Sights Archives ⋆ Page 6 of 156 ⋆ The Passenger

May 31, 2025June 2, 2025

El Jem

The Amphithéâtre de El Jem, located in modern-day Tunisia, is an extraordinary example of Roman architecture in Africa, built around 238 AD. It stands out as one of the largest and best-preserved Roman amphitheatres, capable of holding about 35,000 spectators. Unlike many amphitheatres built into hillsides, El Jem’s structure is free-standing on flat ground, supported by a sophisticated system of arches and stone blocks without foundations. Its elliptical shape measures roughly 148 by 122 meters, and it features three levels of arcades with Corinthian or composite columns, reflecting a high level of architectural accomplishment for its time. The arena also includes subterranean facilities for animals and gladiators, accessed through trap doors, demonstrating advanced engineering.

May 31, 2025June 2, 2025

Kairouan

القيروان, founded around 670 AD by the Umayyads during Caliph Mu’awiya’s reign, is a historically significant city in Tunisia and the Maghreb. It was the first Muslim city established in this region and quickly became a major center of Arab-Muslim civilization. For five centuries, Kairouan served as the capital and a vibrant hub of culture, education, and religion, reflecting the early development of Islamic architecture and urbanism. Its medina, with over a hundred monuments, narrow winding streets, and traditional souks, remains a living museum of Islamic art and history.

May 30, 2025June 2, 2025

Sidi Bou Saïd

سيدي بوسعيد is a captivating village perched on a steep hill overlooking the gulf of تونس, about 20 kilometers northeast of the capital of Tunisia. Its dramatic ascent offers visitors stunning panoramic views of the Mediterranean and the ancient city of Carthage below. The village’s distinctive blue and white architecture, introduced in the 1920s by the French painter and musicologist Rodolphe d’Erlanger, creates a striking visual harmony that has made Sidi Bou Saïd a beloved destination for travelers interested in history and culture.

May 30, 2025June 3, 2025

Carthage

Founded around 814 BCE by Phoenician settlers from Tyre, Carthage was a major ancient city located in present-day Tunisia near modern تونس. It grew rapidly into a powerful maritime empire controlling key Mediterranean trade routes. The city was strategically placed on a triangular peninsula with a natural harbour, protected by the Lac du Tunis, which made it a crucial hub for commerce and naval power. Carthage’s influence extended across North Africa, Sicily, and parts of Spain, until its destruction by Roma in 146 BCE after the Punic Wars.

May 29, 2025June 2, 2025

Medina

The Medina of تونس is a remarkable historic quarter that dates back to the 7th century and flourished notably between the 12th and 16th centuries under the Almohad and Hafsid dynasties. This period marked Tunis as one of the wealthiest and most important cities in the Islamic world, reflected in the dense concentration of around 700 monuments including palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasas, and fountains. The Medina’s urban fabric beautifully showcases the interaction of architecture, culture, and socio-economic changes over centuries, making it a living museum of Arab-Muslim heritage.

May 18, 2025May 18, 2025

Arminius

Hermann was a chieftain of the Cherusci tribe who famously led a coalition of Germanic tribes to victory against the Romans in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD. The name ‘Hermann‘ was popularized in the 16th century as a translation of ‘Arminius‘, possibly first by Martin Luther, and means ‘man of war‘ in Old High German. Arminius had been trained by the Romans but turned against them, orchestrating one of Roma’s most devastating defeats.

May 15, 2025May 16, 2025

Baker Street station

Baker Street tube station is a landmark in the history of urban transportation, as it was part of the world’s first underground passenger railway. Construction of the station began in March 1860 using the ‘cut-and-cover’ method, which involved digging a trench along the street, laying the tracks, and then covering it over. Despite several accidents during construction, the work was completed by the end of 1862 at a cost of £1.3 million. The station officially opened to the public on 10th January 1863 as part of the Metropolitan Railway, which connected Paddington to Farringdon Street and aimed to alleviate the severe street congestion in Victorian London. The name also explains why in other cities subway systems are called ‘Metro’.

May 4, 2025May 6, 2025

Eternitate

The Eternitate Memorial Complex in Chișinău is a prominent monument dedicated to the Soviet soldiers who died during World War II, specifically in the second Jassy–Kishinev offensive. Inaugurated on May 9, 1975, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Soviet victory, the complex was designed by architect A. Minaev and sculptors A. Maiko and I. Poniatowski. It is located on P. Halippa street and serves as a central site for commemorations, with an honor guard from the Moldovan Army and regular wreath-laying ceremonies.

May 4, 2025May 6, 2025

Cricova

Cricova Winery, located just north of Chișinău, is one of Moldova’s most renowned wine producers and a major tourist attraction, famous for its vast underground cellars that stretch over 120 kilometers beneath the surface. These tunnels, originally limestone mines, have been transformed since the 1950s into a subterranean ‘wine city’, complete with warehouses, tasting rooms, and even banquet halls, all kept at a constant temperature ideal for wine maturation. Visitors explore this underground labyrinth aboard electric busses, traveling through avenues named after the wines stored within, making the journey both practical and memorable.

May 4, 2025May 6, 2025

Orheiul vechi

Orheiul vechi is a remarkable historical and archaeological complex in Moldova, situated on a limestone bend of the river Răut. Its history spans multiple epochs, from Paleolithic and Eneolithic cultures to the Geto-Dacian fortress (6th–1st centuries BC), and later the 14th-century Golden Horde town Shehr al-Jedid. The site was a significant medieval Moldavian town until its decline in the 16th century when its fortifications were destroyed under Ottoman influence. Today, Orheiul vechi is recognized for its rich cultural layers and is on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list due to its unique blend of natural landscape and archaeological significance.