The hilltop village of Takrouna (also sometimes spelled Takroun).
Looking down on one of the newer homes built since people started moving onto more level ground from their previous highly-defensible position.
Joey relaxing on the edge of the town and the cliff. In the distance, one of the several cement plants supplying Tunisia’s building boom puffs smoke. I understand that this, as well as most if not all of the other cement plants in Tunisia are now owned by multinational conglomerates that send much of the product overseas to fuel China’s expansion.
Most of these settlements were created at around the time of the Arab invasion in the mid 9th century CE by Berbers looking to remain safe and in their homes against the onslaught. The idea was that sitting up on top of a hill, the Berbers could see the approaching armies which wished to do them harm. It also gave them a cool place in the summer but a rather windy and cold place in the winter. This particular village sits atop a very vertical hill jutting up about 400 feet from the surrounding plain. it’s a very odd site seeing a town perched in the air above farmland and rolling low hills.
In the cafe at the top of the hill in the middle of the old village.
Giovanna’s reflection in a mirror on the wall.
