers. This beautiful cemetery is extremely well-cared for and contains detailed mosaic maps illustrating key North African battles of the war. The nine British cemeteries contain 9,704 dead from the Commonwealth countries. They are scattered throughout Tunisia at Tabarka, Béja, Bizerte, Borj El Amri, Oued Zerga, Enfidha, Sfax, Thliba and Medjez El Bab, which is the site of the largest cemetery. |
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| PromoTunisia specializes in guided holidays around cultural themes such as music, festivals,cuisine, arts & traditions to provide our travelers with a Tunisian people experience. |
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| ARCHAEOLOGY Magazine: http://www.archaeology.org Explore the human past with the premiere publication devoted to worldwide archaeological discovery. Exclusive online articles and links to related sites. |