North African Adventure II: Cultural Attractions

share | tweet | MORE |

 

Natural beauty is one of the major assets of North Africa, but it is neither the only, nor the most important one. Actually, when thinking of North Africa, the first thing that springs to mind is not the landscape (since many people associate this part of the African continent with the Sahara desert), but the fascinating cultures and peoples that live in this place.

And I say ‘cultures’, because the countries that make up North Africa are very different from each other. The Mediterranean influences in the northernmost countries such as Algeria or Egypt is pretty obvious, but overall, visiting North-Africa can sometimes seem like being transported into a story from the Arabian Nights.

Fez, Morocco

No visit to Morocco is complete without seeing Fez, one of the largest medieval cities in the world today. During its heyday, Fez used to be the capital of Morocco, and the sultans of old did not spare any expense when it came to their capital. The medina, or old quarter of the city, is the largest pedestrian area in the world, and it is also a huge conglomeration of sights and attractions, such as  shrines, mosques, little museums, and of course, shops and bazaars.

Abu-Simbel, Egypt

The Valley of the Kings and the pyramids are largest touristic hotspots in Egypt, but Abu-Simbel is not far behind. This temple complex. These twin temples built by Ramesses II have not always been where they are now, and they were taken up and moved to another location in the 1960’s.

Without a doubt, these two are the most beautiful temples in Egyp.t. The four colossal statues of Ramesses at the entrance, the beautiful carvings and friezes and pillared halls are an amazing sight to see.

Carthage, Tunisia

The ancient Phoenician colony of Carthage had developed a unique civilization that gave birth to legendary figures such as Hannibal. If you feel like taking a trip back in time to the era of empires and kings, visit the ruins of Carthage and walk down its abandoned paved streets. Sadly, Phoenician Carthange was completely destroyed by the Romans in the Punic Wars, but a Roman city was built on top of the ruins. The remains of Carthage look like Roman ruins, but there is still plenty to see there.

Alexandria, Egypt

Today, Alexandria is the second largest city in Egypt, but during the Antiquity it was the second largest city in the Hellenic world, after Rome. There are more historical sights in Alexandria than I can count: catacombs, citadels, cemeteries and palaces.

The modern, industrialized part of the city is nothing special, but the old quarters are like the distilled essence of Egypt – a mix of sights, tastes and aromas that created round itself a whole different world.

Ghat, Lybia

Ghat used to be a major outpost on the trans-Saharan trading route in the past, and although most of its former glory has faded, it is still an important tourist destination. The nearby Tadrart Acacus and Tassili N’Ajjer mountains are full of prehistoric rock art. The paintings and carvings found in these areas are unique in the world, and the addition of the amazing surrounding landscapes make Ghat a must-see attraction in North Africa.

You might also like

share | tweet | more |

 

Leave a comment on North African Adventure II: Cultural Attractions

Enter your comment below, or Trackback from your own blog. You can also subscribe to these comments via RSS
 

Leave a comment:

* your name

* your email address (will not be published)

your website

 

*=required