Constantine

Overview

Constantine is one of the oldest cities in the world still inhabited. As Cirta, it was the capital of the Numidian kings; rebuilt by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, it took his name. The old city stands on a rocky plateau cut off by the gorge of the Rhumel river, some 200 m deep in places, and bridges leap across the void to the newer districts.

Top attractions

• Sidi M'Cid bridge — a suspension bridge about 175 m above the gorge, with dizzying views.
• The other bridges — El Kantara, Sidi Rached's stone arches and the modern Salah Bey viaduct.
• The Ahmed Bey Palace — a 19th-century Ottoman palace with gardens, painted walls and tiles.
• The Emir Abdelkader Mosque — one of the largest mosques in Africa, with its university.
• The Monument to the Dead on the cliff and the path along the gorge.
• The Cirta Museum — archaeology from the Numidian and Roman periods.

Day trips

• Tiddis (30 km) — a red Roman hill town.
• Djémila (UNESCO) — Roman Cuicul on a mountain ridge, about two hours away.
• Timgad (UNESCO) — the grid-planned Roman colony near Batna, with the Arch of Trajan.
• The Medracen — a Numidian royal mausoleum on the road to Batna.

Culture

Constantine is the capital of malouf, the Andalusian music of the east, and of a refined cuisine: try chakhchoukha, trida and the city's famous pastries. Copperware and embroidery are traditional crafts. Read Discovering Constantine.