Tipaza

Tipasa (Arabic ولاية تيبازة, Tibaza, formerly Tefessedt, Chenoua: Bazaar) is a town on the Algerian coast with 8,049 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2007). It is the capital of the eponymous province, and is located 50 kilometers west of Algiers. The modern town, founded in 1857, is known mainly for its beautiful location and sandy coastline.

History

Tipasa was founded by the Phoenicians and the Romans under Emperor Claudius to the Roman military colony, later it was a municipium. The city was a stronghold of the Mauritanian fleet ( Classis mauretanica ) and cost of considerable importance.

Christianity was introduced early on and in the 3rd century Tipasa was a bishopric. Most residents, however, were still not Christians, to -, threw in the 4th century St. Salsa, a Christian girl the head of her snake- idol into the sea, whereupon the enraged populace stoned them - according to the legend. Your body, miraculously returned from the sea, was buried on the hill overlooking the harbor in a small chapel, which was later replaced by the Basilica.

484 sent the Vandal king Huneric an Arian bishop after Tipasa; on a large part of the inhabitants fled to Spain, many of the remaining ones were cruelly persecuted.

After that, the city disappears from history, and the later prevailing Arabs seem not to have settled here. In 1857, the modern city was founded Tipasa.

Attractions

In Tipasa are the UNESCO World Heritage list, the ruins of the Roman city Tipasa. This was built on three hills that overlook the sea. Most of the houses were on the middle hill and have not survived. However, there are ruins of three churches:

The Great Basilica and the Basilica Alexander on the western hill, and the Basilica of St Salsa on the eastern hill.

Furthermore, two cemeteries, the baths, the theater, an amphitheater and Nymphaeum are obtained. The course of the city walls can be seen clearly and at the foot of the eastern hill are the remains of the ancient port.

The basilicas are surrounded by cemeteries, which are full of numerous stone and mosaic-decorated coffins.

The basilica of St. Salsa, excavated by Stéphane Gsell, consisted of a nave, two axes, a mosaic is also preserved here.

The Great Basilica served for centuries as a quarry, the seven-axle construction plan is yet to be recognized. Under the foundation of the church are hewn out of the rock tombs; one of which is circular with a diameter of 18 meters and 24 provided space for coffins.

Others

Another city, which was called in Roman times Tipasa, located 88 km south of Annaba 957 meters above the sea, now called this city Tifesh. There are the ruins of a large fortress with up to three meters thick walls.

Near Tipasa is located at 36 ° 33'58 " north latitude and 2 ° 28'50" east longitude, a long wave transmitter of the Algerian broadcasting over which a French -language program is radiated at the frequency 252 kHz in the direction of France. This transmitter is often easy to receive in the evening hours in Germany.

Albert Camus put the city in his essays wedding of light ( Noces, 1938) and return home to Tipasa (L' Été, 1954) a literary monument.