"Carthage - Roman African empire capitol " a Carthage Travel Page by Willettsworld

If you're visiting northern Tunisia then you simply can't miss Carthage as it was here that the Romans ruled their north African empire. Carthage lies about 15km (9 miles) east of Tunis which makes it an ideal place to visit for a day out (see one of my travelogues about a walking tour). Carthage was a great ancient city and port where the military genius Hannibal lived and where Virgil wrote his Aeneid about the tragic romance between Dido, (who founded the city), and Roman Aeneas. The city was founded by the Phoenicians in 814 BC before falling to the Romans after the third Punic war in 146 BC. It then became a mighty city over a century later with walls that stretched for 34km and houses and villas that ran down from Byrsa Hill to the waterfront. It became the third largest imperial city behind Rome and Alexandria with 300,000 residents, three forums, a circus holding 70,000, mammoth baths and an amphitheatre, all of which can still be seen today. The multiple-entry ticket allows you to visit each sight during its one day validity so if, like me, you like visiting Roman ruins, you simply cannot miss visiting Carthage.