TUNIS, TUNISIA – 19 October 2026
After our positive experience in Malta with a private tour, we looked around for a similar experience in Tunis, I’m not sure why we decided to stay with the included on-shore experience, in hindsight, I should have done more research. A day later, when writing this blog I discovered that there was much to see in the area that we didn’t see. Ah well, it is what it is (or in this case was).
We headed out from the port to the town of Sidi Bou Said which known for its architectural harmony, that is, all houses are painted white (it keeps houses cooler if they’re white) and features, like doors and windows are all painted blue (a nod to the fact that they are right on the Mediterranean.
The blue & white colour scheme does make a statement.
Many of the homes have red bougainvillea’s planted.
Apparently it can be any shade of blue.
I’m sure this second story verandah (probably with a view of the sea) is the perfect place to sit with a glass of wine once the evening breeze comes in.
The grills over the windows aren’t necessarily for protection, I’m figuring that the grill keeps the cats out (I’ve never seen so many cats in one place), or keeps the children in.
I wondered what the significance of 1934 was at this house. Maybe it’s because the year 1934 was a pivotal moment in Tunisia’s history, marked by significant political and social events that would have a lasting impact on the country’s future.
Our guide, Adam, pointed out that the door knocker at the top left was for men, the knocker on the right was for women and the small one was for children and said that each one had its own sound so who was inside would know who was at the front door.
The doors were quite ornate, but I couldn’t head the difference, in any event, some had electronic buzzers installed which would negate the need for “sounds”.
I missed some of the guide’s talk at this stage but it’s possible that the colour yellow depicts an “important” gate. For instance this one was for the house of Baron Rodolphe d’Erlanger , a famous artist and musician who in the 1920s, popularized the town’s blue-and-white color scheme.
I particularly liked this medieval looking door.
Apart from the colour scheme of the village, it’s also a popular tourist stop (yes, there were a lot there) as it’s known for its many artiseans and tacky tourist trinkets.
The village Mosque.
Our next stop was the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial containing the remains of 2,841 American war casualties – I believe from WW2.
It is administered by the American Battle Monuments Commission and I have to say that the grounds are beautifully kept (obviously funded by the USA). But really, (a) it must cost a small fortune to keep these trees so carefully pruned and (b) that’s an awful thing to do to a perfectly good tree.
And this pruning, is it an American thing that they asked for or is it a Tunisian thing? I didn’t see any other pruning around like this.
If they’re going to go to such lengths, shouldn’t they have the pruning the same on either side. Have you guessed that I’m not a fan of pruning?
Our guide said that we “must” go right to the end of the promenade and he was right. There were at least four or five mosaics detailing the battles over Tunisia and other areas of the Mediterranean
The mosaics are very detailed, and they don’t like a US produced map, I’m guessing that the Tunisians did these, they look a lot like some of the artisians’ work.
The rest of the city that we saw was very run down, both the houses and the public area and loads of rubbish laying around. It would be very sad if the US reduced or stopped funding for the maintenance of the memorial. Mind you, maybe those funds could have been spent elsewhere.
Our next stop, albeit the stopping of the bus with us looking out the window was this the Cisterns of La Malga. Apparently, they are some of the best preserved Roman cisterns. I was fascinated, this would have been so good to get out and take a closer look, even if it was this side of the fence.
The next stop, the Acropolium, also known as Saint Louis Cathedral built on the top of Brysa Hill. We couldn’t walk around this and explore it, and whilst it looked like you could pay something to get in, we weren’t offered that opportunity. I have to say the site was very dirty, lots of rubbish around and it looked like the cathedral itself was very run down.
We’re now in the next spot and there’s the Cathedral up on peak of Byrsa Hill, near the ruins of the ancient Punic and then Roman city. It was built on top the ruins of an old temple dedicated the Punic god of healing. Now up until this time we hadn’t heard about the Punics.
So, this was apparently the Punic boats used (they weren’t big boats), and apparently it was a very important port.
I did pick up a couple of these in one of the markets, it’s desert rose, sand rose, Sahara rose, rose rock, selenite rose, gypsum rose, or baryte rose is an intricate rose-like formation of crystal clusters of gypsum or baryte, which include abundant sand grains. I’m always on the lock out for interesting or unusual “rocks” for the grandkids.
So, if I’d done more research, what would we have seen if we’d hire a driver and car.
Carthage was an ancient Phoenician city in present‑day Tunisia, founded around 814 BCE and later becoming a major Mediterranean trading power before its destruction by Rome in 146 BCE. So, whilst the guide talked about Carthage, we probably didn’t take it in. There are other places you can visit if you decide to go to Tunicia such as
- El Jem Amphitheatre – One of the largest Roman colosseums outside Rome
- Dougga – one of the best-preserved Roman cities in North Africa (might have been too far away.
- Antonine Baths – Roman baths, third pargest in the Roman world.
- Byrsa Hill – which we went to but didn’t see the site that has been found
Uthina – A Roman city with a massive amphitheater and underground chambers.
Bulla Regia: Known for its underground houses and mosaics, this site reflects Roman
Would I recommend a trip to Tunicia, if you’re interested in ancient history, then definitely, but you may have to search around to find a drive to take you to some of the sites.