Carthage Ancient Ruins, Tunis (must see)

Carthage was an ancient city founded in 814 BCE near modern day Tunis. The ruins of Carthage are numerous in nature. Most visitors could spend a full day, if not more, exploring the ruins of this once-great city. At its peak, Carthage had a population of half a million people.

The ancient city was destroyed by the Roman Republic in the Third Punic War in 146 BC and then re-developed as Roman Carthage, which was part of Roman Empire in the province of Africa. The Roman Carthage was sacked and destroyed by Umayyad forces after the Battle of Carthage in 698 and it as sacked again during the Eighth Crusade in the 13th century.

The Carthage archaeological site has some of the best-preserved remains from the time. Spots like the Punic Ports, the Punic tophet, the acropolis of Byrsa, the basilica and much more can be found by exploring Carthage.

Byrsa Hill was the location of the citadel and an ancient temple. It is now part of the archaeological site. This is the site where the Carthage National Museum is located.

The museum is a must-see for those who want to see artifacts from ancient Carthage. Visitors will see life in ancient Carthage and a timeline of the city's destruction. They will also find jewelry, weapons, tombs and household items that were found among the ruins.

The Sanctuary of Tophet is a burial site that contains a sad number of children's graves. It is thought that the Carthaginians practiced child-sacrifice that led to so many young deaths. However, there is no solid proof that this is the case. The Sanctuary of Tophet includes a Roman necropolis as well.

Another spot to visit is the Baths of Antoninus Pius. This is the largest bath complex outside of Rome. They were built during the reign of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. They are the only remaining Thermae of Carthage that date to that era.

The ruins of Carthage are protected by UNESCO and the National Heritage Institute as a cultural site.