Carthage was a Phoenician city state and the center of an empire that controlled a good part of the Mediterrenean before it was defeated in a series of wars by the Roman Republic (Punic wars - 264-146BC). It was a prosperous civilization but few artifacts have been preserved to this day since the the Romans destroyed much of the original city. Both Carthage and Roman influences are a part of a rich heritage of the modern Tunisia and a afternoon tour took us to some of the ancient sites.

Byrsa was a citadel above the Phoenician harbor and the name of the hill upon which it was located. Some of the ancient building foundations have been excavated and the hill is now also home to the Carthage National Museum and Acropolium, previously also known as Saint Louis Cathedral. There are no services in Acropolium anymore, and it only serves as a place for concerts.

Sausage overdose	Yours truly and Irina	Irina on Byrsa hill	Carthage ruins	Carthage ruins	Roman column
Flower	Statue completion	Carthage National Museum	Male parts and a female	Arcade at the museum	Pooch siesta
Janitor	Mosaic	Acropolium	Kittens	Mosaic	Acropolium tourist trap

Built during the reign of emperor Antoninus Pius, the Baths of Carthage, as they are also known, constitute the largest baths Romans built on the African continent.

	Baths ruins	Roman inscriptions	Stone mask among desert roses	Directing tourists to a shop	Irina