 Festival of Ksour
Date- March, 2008
Venue- Ksar Ouled Soltane, Tunisia
At the festival of Ksour, you can enjoy some fine local music and dance performances. On visiting the place, you might some similarity between the galaxy scenes from the George Lucas famous film Star Wars and the lunar-like landscape of Tunisian desert. The ghortas or the grain stores in Ksour resemble huge mushrooms and the inhabitants live in the cave-houses carved out of sandy rocks.
Lag B’Omer Pilgrimage to La Griba
Date- May 2008
Venue- La Ghriba Synagogue, Djerba, Tunisia
During the Jewish Festival of Lag B’Omer, La Ghriba synagogue in Djerba becomes an annual pilgrimage for the Jews. Every spring the 7th century BC Synagogue is visited by thousands of Jeweish pilgrims. While the Jewish community in other places celebrates with bonfire and prayer, the Jews in Djerba prepares for a procession. The synagogue is said to have stone from the First Temple and has a place filled with eggs. Outside the shrine, a wooden monument is moved on wheels through the streets. It is covered in fabric offerings and the pilgrims keep on moving along with it.
La Ghriba Synagogue is located 9 km away from the Houmt Souk, Djerba.
Siren Festival
Date- July 2008
Venue- Kerkennah, Tunisia
At the Siren Festival in Kerkennah, you get to see the re-enactment of the traditional wedding ceremony. You will be fantasized by the Siren festival as it makes it references to the lost Ulysses by Homer. The festivals in Tunisia are completely based on harvesting season and other natural indicators and thus the correct calendar time for these festivals is difficult to predict.
You can take a ferry from Sfax to Kerkennah and it takes 90 min.
Carthage
Date- Daily
Venue- Carthage, Tunisia
The ancient city of Carthage is located in the suburbs of the Tunis. Carthage is historically an important city in Tunisia. Phoenicians were the first to understand the strategic and commercial importance of the city. They were the first to settle here in Carthage in the late 8th century BC. The prosperity of the Carthage attracted the powerful Roman neighbors and after three Punic Wars, the Roman conquered the prosperous Mediterranean city. Under the Romans, the city of Carthage again flourished and saw its decline only when the Vandals arrived to the city after 5 centuries.
The best way to explore the city is t start from the Byrsa Hill which is famous for its National Museum and the relics of Roman Amphitheater. The city has many Roman remains which can be explored on your visit.
The ruins which are located in the suburbs of Tunis can be reached by public transports.
Matmata
Date- Daily
Venue- Matmata, Djerba, Tunisia
Matmata is a secluded village in the mountains of Djerba. The lunar-like terrain features caves dating back to some 4th century BC have been chiseled into houses for accommodation. These primitive and reclused cave-houses are located just 5 to 10 metres deep underground and feature a courtyard, storage rooms and a living room. The entry to the house can be done through a sloping tunnel or by a ladder. Some of these houses featured in the first episode of the Star Movies. An arrangement with the owners of these cave-houses can give you glimpse of them while a few which have been turned into hotels are good for a night stay.
You can take a shared taxi from Djerba to Matmata.
Kairouan
Date- Daily
Venue- Kairouan, Tunisia
Kairouan has much to offer to the travelers from art to history and religion. Kairouan is said to house around 50 mosques and is therefore considered to be the 4th holiest Islam city after the mighty Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. The two most important sights that you can see in this beautiful ancient and scenic city are Bir Barouta and the Great Mosque.
Bir Barouta which is also known as the holy well belongs to the 8th century and is considered to be the holiest place to the west of the Jerusalem city. There are many legends which narrate the story of foundation of the city.
The Great Mosque was built in 670 AD is famous of featuring the oldest minaret in the world. The architectural style of the mosque is not complicated like the Muslim religious buildings. The first five feet of the central minaret of the mosque was built in the 8th century AD after the death of the Prophet.
Kairouan is also famous as the most popular and oldest carpet centre in Tunisia. There are also several markets, historical structures and sanctuaries to visit.
Kairouan is 160km and 67km south of Tunis and Sousse, respectively.
El Jem Colosseum
Date- Daily
Venue- El Jem Colosseum, El Jem, Tunisia
El Jem Colosseum is one of the spectacular monuments in Tunisia which show the unique style of Roman architecture. The colosseum was constructed in between 230 and 238 AD had a seating capacity for 30, 000 spectators. Seating on the oval seats, the spectators enjoyed the sport which involved of gladiators and wild animals. The visitors can take a walk through the underground corridors of the Colosseum where the gladiators and lions waited for their turn. In the 17th century, however, the Colosseum suffered a Turkish blow which created a massive hole in one of its side. Still, the El Jem Colosseum takes the pride of being one of the finest examples of Roman architecture. Every summer, the El Jem Colosseum organizes classical music festival which you can enjoy during your visit.
El Jem is 60 km south of Sousse and 60 km north of Sfax.
Zitouna Mosque
Date- Daily except on Friday
Venue- Zitouna Mosque, Tunis, Tunisia
Time- From Saturday to Thursday it is open from 8:00am to 12:00 noon; in summer it is open till 1:00pm.
The Zitouna Mosque is centrally located in Medina district of Tunis. The mosque which literally means “mosque of the olive tree” is the largest mosque in Tunis. It was built in the 9th century to commemorate the glory of Tunis by the ruler Obeid Allah Ibn-al-Habhab. The mosque has numerous shops selling books, perfume, cloth, dried fruits and other goods within the circumference.
You can find Zitouna Mosque in the centre of the Medina.
National Museum of Bardo
Date- Daily
Venue- National Museum of Bardo, Tunis, Tunisia
Time- From 9:30am to 4:30pm (November – April; From 9:00am to 5:00pm (May – October)
The National Museum of Bardo also known as Musée Nationale du Bardo in Tunis is a house to an impressive collection of archaeological art and crafts which were found during the excavation from several parts of the country. The museum was originally a Hafside Palace dating back to the 13th century which was later beautified by vaulted ceilings, cupolas and galleries of Arab and Muslim style of architecture. The Bardo Museum boasts of having an impressive collection of Roman mosaics and things of historical importance belonging from pre-historic period to Carthaginian, Roman, Christian and Islamic period.
Bardo Museum can be reached from the city centre by taking a tram, metro line 4 or a taxi.
Punic Harbours
Date- Daily
Venue- Punic Harbours, Carthage, Tunisia
The Punic Harbours were originally constructed in the 4th century BC. After carrying out extensive excavation in the recent years, people have come to know about the fascinating history of the city. The rectangular and circular harbors provide a spectacular view of the Punic Harbors.
Located to the south of Cartahge, Punic Harbors is close to the Oceanographic Museum.
Sbeitla
Date- Daily
Venue- Sbeitla, Tunisia
Sbeitla has a rich history which can be sensed in the well-preserved Roman ruins. The city which was founded in the 1st century AD was occupied and Vandals and invaded by the Arabs. It has been a very famous place to visit because of it ephemeral history. The things to see in Sbeitla are the archway addressed to Emperor Diocletain and a complex with three temples of unknown deities. The Tunisian Tourist Board usually posts the picture of Sbeitla for the promotion of tourism in the country.
Sbeitla lies in the centre of the Tunisia, north-west of Gafsa and south-west of Kairouan.
La Ghriba Synagogue
Date- Daily
Venue- La Ghriba Synagogue, Djerba, Tunisia
La Ghriba Synagogue is considered to be holiest Jewish site in the whole North Africa. Built in the 7th century BC, it is believed that the Jews brought along with them the stone and door from the altar of the First Temple of Jerusalem which has been cemented into the Synagogue. The stone can be seen in one of the arches of the Synagogue.
The La Ghriba Synagogue lies on the island of Djerba and is visited by the Tunisian Jewish pilgrims after the celebration of Passover. La Ghriba Synagogue is located 9 km away from the Houmt Souk, Djerba.
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