13 December 2008
Tunis — A book, recently written by the French historian Philippe Gourdin and published jointly by the French School of Rome and the Tunis Heritage Institute, retraces the history of Tabarka from the 15 th to the 18 th century.
The book whose title is "Tabarka (15 th to 18 th century): History and Archaeology of a Spanish presidium and a Genoese counter in Africa", ("Tabarka XV et XVIII siecle: Histoire et Archéologie d'un preside espagnol et d'un comptoir genois"), represents a precious reference for historians, who will find in it ancient topographical maps of the city, original photographs, as well as 600 pages of information on a city which has grown from a village of coral fishermen to a vibrant tourist and economic pole , after having being owned by the Genoese Lomellini family for two centuries. Incidentally, Tabarka is also mentioned in Cervantes' masterpiece Don Quixotte (1605).
A token of the city's proud Genoese past can be found in the magnificent Genoese fort (see photo) overlooking both the city and the coast.
The book also evokes Tabarka's current economic success and contains a section dedicated to 'living in Tabarka'.
Yet another fine book on one of Tunisia's most cosmopolitan and history- laden cities.
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