The City of Suspension Bridges | Learn about Constantine, the capital of eastern Algeria
In eastern Algeria, a city is one of the most ancient cities of the Great Maghreb and one of the incubators of human civilizations of all kinds, and its succession over time, known as the city of hanging bridges. Which cannot be found similar to it in terms of its construction, bridges and nature, and it is considered today one of the most famous Algerian cities and the most attractive to tourists.
So let us take you on a magical journey in the city of hanging bridges, and learn about this city, its history, and the most important tourist attractions in it.
Geographical location of the city of Constantine
The city of Constantine is famous for its distinguished geographical location, in addition to its charming and unique nature, as it is interspersed with a group of plateaus, hills, and cliffs, and is surrounded from the east and north by Jabal al-Wahsh and Jabal Sidi. Perhaps one of the most important features of this ancient city is its location on a rocky cliff consisting of solid lime, which is bisected by a deep valley called the Sand Valley, as it divides the city into two parts and isolates it completely from the surrounding areas.
All these factors have helped make Constantine one of the most attractive Algerian cities for tourists from all over the Arab world and the world.
The historical importance of Constantine
The city of Constantine acquires a very great historical importance, as it is considered one of the oldest cities in the world, and multiple civilizations have succeeded in this city, which left behind rich historical and archaeological monuments worthy of discovery, which increased this historical importance.
The city of Constantine was dubbed the City of Hanging Bridges because there are eight bridges connecting the two parts of the city to each other, which contributed greatly to making it an unparalleled tourist attraction in the world and earned it this title.
Constantine was called the city (the ancient rock) and the name of the city (Cirta), and then it was later called Constantine, in relation to the famous Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, and it still bears this name to this day.
Why was Constantine called the Seventh Mystery?
The city of Constantine is characterized by a strange topography, as this city is built on a mountain consisting of seven heads, just as Constantine had in the past seven doors, and there are now seven hanging bridges in it, in addition to that the word Constantine consists of seven letters and it is known in all ancient civilizations that the number is seven It is linked in one way or another to magic, wondrous things, and superstitions, and this number is still until now a mystery that baffles many, and all these things prompted the naming of Constantine, the owner of the seventh puzzle, and the truth is that the history of the city of Constantine is linked to this day with this puzzle number.
Constantine customs and traditions
Many may wonder about what are the customs and traditions of Constantine, so let us introduce you to some information about the customs and traditions of this city:
· Food traditions in Constantine
The national dish in Constantine is couscous and steamed wheat with lamb or chicken meat in addition to cooked vegetables. As for drinks, black coffee and sweetened mint tea is the most popular drink in Constantine.
· Celebration of the Prophet's birthday
All residents of Constantine celebrate this day, and it is a night in which people do not sleep until dawn, as this night is revived in mosques and homes and praise continues until the late hours of the night.
· Traditional clothes for women
The traditional clothing for women in the city of Constantine is called the "sheet", and this dress is considered one of the old traditional clothes that date back to the days of "Saleh Bey". At that time, women in the city went out dressed in black, mourning his death.
Tourist attractions in Constantine
Many people are interested in visiting monuments and historical cities, and if you are interested and wondering what are the tourist attractions in Constantine, let us present to you this list that includes the best tourist and archaeological attractions that attract thousands of tourists to it every year, as follows:
1- Ahmed Bey Palace
Ahmed Bey Palace is the only urban palace that was built on 3 gardens, as its building pattern is very similar to contemporary Moroccan houses, and it contains many types of deer and many rare birds.
2- The Seven Suspension Bridges
Constantine was not called the city of suspended bridges in vain, as it contains seven suspended bridges, which are the Bab Al-Qantara Bridge, which is considered the oldest bridges, and the Sidi Rashid Bridge, which is classified as the highest stone bridge in the world, and the Shatan Bridge, and the Sidi Mesaid Bridge, which is the highest bridge in the city, And the waterfalls bridge, and the boatman's bridge, and the sheep pass bridge.
3- Old mosques
The mosques are considered clear evidence of the city’s influence on Islamic civilization, as it contains a group of ancient ancient mosques that attract the attention of thousands of those interested in it, and among these mosques is the Great Mosque, which was built during the era of the Zirid state in the year 1136 AD, and the Prince Abdul Qadir Mosque, which was built on The style of the Andalusian civilization, which is considered the largest mosque in North Africa, the Souk El Ghazl Mosque 1730 AD, the Sidi Al Akhdar Mosque 1743 AD, and the Sidi Al Kettani Mosque 1776 AD.
4- Prehistoric caves
The caves are considered one of the most interesting tourist places in the city of Constantine, because of the strange things they contain, and among the most famous of these caves are the Cave of the Bears and the Cave of the Arroy.
5- Monument to the dead
This monument was built in 1934 AD in order to commemorate the martyrs of the French colonialism, and it is considered one of the most attractive places in the city of Constantine.
6- Mausoleum of Massinissa
This mausoleum belongs to the king of Numidia, who established his kingdom and made Constantine at that time the capital of his kingdom, and this mausoleum is considered the most famous historical monument in this city.
7- The bathrooms
Algeria is famous for the presence of many mineral baths, which are a destination for thousands of people for the purpose of treatment, and among these ancient Roman baths.
8- Saleh Bay Resort
This resort is the most prominent destination for those looking for rest and recreation in Constantine, and it is located 8 km northwest of the city, and its construction is attributed to King Saleh Bey, who built it for him and his family in the eighteenth century.
9- The city of Tedis or the city of arches
This city ends in a hidden mountain, as it turns out that this city was a destination for many of the city's residents in order to relax, spend some time quietly, and meditate on nature.
10- The old doors
It is one of the most distinctive things in the city of Constantine, as these doors are closed in the evening after they finish performing their military fortification function, and among these doors are the Qantara Gate, the Hanansheh Gate, the Sirta Gate, and others, but the French colonization removed them completely, as their place remained clear to present day.
Here, our journey in the city of the hanging bridges, Constantine, has ended, and we have got to know one of the most important tourist destinations in Algeria and the Arab world.
