What is there to do in Tunisia?

Classical sights

Though not as well-known as Greece or Italy's classical ruins, Tunisia has a whole host of fascinating antiquities for travellers to explore. The country's capital, Tunis, was once an important cornerstone of the Roman Empire, the site of Carthage and the famous Punic Wars. It was also the mythical realm of Phoenician queen Dido, said to have fallen on her sword after Aeneas left her to continue his voyage in Virgil's ancient epic story, the Aeneid.

You can still see the ruins of this monumental city in the modern suburbs of Tunis. Visible layers of archaeology bear testimony to the city's tumultuous history and you can explore a well-preserved amphitheatre, baths and the remains of two Phoenician ports that were reworked by the Romans.

Beyond Carthage, the Tunisian landscape is littered with the remnants of the lost Roman Empire. Day trips to the classical ruins at Dougga, El Djem and Bulla Regia are perfect for history enthusiasts and the sites are far less crowded than their equivalents in Greece, Italy or even Turkey. Dougga, rising above the countryside south-west of Tunis, is listed by UNESCO as the best-preserved Roman small town in North Africa. Strolling around the town's mosaic-floored villas, theatre, baths and temples, and beneath its impressive triumphal arches, it's easy to imagine that this was a thriving town in its heyday.

Even more impressive is the vast amphitheatre of Thysdrus in El Djem, situated in the east of the country. The director of blockbuster movie Gladiator thought it suitably striking too, as it was used as a backdrop to several scenes from the film. Holding more than 35,000 spectators, it was the third largest of its kind in the entire Roman Empire. Climb the tiers that once overlooked gladiatorial battles and chariot races, and in the summer enjoy concerts within its atmospheric walls.

Another interesting place to visit, Bulla Regia in the north-west, is unique for its cleverly-constructed subterranean Roman villas, semi-submerged in the ground to escape the baking summer heat. Fantastically well-preserved, the lower rooms look onto open colonnaded atriums. To make sense of all this history, the beautiful Bardo Museum in Tunis is not-to-be-missed. Housed in a magnificent former palace, the museum exhibits countless works of art, sculptures and mosaics turned up from the excavations of Tunisia's classical sites. These include the only known contemporary portrait of the Roman poet Virgil and a mosaic depicting the ancient myth of Odysseus and the Sirens.