La Marsa
| El Marsa المرسى El Marsa | |
|---|---|
|
El Marsa beach | |
  El Marsa | |
| Coordinates: 36°52′35″N 10°19′31″E / 36.87639°N 10.32528°ECoordinates: 36°52′35″N 10°19′31″E / 36.87639°N 10.32528°E | |
| Country | Tunisia |
| Governorates | Tunis Governorate |
| Population (2014) | |
| • Total | 92,987 |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
El Marsa (Tunisian Arabic: المرسى 
Il Marṣā, French: La Marsa) is a coastal town in far north eastern Tunisia near the capital Tunis. The population is estimated as 92,987, as of 2014. The old summer capital of pre-colonial Tunisia, it is today a popular vacation spot for many wealthy Tunisians. It is connected to Tunis by the TGM railway. Gammarth is adjacent to El Marsa further up the coast.
History
- Ancient Carthage was a Semitic civilization centered on the Phoenician city-state of Carthage, located in North Africa on the Gulf of Tunis, outside what is now Tunis, Tunisia. It was founded in 814 BC. Originally a dependency of the Phoenician state of Tyre, Carthage gained independence around 650 BC and established a hegemony over other Phoenician settlements throughout the Mediterranean, North Africa and what is now Spain which lasted until the end of the 3rd century BC. At the height of the city's prominence, its political influence extended over most of the western Mediterranean and it was one of the major trade hubs.
- For much of its history, Carthage was in a constant state of struggle with the Greeks on Sicily and the Roman Republic, which led to a series of armed conflicts known as the Greek-Punic Wars and Punic Wars. They also had to deal with the volatile Berbers, the indigenous inhabitants of the entire area where Carthage was built. In 146 BC, after the third and final Punic War, Carthage was destroyed and then occupied by Roman forces. Nearly all of the other Phoenician city-states and former Carthaginian dependencies fell into Roman hands from then on.
Attractions
- Abdalliya Palace is one of the most lavish creations Hafsid dynasty sultans. Built in the early sixteenth century by one of their last sovereign, Abu Abdallah Mohamed, this palace stands on the ancient port site of El Marsa. This place of remembrance and history is one of the few monuments Hafsid Tunisia. Al ABDELLYA is the oldest evidence of Muslim architecture Palatine remained in good state of conservation of the Maghreb.
- Cinema Alhambra is located in El Marsa
Education
La Marsa houses the following French international schools:
- Lycée Gustave Flaubert
- École Paul-Verlaine[1]
They are a part of the Etablissement Régional De La Marsa (ELRM) which has 7 schools in Tunisia as members.[2]
Transports
- Tunis-Goulette-Marsa (TGM) is a 19 km 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge light rail line linking the capital Tunis with El Marsa via La Goulette.
- The TGM was the first railway in Tunisia and inaugurated in 1872. Since 1905 it has been known as the TGM. It is part of the transportation system of the Tunis area, and together with the light rail of Tunis (Le métro léger de Tunis) managed by the Société des transports de Tunis (Transtu). Transtu was founded in 2003 by joining the Société du métro léger de Tunis (SMLT, founded 1981) and the Société nationale de transports (SNT, founded 1963).
Sport
Avenir Sportif de El Marsa (Arabic: المستقبل الرياضي بالمرسى, often referred to as ASM) is a football club from El Marsa in Tunisia. Founded in 1939, the team plays in green and yellow colours. Their ground is Stade Abdelaziz Chtioui, which has a capacity of 6,000. When the club was founded its name was Club Musulman (Muslim Club).
Stade Abdelaziz Chtioui (Arabic: ملعب عبدالعزيز شتوي) is a football stadium in El Marsa, Tunisia. It is currently used by football team Avenir Sportif de El Marsa commonly called the AS Marsa. The stadium holds 6,000 people.
