The Bardo, (national museum) located in the suburbs of Tunis, is in itself, an architectural landmark. Originally a 13th century Hafside palace, it has been restored and expanded throughout the centuries to become this superb example of Arab-Moslem 17th and 18th century architecture and decoration with its vaulted ceilings, galleries and cupolas. How fitting also that the finest collection of Roman mosaics in the world should be housed in this delightful setting !.The tour around the museum is a a tour through Tunisian history, but you'll find a strong dominance of Roman and Muslim times, as well as interior and rooms of the last couple of centuries. The best offer is a huge collections of Roman mosaics, one of the best in the world. When you have visited the museum, head back to the centre of Tunis,- there is nothing to see in the quarters around the museum.About a kilometre walk north of the Punic ports, the Byrsa quarter offers the third ground of any significance for most travellers. This is the place that has the largest percentage of surviving Carthagian settlement, and what has been recovered is on display in the museum that has been put up here.

Tunisia's capital? Is it the reminiscents of the French protectorate, which is still expanding as the modern city. Or is it the suq, the old town, one of the Arab worlds best (as long as you don΄t want to shop handicrafts)? The Romans returned to Carthage and built on its ruins a new Carthage resplendent with great buildings, theaters, villas and baths. Carthage became the administrative capital for Africa and its importance can be seen in the Antoinine Thermal baths, one of the largest built under the Roman empire with the "cool room" an amazing 47 meters long and 15 meters high. The Roman theater is still used today for the summer festival of Carthage. The truth is somewhere in between, Tunis is neither very Arab, nor African. It is not European either, even though Tunisians might tell you so. Tunis is highly functional, effective, clean and is mixing the old and the new, all at the same time, all over. Tunis is not a typical tourist site, but tourists going to places like hammamet and sousse , often go on day trips to the capital with their tour operators. When entering Tunis keep your eyes open for the efficiency, the cleanliness, the lack of beggars, and all the women wearing modern garments. Depending on your preferences, visit the bardo museum which is nice, but not big. Or the zoo, in the northern part of the city, which is very charming, well kept, and with far more animals than you would expect to find before entering. The most popular place in Tunis is the Avenue Bourgiba, which has big trees full of birds all along the pedestrian area that makes up the core of it. Right: And the only religious building along the Avenue Bourgiba, is the cathedral, just restored by Tunisian authorities.