Tabarka

Government

Tabarka (Arabic طبرقة, DMG Ṭabarqa, Phoenician Tabarka, Thabarka or colloquially Barga, Greek Θάθρακα Thabraka, latin Thabraca ), is a small town in the province of Jendouba on the Mediterranean coast of Tunisia. Tabarca also means two islands located in the Mediterranean, both of which were originally settled by colonists Ligurian origin. One is off the Tunisian coast, the other, also called " Nueva Tabarca ", located off the Spanish coast.

Tabarca with its 15,000 inhabitants is located on the Tunisian Mediterranean coast, about 15 km east of the border with Algeria and 170 kilometers from the capital Tunis. Tabarca is a fishing village, which also served the coral fishing since time immemorial. Even today, there are now protected coral reefs at the site. In the mountainous interior are forests, which are known for their cork. Tabarca is developed for tourists and has its own airport, a marina and a golf course. In July each year there is a jazz festival, and there is a festival of underwater photography. The Tabarka Airport is ten kilometers north east of the city.

History of the place Tabarca (Tunisia )

Tabarca was founded in the fifth century BC by the Phoenicians and became Roman in the subsequent period. Tabarca was a Numidian town in the province Zeugitana. At that time it was known for its harbor, with exports Numidian marble from Simitthu. Under the Vandal king Genseric, the city had a Christian monastery. On Roman foundations is a basilica from the 19th century. In a small museum there are to be seen early Christian mosaics, Roman coins and other. From the Turkish period the ruins of two fortresses come. The late President of Tunisia Habib Bourguiba was exiled by the French colonial power in 1952 after Tabarca.

The history of the colonization of the island Tabarca (Tunisia )

1540 acquired in Pegli equipped with rich possessions of the family Lomellini of Emperor Charles V a concession for the island Tabarca off the Tunisian coast, for which she was allowed to appoint an administrator. The island is only about a quarter of a square kilometer and was 400 meters off the Tunisian coast. Presumably, the concession was related to the ransoming of the infamous pirate Turgutreis around 3500 ducats by the Genoese Doria family by Khair ad-Din Barbarossa

From Pegli, a Ligurian town west of Genoa, countless residents have emigrated. They established colonies in Corsica, Sicily, Sardinia, Alexandria ( Egypt) in Provence and Catalonia. Where they had no colony in the Mediterranean, they drove at least trade. In Pegli the nobles of Lomellini were in fierce competition to the family of Doria, with which it shared its place virtually. " Lascia che se dagghe a Doia co -a LOMELLINO -na " was a way of saying that it was better not go in fed rates in the disputes of these two leading families. To colonize Tabarca, Peglis inhabitants, fishermen were invited to the typical Genoese penchant for adventure and trade. 300 families, about 1,000 persons moved in 1542 to Tabarca. There the Lomellini had already built a fortress on the summit. The colonists had the coral for 4.50 lira sell the pound to the Lomellini, who in turn sold for 9.10 lira on. However, there were problems with the neighboring Saracens under the Bey of Tunisia and Algeria ( smuggling, piracy and slave-raiding ). Likewise with the French, who tried to occupy the island and the Saracens incited against the unwelcome competition.

1633 tried the Corsican Gudicelli vain to conquer the island. Due to the hostile activities, the advanced exploitation of coral reefs and the strong overpopulation Tabarca lost its appeal. It should even have been a marriage ban under threat of banishment. 1736, under Charles Emanuel III. , Were interested Tabarcer for the previously uninhabited south west Sardinia before San Pietro Island. Putting a plan in 1000 colonists from Tabarca on the new island to be able to act the coral to the previous conditions with the promise that was made. The following year the city of San Pietro Carlo Forte founded, whose name appealed to the reigning king. 118 families now inhabited the island. About the coral fishing, the tuna was chased, produces salt, farmed and Carlo Forter were soon famous for their shipbuilding art. While in the flourishing colony of Carloforte, many people moved Tabarca lost most of its inhabitants. The Lomellini searched in vain for the island to sell. 1741 took the Bey of Tunisia, the island with eight galleys and carried her about 900 remaining inhabitants into slavery. Charles Emmanuel III. paid a ransom of 50,000 sequins, but it was not until well into the 50s, until all slaves were thrown. 1793 the French occupied the island in order to build on her a naval base. The Spaniards intervened and took 625 French prisoners. 1798 was the Bey of Tunisia once again the island and took 800 prisoners, 1,000 more residents were able to escape. After several ransom the slaves were freed in 1803 again. From then on, the island was at peace.

The island is now connected via a built among the Turks causeway to the mainland. The walls of the fort are up to today. Another colony was founded before the safer coast of Alicante under the name " Nueva Tabarca ". Their inhabitants lost but, in contrast to Carloforte, the close relationship to Pegli and participated in the Spanish language.

Tourism

Tarbarka was and is a weekend getaway destination for Tunisian and Algerian middle class families, mostly from the respective capitals. In the 1990s, was also applied to the golf course together with the construction of the airport between the city and the airport and opened up a large hotel zone. Looking to the North Africa unusual, densely forested hilly region in the hinterland, the golf course and a coral- rich dive site is not only a beach holiday, but given the year-round mild climate also hikers, nature adventure and activity holidays are addressed.

The goal, however, was not accepted as hoped in Europe, and the expansion and growth at the beginning of the 2000s came to a halt. Robinson gave his conditioning end of 2004 (which took over from Magic Life today - 2011/12 - it's an Italian Club Valtur ), and the direct flights from Germany were hired. Since then, Tabarka is served by direct flights only from the French-speaking world, and only in the summer season. In the winter of 2011/12, the airport was closed. Tabarka is, however, accessible year-round via Tunis.

The recent run-up, revive Tabarka as a holiday destination, 2008, the Spanish Iberostar Group undertook a new hotel, which is currently marketed under the Thomas Cook brand Sentido Hotel with flights to Tunis.