**Tunisia **has a rich and varied history, and a number of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known have left their mark on the country, including the Phoenicians, the Roman Empire, and the Byzantines
There are many cultural UNESCO sites in Tunisia, all concentrated in the northeast of the country. The first 3 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list in Tunisia, the Archaeological Site of Carthage, the Amphitheatre of El Jem, and the Medina of Tunis, were added in 1979.
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Amphitheatre of El Jem**
– The ruins of the biggest colosseum outside of Italy, the Amphitheatre of El Jem is considered one of the best-preserved Roman stone ruins in the world. The amphitheater is the largest in North Africa and was built around 238 AD. It has a capacity for 35,000 spectators
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Archaeological Site of Carthage**
– Located on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis, the city of Carthage was founded as a Phoenician colony in the 9th century BC and was once the capital of a great trading empire which stretched across the Mediterranean Sea. Carthage was destroyed by the Roman Republic during the Third Punic War in 146 BC, before being rebuilt as a Roman settlement and passing through a number of occupying forces.
Dougga / Thugga
– A Punic settlement that was later taken over by the Romans, the ruins of the town of Dougga were made a world heritage site in 1997 and are the most recent addition to the UNESCO list in Tunisia
Kairouan
– Founded in 670 AD, this ancient city in the center of Tunisia was previously the country’s capital until that function was transferred to Tunis in the 12th century. Nevertheless, it remained an important holy city and continues to attract religious pilgrims to this day. The city boasts a rich architectural heritage, most notably seen in the Great Mosque of Uqba
