A City A Day

Beja  ( Arabic :  باجة ‎,  French :  Béja ) is a town in  Tunisia , Africa. It is the capital of the  Béja Governorate . It is located 105 km (sixty miles) from  Tunis , between the  Medjerdah River  and the  Mediterranean , against the foothills of the  Khroumire , the town of Beja is situated on the sides of  Djebel Acheb , facing the greening meadows, its white terraces and red roofs dominated by the imposing ruins of the old  Roman  fortress. Famous for its fertile soil, Beja drew all the masters of the Mediterranean. The Phoenicians  set up important trading posts. Their presence is felt through numerous  Punic   necropolis  which have been unearthed in 1887. The Carthaginians , recognizing the importance of maintaining their authority in this area, built a garrison and fortified the town. Beja was extremely desirable, not only because of its fertile soil but because of its geog...

Nabeul  ( Arabic :  نابل ‎,  Tunisian  pronunciation:   [ˈnɛːbɪl] ;  French:  [naˈbøl] ) is a coastal town in northeastern  Tunisia , on the south coast near to the  Cap Bon  peninsula. It is located at around  36°27′N   10°44′E  and is the capital of the  Nabeul Governorate . The city has a population of 56,387 (2004 census). Nabeul was founded in the 5th century BC by the  Greeks  of  Cyrene , serving as a trade port. Its name is an Arabised form of the  Greek   Neapolis  'new city' (an  etymology  it shares with  Naples ,  Neapoli , and  Nablus ). It is a popular tourist destination and the main centre of the Tunisian  pottery  industry.

Bizerte  ( Arabic :  بنزرت  Binzart ‎,  Berber :  Benzert ,  Italian :  Biserta ), also known in English as  Bizerta , is the capital city of Bizerte Governorate  in  Tunisia  and the  northernmost  city in  Africa . It has a population of 230,879 (2009 census). Bizerte is known as the oldest and most European city in Tunisia. It was founded around 1000 BC by  Phoenicians  from  Tyre . It is also known as the last town to remain under French control after the rest of the country won its independence from  France . Initially a small Phoenician harbour, the city came under the influence of Carthage  after the defeat of  Agathocles  during the  Punic Wars . The city was then occupied by the  Romans , under the name of Hippo Diarrhytus or Hippo Zarrytus. Bizerte was successively conquered by the  Arabs  in 647 (who gave the city its current name), by the tr...

Tunis  ( Arabic :  تونس ‎  Tūnis ) is the capital of both the  Tunisian Republic  and the  Tunis Governorate . It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 2,256,320 as of 2011; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants. Situated on a large  Mediterranean Sea  gulf (the  Gulf of Tunis ), behind the  Lake of Tunis  and the port of  La Goulette  (Halq al Wadi), the city extends along the coastal plain and the hills that surround it. At the centre of more modern development (from the colonial era and later) lies the old  medina . Beyond this district lie the suburbs of  Carthage , La Marsa, and Sidi Bou Said. The medina is found at the centre of the city: a dense agglomeration of alleys and covered passages, full of intense scents and colours, boisterous and active trade, and a surfeit of goods on offer ranging from  leather  to plastic,  tin  to the finest...

Zliten  ( Arabic :  زليتن ‎  Zlītan ) is a town in the  Misrata District  of  Libya . It is located on the southern coast of the  Mediterranean Sea  west of the  Gulf of Sidra . It was the capital of the former  Zlitan District . The name Zliten is given to both the town and the whole area. As a town, Zliten is situated 160 km (99 mi) east of the capital, Tripoli , and about 35 km (22 mi) east of the ancient Roman city of  Leptis Magna . It is about 60 km (37 mi) west of the city of Misrata  and 40 km (25 mi) east of  Khoms . It has spread over an area of about 8 km 2  (3.1 sq mi). The district of Zliten is widespread and covers an area of 3,000 km 2  (1,200 sq mi). It is surrounded by the Mediterranean from the north, Misrata from the east, Bani Walid from the south and Khoms from the west.