The Magon district
The Magon District is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Carthage . It lies along the Mediterranean coast, just south of the famous Antonine Baths . This area was the last piece of land in Carthage to escape urbanization, making its archaeological remains exceptionally valuable . The site is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Archaeological Site of Carthage .
Excavations have revealed the only visible section of Carthage’s ancient defensive wall . This rampart dates from the late 6th or early 5th century BC. The wall contains massive foundation blocks, some weighing more than 13 tons . Visitors can also see traces of a postern gate next to the first bastion, along with casemates added in the 4th century BC. The site also features remains of Punic period houses from the final phase before the Roman destruction of the city, as well as Roman-era structures built on top of them .
The Magon District : Punic Houses and Urban Planning
The Magon District represents an exceptional example of Carthaginian domestic architecture from the 5th century BC . The district was built on earlier landfills during the rule of the Magonid dynasty . The first dwellings were modest in size and without peristyles. Later, in the 2nd century BC, the area underwent a major redevelopment. Large, richly decorated houses appeared, some exceeding 1,000 square meters in size . Each house had several underground cisterns for water storage.
Architectural features included stucco-covered columns and pilasters, painted stucco walls, and Punic mosaics (pavimenta punica) . Access to the houses was through narrow corridors leading to courtyards surrounded by porticoes. Notably, the streets were not paved and lacked drains. A small museum near the site showcases objects excavated from the artisan houses, offering further insight into daily life in ancient Carthage.
Practical Information
Opening hours: From September 16 to May 31: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. From June 1 to September 15: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM. During Ramadan: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Entrance fees: 12 dinars.
Facilities: Restrooms, shop, and cafeteria on site.
Nearby Attractions
The Antonine Baths (a 12-minute walk)
The Roman Theatre
The Malga Cisterns
The Amphitheater
The Circus
The Damous Carita Basilica
The Odéon district
The Magon district in Video
Where to Find The Magon district
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before visiting
The Magon District is the last significant area of ancient Carthage where Punic urban fabric has been found essentially undisturbed by later Roman construction. Excavations have revealed a 5th-century BC defensive rampart built with stone blocks weighing over 13 tonnes, and 2nd-century BC decorated townhouses exceeding 1,000 square metres.
Because the Romans systematically demolished and rebuilt Carthage after 146 BC, intact Punic urban layers are extremely rare. The Magon District offers a rare direct window into the layout, construction techniques, and domestic architecture of the pre-Roman Punic city.
Excavations have uncovered Punic defensive walls, decorated Hellenistic-period houses with mosaic floors and painted walls, cisterns, storage areas, and a wealth of ceramic and organic material providing detailed information about daily life in Punic Carthage.
The Magon District is part of the broader Carthage UNESCO World Heritage Site and is accessible with the combined Carthage site ticket (approximately 12 TND). Not all excavation areas are open at all times, as active research continues.
The site preserves layers from the 5th century BC (Punic defensive walls) through to the 2nd century BC (wealthy Hellenistic-era Punic houses), spanning the final centuries of independent Carthaginian civilization before the Roman destruction in 146 BC.
The Magon District is located on the shoreline of Carthage, below the main hills, not far from the Punic ports and the Tophet. It can be reached by the TGM suburban railway (Carthage-Salammbô station) from central Tunis.
