Tipasa is one of the ancient monuments of architecture inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, west of Algiers.
The ancient outpost of the Phoenicians was built on three elevations in the 5th-6th century. The flourishing of the trading fort was brought by the Romans, who captured it in 46 among other settlements in Mauritania. The city was granted 'Roman law', giving almost full civil rights, and after colonisation the inhabitants of Tipasa were equal in rights to those of Rome. The early spread of Christian doctrine in the city was not supported by the locals, but a basilica was built on the seashore in honour of the tormented Christian virgin Salsa.
At the command of the Vandal king Gunerich in Tipasa were attempts to plant Arianism with the help of a bishop sent in 484, but part of the population left the city, moving to Spain, the rest of the inhabitants were subjected to severe persecution. The decline of Tipasa was halted for a while by the Arabs, who arrived here in the VI century, they gave the city a new name - Tefassed ("ruins").
After excavations were found two-nave basilica of St. Salsa with two aisles and the remains of ancient decoration with mosaics. The remains of two other churches, St Alexander's and the Great Basilica, surrounded by necropolises with tombs in stone, with mosaics as decoration, were also found. There are also ruins of a theatre, thermae, and a nymphaeum, which at various times served as a sanctuary for mythical water deities and a baptistery. The site of the Great Basilica was quarried for several centuries, but the foundations have been preserved in plan form, and all seven aisles can be seen. Burials of hard stone rock have also been discovered beneath the church, one of which is circular in shape.
Since 1857, Tipasa has existed as a modern town. Today it is home to more than 25,000 inhabitants.
