Cap Bon day trips: Nabeul, Dar Chaâbane and Kélibia
Nabeul pottery, the stone carvers of Dar Chaâbane and the Kélibia fortress: three easy day trips from the villa.
Hammamet is the gateway to Cap Bon, a green peninsula of orange groves, vineyards and fishing villages reaching out towards Sicily. Here are three easy getaways from the villa.
Nabeul, the pottery capital
About twenty minutes away, Nabeul is famous for its hand-painted ceramics: plates, couscous dishes, colourful tiles. Wander through the workshops and, if you can, come on a Friday, the day of the big weekly market. Do not leave without a jar of artisanal harissa and a bottle of distilled orange-blossom water.
Dar Chaâbane, town of stone carvers
Right next to Nabeul, Dar Chaâbane El Fehri keeps a unique craft alive: carving golden limestone. In workshops open onto the street, artisans shape columns, capitals and door frames by hand.
This is where the stone that dresses Villa Carthago comes from: the entrance arches, the terrace columns and the capitals framing the pool. Visiting the workshops shows just how much patience lies behind every detail.
Kélibia and its fortress
Further north, about an hour and a quarter by road, Kélibia is crowned by an imposing fortress overlooking the fishing harbour. Below, Mansourah beach has remarkably clear water. Have a fresh-fish lunch at the port before heading back along the coast road.
Going further
With a full day, continue to El Haouaria at the tip of Cap Bon for its Roman caves and cliffs above the sea. To the north-west, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said are just over an hour’s drive: ancient ruins in the morning, coffee overlooking the Gulf of Tunis in the afternoon.
Practical tips
- A car is ideal for exploring Cap Bon at your own pace; the villa’s private parking fits two vehicles.
- Set off early in summer and bring water.
- Workshops often close in the early afternoon, so visit in the morning.