Tipaza

Tipaza
ⵜⵉⵒⴰⵣⴰ (ber) تيپازة (ar)
(Roman Tipasa)
Tipaza

Location in Algeria

Coordinates: DZ 36°35′31″N 2°26′58″E / 36.59194°N 2.44944°E / 36.59194; 2.44944Coordinates: DZ 36°35′31″N 2°26′58″E / 36.59194°N 2.44944°E / 36.59194; 2.44944
Country Algeria
Province Tipaza
District Tipaza
Population (2008)
  Total 25,225
Official name Tipasa
Type Cultural
Criteria iii, iv
Designated 1982 (6th session)
Reference no. 193
State Party  Algeria
Region Arab States
Endangered 20022006

Tipaza (formerly Tefessedt, Chenoua: Bazar, Arabic: تيپازة) is a Berber-speaking town on the coast of Algeria, capital of the Tipaza Province. When it was part of the Roman Empire, it was called Tipasa. The modern town, founded in 1857, is remarkable chiefly for its sandy beach, and ancient ruins.

History

Ancient history

Ruins of Roman Tipasa

Tipasa, as it was then called, was an ancient Punic trading-post conquered by Ancient Rome and turned into a military colony by the emperor Claudius for the conquest of the kingdoms of Mauretania.[1]

Afterwards it became a municipium called Colonia Aelia Tipasensis, that reached the population of 20,000 inhabitants in the fourth century according to Stéphane Gsell.

The city was an important Christian center during the last centuries of Roman domination, with 3 basilicas.

Tipasa was destroyed by the Vandals in 430 AD, but was rebuilt by the Byzantines one century later. At the end of the seventh century the city was destroyed by the Arabs and reduced to ruins.[2]

In the nineteenth century the place was settled again. Now it is a town of nearly 30,000 inhabitants. The city is an important tourist place in modern Algeria, mainly because of the Tipasa ruins.

Modern era

Near Tipaza, the Tipaza longwave transmitter is broadcasting French language Channel 3 radio programs from the Algerian Broadcasting Company. The longwave frequency 252 kHz can be well received in many parts of Europe.

The town and its surroundings is home to the largest Berber-speaking group of western Algeria, the Chenoua people.

This station of Tipaza in 252 kHz was previously out of service since March 17, 2014, but is broadcasting against at 252 kHz.[3]

See also

Notes

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Tipaza.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tipaza.
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