1.TIPASA- A beautiful view of the open air Roman Museum

2.TIPASA- Hassan & Imaine (the Writer’s Children) inside the City’s Museum

3.TIPASA- The « Chenoua » mount overhanging the breath-taking scene

4.TIPASA- The Writer & Hassan inside the open air Roman Museum

5.TIPASA- Another view of the Museum

• IN THE NAME OF GOD THE COMPASSIONATE THE MERCIFULIN THE NAME OF GOD THE COMPASSIONATE THE MERCIFUL

• Subject: *Historic Cities of Algeria.Subject: *Historic Cities of Algeria.• 6. TIPASA6. TIPASA

• Tipasa or Tipaza is situated at 70km west of Algiers, it is a beautiful Tipasa or Tipaza is situated at 70km west of Algiers, it is a beautiful seaside city, it was founded by the Phoenicians, then it was made a Roman seaside city, it was founded by the Phoenicians, then it was made a Roman military colony by the emperor Claudius, and afterwards became a military colony by the emperor Claudius, and afterwards became a municipium; the Roman city was built on three small hills which overlooked municipium; the Roman city was built on three small hills which overlooked the sea, but of the houses, most of which stood on the central hill, no the sea, but of the houses, most of which stood on the central hill, no traces remain up to now.traces remain up to now.

• Moreover, there are ruins of three churches: the Great Basilica, the Basilica Moreover, there are ruins of three churches: the Great Basilica, the Basilica Alexander on the western hill, and the Basilica of St Salsa on the eastern Alexander on the western hill, and the Basilica of St Salsa on the eastern hill, two cemeteries, the baths, theatre and the amphitheatre. hill, two cemeteries, the baths, theatre and the amphitheatre.

• The line of the ramparts can be distinctly traced and at the foot of the The line of the ramparts can be distinctly traced and at the foot of the eastern hill the remains of the ancient harbour, the basilicas are eastern hill the remains of the ancient harbour, the basilicas are surrounded by cemeteries, which are full of coffins, all of stone and surrounded by cemeteries, which are full of coffins, all of stone and covered with mosaics. The basilica of St. Salsa, which has been excavated covered with mosaics. The basilica of St. Salsa, which has been excavated by Stéphane Gsell, consists of a nave and two aisles, and still contains a by Stéphane Gsell, consists of a nave and two aisles, and still contains a mosaic.mosaic.

• The Great Basilica served for centuries as a quarry, but it is still possible to The Great Basilica served for centuries as a quarry, but it is still possible to make out the plan of the building, which was divided into seven aisles, make out the plan of the building, which was divided into seven aisles, under the foundations of the church are tombs hewn out of the solid rock, under the foundations of the church are tombs hewn out of the solid rock, of these one is circular, with a diameter of 18 m and space for 24 coffins.of these one is circular, with a diameter of 18 m and space for 24 coffins.

• Commercially it was of considerable importance, but it was not Commercially it was of considerable importance, but it was not distinguished in art or learning, in terms of History and Religion, distinguished in art or learning, in terms of History and Religion, Christianity was early introduced, and in the third century Tipasa Christianity was early introduced, and in the third century Tipasa was a bishop‘s see and most of the inhabitants continued to be non was a bishop‘s see and most of the inhabitants continued to be non Christian until, according to the legend, Salsa, a Christian maiden, Christian until, according to the legend, Salsa, a Christian maiden, threw the head of their serpent idol into the sea, whereupon the threw the head of their serpent idol into the sea, whereupon the enraged populace stoned her to death. enraged populace stoned her to death.

• The body, miraculously recovered from the sea, was buried, on the The body, miraculously recovered from the sea, was buried, on the hill above the harbour, in a small chapel which gave place hill above the harbour, in a small chapel which gave place subsequently to the stately basilica whereas, Salsa’s death took subsequently to the stately basilica whereas, Salsa’s death took place in the 4th century, and in 484 AD the Vandal king Huneric place in the 4th century, and in 484 AD the Vandal king Huneric (477- 484) sent an Arian bishop to Tipasa; whereupon a large (477- 484) sent an Arian bishop to Tipasa; whereupon a large number of the inhabitants fled to Spain, while many of the remainder number of the inhabitants fled to Spain, while many of the remainder were cruelly persecuted.were cruelly persecuted.

• After this time the city disappears from history until the Muslim Arab After this time the city disappears from history until the Muslim Arab conquest of North Africa in the seventh century, thus the city conquest of North Africa in the seventh century, thus the city flourished in trade and economy and it was a real gateway to the flourished in trade and economy and it was a real gateway to the neighbouring western coastal cities of Cherchell and Ténés.neighbouring western coastal cities of Cherchell and Ténés.

• Tipasa , and it is ground proven , has one of the better Roman ruins Tipasa , and it is ground proven , has one of the better Roman ruins along the Mediterranean Sea , and up to now it can boost of some of along the Mediterranean Sea , and up to now it can boost of some of the magnificent and most interesting Roman sites such as the the magnificent and most interesting Roman sites such as the Mausoleum down at the sea which was built in the 5th century, Mausoleum down at the sea which was built in the 5th century, where there are 14 places for sarcophagiwhere there are 14 places for sarcophagi

• The Forum is well preserved, and is the oldest part of the ruin area while the museum The Forum is well preserved, and is the oldest part of the ruin area while the museum despite its tiny size but still full of valuable mosaics that were taken from the Basilica, despite its tiny size but still full of valuable mosaics that were taken from the Basilica, and which sometimes dates back to 1st century AD , and the main road remains in and which sometimes dates back to 1st century AD , and the main road remains in such a good state and has about 200 metres preserved.such a good state and has about 200 metres preserved.

• It is worth mentioning that in terms of Heritage – preservation from the UNESCO, The It is worth mentioning that in terms of Heritage – preservation from the UNESCO, The ruins at Tipasa have been removed from the list of sites on the “World Heritage in ruins at Tipasa have been removed from the list of sites on the “World Heritage in Danger” a list maintained by UNESCO, and it was duly acknowledged that such list-Danger” a list maintained by UNESCO, and it was duly acknowledged that such list-mention should not in fact took place in the first place. mention should not in fact took place in the first place.

• The “error of judgement” was made by UNESCO experts on their visit in 2002, and the The “error of judgement” was made by UNESCO experts on their visit in 2002, and the decision was officially reversed at the 30th session of the World Heritage Committee in decision was officially reversed at the 30th session of the World Heritage Committee in Vilnius, Lithuania, from 8-16 July, 2006.Vilnius, Lithuania, from 8-16 July, 2006.

• Moreover, it would be important to mention that the ruins were added to the list of Moreover, it would be important to mention that the ruins were added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1982, the Tipasa ruins are located in the Tipasa Wilaya World Heritage Sites in 1982, the Tipasa ruins are located in the Tipasa Wilaya (District) the coastal northern city of Algeria, the town of Tipasa was founded in 1857 (District) the coastal northern city of Algeria, the town of Tipasa was founded in 1857 during the French occupation of Algeria (1830-1962).during the French occupation of Algeria (1830-1962).

•Algeria is home to some of the finest historical monuments and ruins in all of North Algeria is home to some of the finest historical monuments and ruins in all of North Africa and seven Heritage Sites, including Tipasa. In 2003 the Algerian government Africa and seven Heritage Sites, including Tipasa. In 2003 the Algerian government submitted a list of other potential sites to UNESCO.submitted a list of other potential sites to UNESCO.

• Tipasa has a huge selection of cosmopolitan hotels situated on the beachfront and Tipasa has a huge selection of cosmopolitan hotels situated on the beachfront and close to the Chenoua mount, the many beaches and resort hotels of Tipasa that run close to the Chenoua mount, the many beaches and resort hotels of Tipasa that run along the beautiful, natural Mediterranean coastline, attract many tourists and also along the beautiful, natural Mediterranean coastline, attract many tourists and also residents from different parts of Algeria and the Maghrib countries over the holiday residents from different parts of Algeria and the Maghrib countries over the holiday seasons.seasons.

• بوكريطة بوكريطة محمد محمد

السياحة • في مستشار و مستقل السياحة كاتب في مستشار و مستقل كاتب الثقافيةالثقافية

• mbokreta@maktoob.commbokreta@maktoob.com

• MOHAMED BOKRETAMOHAMED BOKRETA

• FREELANCE WRITER &FREELANCE WRITER &

• CULTURAL TOURISM CONSULTANTCULTURAL TOURISM CONSULTANT

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