Fort génois de Tabarka, Genoese fortress on a hilltop in Tabarka, Tunisia
The Genoese fort of Tabarka rises on a hilltop overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the city below. Defensive walls run along its perimeter, shaping the structure and defining the spaces within and around it.
The Lomellini family from Genoa took control of the fort in 1542 after the King of Sicily rewarded them for capturing the corsair Dragut. This transfer marked a turning point for European presence in the region and began a long period of Genoese rule.
The fort holds memories of the Tabarquins, who built a thriving coral fishing community here before eventually settling on San Pietro Island. Today the structure stands as a reminder of that maritime heritage and the people who once worked these waters.
You can reach the fort by car or on foot since it sits on an accessible hilltop. Interior access usually requires permission from staff on site, so it helps to ask when you arrive or inquire ahead of time.
The fort remained closed for 30 years before reopening to the public in 2016 thanks to work by a local history and monuments association. This reopening allowed visitors to experience the site directly after a long absence from public access.
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