Art and culture in Tunisia: UNESCO sites and museums

Few countries pack so many civilisations into such a compact territory. Punics, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Ottomans and Andalusians all left their mark on Tunisia in the form of ancient cities, mosques, fortresses and remarkably rich mosaics. The country has nine UNESCO World Heritage sites: Carthage, the amphitheatre of El Jem, Dougga, Kerkouane, the medinas of Tunis and Sousse, Kairouan, Ichkeul National Park and the island of Djerba.

Museums extend the journey. The Bardo in Tunis holds one of the finest collections of Roman mosaics in the world, while Carthage, Sousse, El Jem and Sfax display the treasures unearthed in their regions. Throughout the medinas, palaces, zaouias and courtyard houses reveal a refined way of life that still lives on in crafts, music and summer festivals.

Art and culture

Our picks

Bardo National Museum

Housed in a former beylical palace, it holds an exceptional collection of Roman mosaics, including the famous portrait of Virgil flanked by two Muses. Allow at least half a day to explore its galleries.

Tunis

Amphitheatre of El Jem

This third-century colosseum, one of the best preserved in the Roman world, could seat around 35,000 spectators. The nearby museum displays superb mosaics and a reconstructed Roman villa.

El Jem

Archaeological site of Carthage

The seafront Antonine Baths, the Punic ports, Byrsa Hill and the tophet tell the story of the long rivalry between Carthage and Rome. The remains are spread out, so travel between them by TGM train, taxi or car.

Carthage & Sidi Bou Said

Dougga

Set on a farming plateau, ancient Thugga is one of the best preserved Roman towns in North Africa. Its Capitol, theatre and Libyco-Punic mausoleum stand among the olive trees.

Great Mosque of Kairouan

Founded in the seventh century by Oqba ibn Nafi, it is one of the oldest places of worship in the Muslim West. Its vast courtyard and massive minaret dominate a UNESCO-listed medina.

Kairouan

Medina and ribat of Sousse

Enclosed by ramparts, the medina shelters a fortified ribat whose tower offers fine views over the city. The archaeological museum, set in the kasbah, holds a rich collection of mosaics.

Sousse

Ancient heritage

Beyond the big names, Tunisia is full of ancient sites. Kerkouane, on Cap Bon, is the only Punic city preserved in its original layout, with houses fitted with bathtubs. At Bulla Regia, the Romans lived in underground villas to escape the heat. Sbeitla lines up three temples on its forum, while Thuburbo Majus and Utica complete a fascinating itinerary around Tunis.

Medinas and Islamic architecture

Tunisia's medinas are open-air museums. The medina of Tunis is organised around the Zitouna Mosque, Kairouan preserves its Aghlabid basins and the mausoleum of Sidi Sahbi, and Sfax has kept its ramparts almost intact. On the coast, the ribats of Sousse and Monastir and the Skifa Kahla of Mahdia recall the defensive role these towns played facing the sea.

Living arts and creativity

Tunisian culture is not just about old stones. In Sidi Bou Said, the Ennejma Ezzahra palace houses the Centre for Arab and Mediterranean Music and hosts malouf concerts. In summer, the Carthage and Hammamet festivals fill ancient and modern theatres. On Djerba, the village of Erriadh has become an open-air street art gallery thanks to the Djerbahood project.

Destinations

Where to experience it

The North

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