One of the prettiest towns of the Mediterranean, situated on the hill where once stood Carthage, the capital of the pre-Roman world. It was founded by the Phoenecians of Lebanon, as an outside trading post for their merchant ships, who planted colonies in this far western outpost, in Sicily and in Sardinia. Carthage was to become a powerful capital, ruler of the waves, defeating even the new rising superpower of Rome. It was only after a concerted effort of Rome and after having obtained blueprints of their destroyers, did Rome manage to build a navy capable of winning the Carthaginians, but also with the help of a betrayal. “Cartago delenda est”, Carthage must be destroyed and in fact the Romans hardly left two stones together. The impressive ruins that one can now visit in Carthage are Roman ruins, though you can still make out the Punic secret naval harbour, with its round automated docking spaces. In the Carthage museum you can see a reconstruction of this engineering wonder.

For the archeological ruins : the Roman villa, Emperor Antonio Pio’s baths, the Roman theatre, the Punic port. You need the museum ticket, which gives access to the other attractions and a taxi to move around (not expensive). The other main attraction is Sidi bou Said itself, which is up around 300 steps above the marina – a tough climb in the heat, but worth it. Take a torch for the descent in the dark, as there is no illumination.

You take the traditional mint tea at the main bar on top of the steps Caffé des Nattes, or a smoke at the “shisha” (narghilé) water pipe, if you indulge in such things. Another must is tea again, but at the lovely bar overlooking the bay and marina.