the caves of Hawaria
The caves of Hawaria
The caves of Hawaria are located 2 km from the village of El Hawaria, by the sea, not far from the “real Cap-Bon”, this “finger” pointed towards Europe and which draws the southern edge of the Strait of Sicily through which passes most of the navigation in the Mediterranean.
These caves are sandstone quarries exploited from the Punic period in the 7th and 6th centuries BC, but more intensely in the Roman period. This stone was used, in Antiquity, in the construction of coastal cities and their main monuments, in particular, the capital: Carthage.
The monument is presented in the form of a succession of “rooms”, in fact excavations “hollowed out” by a narrow opening which sinks into the depths of the site, releasing a pyramidal space.
On the surface, at the top of the promontory that juts out towards the sea, next to the openings that give access to the deposit, there are also traces of aerial exploitation of the site.
Situation:
– Cap Bon
Opening time:
– From 16/09 to 31/05: 09.00 – 17.00
– From 01/06 to 15/09: 09.00 – 18.00
Ramadan schedule:
– 09:00-16:00
Entrance fees:
8 dinars
Remarks:
– The Site is open all week.
Amenities:
– Bathroom
– Shop
– Cafeteria
the caves of Hawaria in Video
Where to Find the caves of Hawaria
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before visiting
The Caves of El Hawaria are ancient stone quarries carved into the Cap Bon peninsula, used by the Phoenicians and later the Romans to extract limestone for construction. The stone quarried here was transported by sea to build Carthage and other major North African cities.
The oldest quarrying activity dates from the Punic period, between the 7th and 6th centuries BC. Roman quarrying later intensified, and the stone continued to be extracted into the later Roman imperial period.
The caves consist of a series of large underground chambers and galleries cut into soft golden limestone, creating dramatic spaces with natural skylights where the quarry roof has collapsed. The cool, dim interior contrasts with the brilliant Mediterranean light outside.
Yes. The caves are open to visitors and located about 2 kilometres from the town of El Hawaria. Entry costs approximately 8 TND and opening hours are generally 9am to 5 or 6pm.
El Hawaria is famous for its annual falconry festival and for its position at the very tip of Cap Bon, a scenic peninsula known for vineyards, sandy beaches, and the ruins of Kerkouane, the only intact Punic city ever found.
El Hawaria is at the northern tip of Cap Bon, about 100 kilometres northeast of Tunis. Louages (shared taxis) run from Tunis and from Nabeul. The drive along the Cap Bon coast through vineyards and fishing villages is itself a highlight of the journey.
