El Kef

El Kef, capital of its governorate about 175 km west of Tunis, climbs a hill beneath a 17th-century kasbah. Known to the Romans as Sicca Veneria, it keeps Roman baths, the 5th-century basilica of Dar el Kous, the mausoleum of Sidi Bou Makhlouf and a museum of popular arts and traditions in an 18th-century building. The streets are steep and the air cooler than on the coast.

History

Fortified ramparts were added to the kasbah in 1740, and French forces took the town in 1881.

Customs

Sidi Bou Makhlouf is a place of worship: dress modestly and ask before entering.

Food

Have lunch in the town centre: grilled meat and couscous are on most menus.

Best time

March to June and September to November.

Its Roman name, Sicca Veneria, points to the worship of Venus, probably of Phoenician origin.