Tabarka is a guide' dream, all around the city clear traces of the exiting past are found. Yellow marble and lions were shipped out from there to the rest of the Roman empire. Some centuries ago, Tabarka was one of several pirate haunts, later it became a Genoese colony, before the Bey of Tunis in 1741 annexed it.

Income for the inhabitants have been both coral fishing, exports of cork (even still), and ordinary fishing. Today a Genoese fort is clearly visible from anywhere, Remains of Ottoman forts are found on the hills above the town. The French constructed a jetty out to the island of the Genoese fort. Little is found of the Roman past, unless you visit the Bardo museum in Tunis. From the Punic past, only the name remains.

Tabarka is very much a tourist town, but it is so far from being destroyed by the influx of Europeans, that nobody should feel like staying away. The town itself is quite un-Arabic, with rectangular streets, and houses with pitched roofs covered by red tiles. Colours are limited to white and red.

The atmosphere is laid back, and even touts in the city or out on the way to the fort, are quite relaxed. A tourist centre is being established east of the town, but this will probably have little effect on the special feeling of Tabarka.

City scenes

Tabarka is a very nice city, dominated by white houses with red slanting roofs. Set on the foot of low hills, meeting the sea it all makes for an ideal tourist destination.

Most of the nice houses dates back to the time of the protectorate, but even modern buildings try to merge with the general design.

Genoese castle

The 16th century Genoese castle is both visually attractive, lying on top of a wild island (since the 1940' connected with the mainland) and with a fascinating history. From 1541 and until the middle of the 18th century it was a Christian stronghold in the middle of the Ottoman Empire.

Around the castle, a tiny town of 1,200 inhabitants was built. Nothing remains of this now.

Unfortunately, most of the inner parts of the castle is in use by the Tunisian military. Only a small section is open, with a tiny museum showing reproductions of mosaics.

Aerial photo

Tabarka Island was a real island once The aerial photo shows what an extreme effort this was. The strip of sand connecting it to the mainland was built by the French after World War 2.

City and the bay

Tabarka lies perfectly between the beaches, and the beaches of the Old Port are smooth and child friendly, quite clean and never really crowded.

More than that, this is one of few places where you have a strip of sand pointing south (so that you can sun bathe and face the sea at the same time).

Needles

The needles of Tabarka is quite impressive, and when standing in between them they feel really big. The highest rise 20 metres. The needles is a fairly small area, with pointy rocks almost falling over each other before they end up out in the sea.

Waves continuously hit the needles with water foaming around them. Which adds to the drama of their shapes.

Roman ruins

There are a few areas of Roman excavations in Tabarka, nothing of much interest. Yet, it deserves mentioning, especially as you will pass at least the one downtown. If nothing else, it is a proof of Tabarka's long history, and points back to its emergence as an important port, shipping mainly marble from Chemtou but also lions for use in amphitheatres in Europe.